Factors Influencing Solar Panel Needs:

• Latitude:
  • Your location at 48 degrees north latitude significantly impacts the amount of sunlight received, especially during different seasons.  
  • Sunlight intensity varies greatly throughout the year, with less sunlight in winter.  
• Sunlight Hours (Peak Sun Hours):
  • "Peak sun hours" refer to the equivalent number of hours per day when sunlight intensity is at its maximum (1,000 watts per square meter).  
  • This varies by location and season. Resources like online solar calculators or local solar irradiance maps can provide estimates for your area.  
• System Voltage:
  • The voltage of your system (e.g., 12V, 24V, 48V) affects the current flow and the sizing of other components.  
• System Efficiency:
  • Solar panels, charge controllers, and batteries have efficiency losses.  
  • These losses need to be factored into the calculations.
• Seasonal Variation:
  • It is very important to design for the worst case scenario, which would be the winter months, when there are the least amount of sun light hours.  

General Calculation Approach:

1. Convert Amp-Hours (Ah) to Watt-Hours (Wh):

   • To work with power (watts), we need to convert amp-hours to watt-hours.
   • Watt-hours (Wh) = Amp-hours (Ah) x System Voltage (V).
   • To simplify this example, I will assume a 12 volt system.
   • 60ah x 12v = 720wh.

2. Account for System Losses:

   • Assume a system efficiency of around 70% to account for losses.
   • 720wh / 0.70 = 1028.57wh.

3. Determine Peak Sun Hours:

   • At 48 degrees north latitude, peak sun hours vary significantly. In winter, it could be as low as 2-3 hours. In summer, it might be 5-6 hours.
   • For this example, and to plan for the worst case scenario, i will use 2.5 hours.

4. Calculate Required Solar Panel Wattage:

   • Solar panel wattage = Total watt-hours needed / Peak sun hours.
   • 1028.57wh / 2.5 hours = 411.43 watts.

Therefore:

• To reliably supply 60 Ah of energy per day at 48 degrees north latitude, you would need approximately 412 watts of solar panels, when using a 12 volt system.
• It is very important to understand that this is an estimation, and that real world conditions can vary.
• It is also highly recommended to over size your solar panel array.

I hope this information is helpful.