Solar panel size with 60ltr ARB fridge???

[winniliss Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close winniliss]

BB have you ever seen rain clouds?

Just wondering....

G'Day BB,

I think you meant N70 Exides... What is the maximum and average (cloudy day) amperage output of your 50w solar panel? What type of construction are your N70's?

Cheers

Winston

[Matt01 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Matt01]

I found this spreadsheet from mandrake that seemed quite good for calculating solar load -

http://www.mandrakessolar.com.au/Solar Calc.xls

[Dueler120 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dueler120]

We run a 120w panel that slides out from underneath the roof rack. Even though its not on a 45* angle or always positioned to capture the East/ West sun direction it still more than covers the 50ltr fridge and everything else from laptop to phone chargers during they day. It feeds a 105ah deep cycle battery and that keeps enough juice for the fridge and lights at night. I even find on overcast days it still keeps up with my demands. This coupled with day trips from camp ensure I'm always covered for battery power. Its one of the best mods on my rig by far. Main thing I found is to wash down the panel every few day to prevent that dust film build up and shes good to go.

Cheers,

[Matt01 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Matt01]

Matt, I do a yearly 2 week camping trip where we run everything on solar. I have got by with a 130w panel without any problems, however I do run a 200ah AGM battery in my camper so that gives me a buffer if I have a couple of cloudy days.

Because the kids are running a few more gadgets I've just upgraded to a 170w panel that is the same size dimensions as my old 130w panel.

Beware that the solar controller is as important as the panel so make sure that you get a reasonable quality MPPT controller. I can recommend AntEnergy, I've bought two panels and batteries from him so far and been very satisfied.

Hi krypto
Thanks for the info on Antenergy,
Does the cable that come with the 170w panel have the anderson plugs and allegator clips?
Does the output get above 9.0amps?
Does the quality seem to be as good as they describe in their advert??
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/POWERED-B...item51a6da739c

Any other info you could provide on the panel would be helpfull.

[daniel Member Find all posts View Profile Close daniel]

Hi
your fridge will use say 2.5 amps but its not going to use this all day once it gets to temperature it will turn off
so calculating the size of the panel and battery size is a little tricky you can play around with ohms law converting your power(watts) to current (amps) but that will be confusing if you dont have a electrical background i run a redarc bcdc 40 amp charger with a 120w panel i run the fridge at 0 degrease i also have a 12m extension lead so i can park my car in the shade and have the panel in the sun the 120 watt panel will charge my optima up by lunch time and it floats the rest of the day if you do decide to use an extension lead you will have voltage drop to look into with going into teh maths there are free online calculators for 12v even though there off american volatge drop tables it will get you out of trouble

hope this helps

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

Talking to a mate yesterday, in the camper, he had his Waeco 60 ltr, and led lights running 120w panel $130 off eBay it's a big battery but he doesn't worry about it, even a bit cloudy and rain over the Easter the battery was close to full yesterday arvo, been running set on -1 since Thursday. Remember that is in Vic high country cold weather really.
I'd expect all these stats to be different in Summer and for those in the north of the country etc.

[Chris220220 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chris220220]

I had a folding 100w panel and twin 80Amp/hr batteries. worked ok as long as there was reasonable sundown here in Victoria.
We had the panel fall out the back when the door opened and hit the tow ball. there goes one panel.
Bought another 100w folder and added the spare 50 so we now have 150Watt, also got a new regulator.
This works brilliantly now. But again need about 4hrs of sun to recharge.
The battery you use is as impaortant as the panels. 170watt panels would deliver 10amps in full sun. That is heaps but would rarely be fully utilised with just the fridge.
We have an 80lt fridge, draws up to 7amps on start up and when compressor going about 5 amps. with that and rechaging laptop and phones etc, was pulling 10amps.
A good 100a/hr deep cycle and 150watt panel/s you should be fine.

Have found biggest killer is long warm nights where the fridge runs hard, then a cloudy hot day and batteries start to struggle. I run the fridge freezer around 0 to -5 during the day then back off to 0 to +2 overnight so it runs less often. Especially once closed for the night.

High intensity LED strips draw more than I realised. my 1.5 m strip pulls a little over an amp.
My wife cannot stand me continually rotating and moving the panels to get full sun when camping. But it makes a difference when pointed and not pointed at the sun.
I try get the most out of the last bit of sun before we go battery only after sunset.

[pete8205 Member Find all posts View Profile Close pete8205]

my mate runs the arb 78lt fridge with 105ah battery he has 80w panels (cheapys from ebay) these keep up with the fridge but struggle to put extra charge into the battery
I have 60lt engel with same battery and 120w panels (same brand as his) and on a these will charge my battery up while running the fridge
between the two both work if you have space go the 120w panels the bit extra helps and consider ebay I paid $170 delivered