I have had testing full time for the last 2 months
12 volt fridgemate fridge set at -5 degrees with no contents
190w 24v roof mounted sola panel (cost $1000)
12v plus tv on standby, 12 v gas detector, 12 volt digital clock
100 amp wet cell deep cycle battery (cost $300)
This has been set up in my van for the last 2 months, fridge was left empty to increase cycling for the test. Even over the last week with plenty of rain and lucky to get 2hrs of sun a day my battery voltage has not dropped below 11.5 volts which I have been checking at 6 am before daylight which would be the lowest voltage. We havent been living in the van so if we were there would be a little more power used for the water pump, lighting and the odd bit of tv. I have very happy with our sola set up.
cheers
blaze
justcruisin01 said
09:41 PM Jul 5, 2011
So far so good, the cold weather is helping with the fridge. just remember when it get hotter & you start adding food to the fridge , along with the general oprning & closing of the door with daily living the run times for the fridge will be longer & more often.
If you are travelling through timbered country there is a lot of interuped sunlight on the pannel.Only time will tell the true storey. We just had five weeks parked in the one spot during our recent fishing trip up north, I had 240 watts into 2 x100 amp batt. for the freezer. also 135watts into 2x70amp batt. for the fridge, [same units] All worked well with no additional charge required during this period.
While travelling the 135 watt , mounted on top of the trailer looked after the fridge. The Redarc took care of the freezer batt.
Ron and Shirley said
10:33 PM Jul 5, 2011
I somewhat worry if the voltage of our van battery drops below 12.2v, which is approximately 60% State of Charge.
With voltage of around 11.5v, near 20% State of Charge, I certainly would not be happy.
blaze said
10:55 PM Jul 5, 2011
Ron and Shirley wrote:
I somewhat worry if the voltage of our van battery drops below 12.2v, which is approximately 60% State of Charge.
With voltage of around 11.5v, near 20% State of Charge, I certainly would not be happy.
Been told not to let my voltage get below 11volts by the sola shop I got my panel off, all the other advice given has been great so I will take his advice. Thanks for your thoughts
cheers
blaze
blaze said
10:58 PM Jul 5, 2011
justcruisin01 wrote:
So far so good, the cold weather is helping with the fridge. just remember when it get hotter & you start adding food to the fridge , along with the general oprning & closing of the door with daily living the run times for the fridge will be longer & more often.
If you are travelling through timbered country there is a lot of interuped sunlight on the pannel.Only time will tell the true storey. We just had five weeks parked in the one spot during our recent fishing trip up north, I had 240 watts into 2 x100 amp batt. for the freezer. also 135watts into 2x70amp batt. for the fridge, [same units] All worked well with no additional charge required during this period.
While travelling the 135 watt , mounted on top of the trailer looked after the fridge. The Redarc took care of the freezer batt.
Nice to hear other real life experiences. My fridge is cycling more now than it did when full in 30 degrees running it as a fridge freezer. It has also been opened regularly to help simulate the worst case.
cheers
blaze
Gerty Dancer said
11:08 PM Jul 5, 2011
We have a 130watt portable solar panel and 2x 100amp batteries. The beauty of the portable panel is you can park your van in the shade but put the panel out in the sun. So far, all seems to be going well, longest test was 5 days, by which time the batteries were down to 11.5v. (The day temperatures were about 30 at that time) Now we try not to park without power for longer than 3 days.
Cupie said
04:51 PM Jul 6, 2011
blaze wrote:
Ron and Shirley wrote:
I somewhat worry if the voltage of our van battery drops below 12.2v, which is approximately 60% State of Charge.
With voltage of around 11.5v, near 20% State of Charge, I certainly would not be happy.
Been told not to let my voltage get below 11volts by the sola shop I got my panel off, all the other advice given has been great so I will take his advice. Thanks for your thoughts
cheers
blaze
Hi ..
I would tend to agree with Ron & Shirley.
I have read that a fully charged (& rested - off load) lead acid batt should have a terminal voltage of around 12.75v. .....
50% - 12.25v
0% - 11.65v.
Maybe you should check again with the Solar Shop guy that has given you good advice in the past. Might have mis heard.
If your lead acid batt is not sealed you should monitor the Specific Gravity of the electrolyte as well ...
100% circa 1.240 ..
50% 1.165 ...
0% 1.100
PeterD said
05:51 PM Jul 6, 2011
The voltages being quoted for various battery charge are for batteries that have been rested for 8 -12 hours. If Blaze is taking his reading whilst the fridge is running then things are not as bad as has been suggested. However saying that the 11.5 V figure is a little low. I would prefer it to be a little higher.
Where does Blaze live? if it is Melbourne then he will get better solar performance either in the north and in summer.
Gerty Dancer said
05:53 PM Jul 6, 2011
Thanks PeterD, thats good to hear, was a bit concerned!
AlbyofCraigmore said
06:30 PM Jul 6, 2011
I have 4x120w panels , Waeco cr110 fridge and waeco cf 40 as a freezer. 240amps battery. We are currently up north in Kununurra. We have found that the fridge and freezer are cycling more often in the hot weather and that in the early morning hours before sunrise, the battery can be as low as 11.7v under load especially if both are cycling at the same time. But if the fridges are not running, the battery voltage will go up to 12.2-3v in a very short time. My problem is that I have a voltage monitor that has an alarm that goes off if the battery voltage goes below 11.8v. So some mornings we get woken by the alarm going off which is a nuisance. My solution , pull the plug on the monitor! Also, up north in the heat, I find the panels aren't as efficient as down south. Also, problems with dust accumulating on the panels up here. That must effect efficiency as well. My observations.
cheers,
ChiChi1 said
07:55 PM Jul 6, 2011
My sola monitor will only allow me to get down to 12v.
I have had testing full time for the last 2 months
12 volt fridgemate fridge set at -5 degrees with no contents
190w 24v roof mounted sola panel (cost $1000)
12v plus tv on standby, 12 v gas detector, 12 volt digital clock
100 amp wet cell deep cycle battery (cost $300)
This has been set up in my van for the last 2 months, fridge was left empty to increase cycling for the test. Even over the last week with plenty of rain and lucky to get 2hrs of sun a day my battery voltage has not dropped below 11.5 volts which I have been checking at 6 am before daylight which would be the lowest voltage. We havent been living in the van so if we were there would be a little more power used for the water pump, lighting and the odd bit of tv. I have very happy with our sola set up.
cheers
blaze
So far so good, the cold weather is helping with the fridge. just remember when it get hotter & you start adding food to the fridge , along with the general oprning & closing of the door with daily living the run times for the fridge will be longer & more often.
If you are travelling through timbered country there is a lot of interuped sunlight on the pannel.Only time will tell the true storey. We just had five weeks parked in the one spot during our recent fishing trip up north, I had 240 watts into 2 x100 amp batt. for the freezer. also 135watts into 2x70amp batt. for the fridge, [same units] All worked well with no additional charge required during this period.
While travelling the 135 watt , mounted on top of the trailer looked after the fridge. The Redarc took care of the freezer batt.
I somewhat worry if the voltage of our van battery drops below 12.2v, which is approximately 60% State of Charge.
With voltage of around 11.5v, near 20% State of Charge, I certainly would not be happy.
Been told not to let my voltage get below 11volts by the sola shop I got my panel off, all the other advice given has been great so I will take his advice. Thanks for your thoughts
cheers
blaze
Nice to hear other real life experiences. My fridge is cycling more now than it did when full in 30 degrees running it as a fridge freezer. It has also been opened regularly to help simulate the worst case.
cheers
blaze
Hi ..
I would tend to agree with Ron & Shirley.
I have read that a fully charged (& rested - off load) lead acid batt should have a terminal voltage of around 12.75v. .....
50% - 12.25v
0% - 11.65v.
Maybe you should check again with the Solar Shop guy that has given you good advice in the past. Might have mis heard.
If your lead acid batt is not sealed you should monitor the Specific Gravity of the electrolyte as well ...
100% circa 1.240 ..
50% 1.165 ...
0% 1.100
Where does Blaze live? if it is Melbourne then he will get better solar performance either in the north and in summer.
Also, up north in the heat, I find the panels aren't as efficient as down south. Also, problems with dust accumulating on the panels up here. That must effect efficiency as well.
My observations.
cheers,