Solar Panels

valnrob · Guru

Solar Panels

JRH · Guru

valnrob wrote:

Hi campers, does any use or have any knowledge of Suntech Solar Panels. We are looking to buy an 80 watt panel, Suntech advertise an 85 watter. Read on the internet that they are on a par with BP. Be interested to hear any comments, Tks, ValnRob.

I have had an 80 watt Suntech panel on my van for 2 years now and I can honestly say it has not missed a beat, battery is topped up by mid morning. Battery is a 100 a/h AGM Deep Cycle.

Onedodger · Guru

I have a portable folding Suntech panel and it is robust and works well.
This panel has been used consistently for 3 years without a problem.
Yes they are equal to any other panel and better than some.

valnrob · Guru

Thanks JRH and Dodge, there's a place in Tamworth advertising them at least $250 less than BP. That made me a bit wary, cause we brought a panel (not Suntech) off Ebay and it didn't have the watts it was advertised at. Seller wouldn't answer emails from me after receiving the cash!! You both have had yours for at least a couple of yrs so that's a good indication. Thanks again for yr replies.
Val n Rob

-- Edited by valnrob on Saturday 10th of April 2010 02:47:22 PM

JRH · Guru

valnrob wrote:

Thanks JRH and Dodge, there's a place in Tamworth advertising them at least $250 less than BP. That made me a bit wary, cause we brought a panel (not Suntech) off Ebay and it didn't have the watts it was advertised at. Seller wouldn't answer emails from me after receiving the cash!! You both have had yours for at least a couple of yrs so that's a good indication. Thanks again for yr replies.
Val n Rob

-- Edited by valnrob on Saturday 10th of April 2010 02:47:22 PM

G'day Val n Rob,

At that price I would be grabbing it quick smart before they put the price up.

As I said I have't been able to fault my panel and I also have an 80 watt portable that works like a dream.

valnrob · Guru

Hi John & Irona,

i think we will buy one, we will be running a ARB 47 lt fridge/freezer, tv and a light, and my laptop. We have 2x100 amp hr deep cycle batts, but are now wondering if we need 2 ?? We don't want to run a generator except as a last resort. Are thinking with the 85watt suntech and the other 50 watt solar panel should have enough power, but we have said THIS SHOULD BE THE END OF OUR PROBLEMS !!! before.

regards Val and Rob

JRH · Guru

valnrob wrote:

Hi John & Irona,

i think we will buy one, we will be running a ARB 47 lt fridge/freezer, tv and a light, and my laptop. We have 2x100 amp hr deep cycle batts, but are now wondering if we need 2 ?? We don't want to run a generator except as a last resort. Are thinking with the 85watt suntech and the other 50 watt solar panel should have enough power, but we have said THIS SHOULD BE THE END OF OUR PROBLEMS !!! before.

regards Val and Rob

I don't know the fridge but I run a 52lt Bushman portable fridge off my 1500amp Jumpack which has a 33 a/h deep cycle battery. That will run my fridge for a minimum of 48 hours without a recharge. I recharge when free camping with the 80 watt portable panel.

I would keep the 2 batteries as the TV would draw a fair amount of power and I would rather be safe than sorry.

With just the 1 x 100a/h battery in the van I run lights and Radio/CD/DVDplayer and to date have not had any problems. The caravan fridge I run on gas.

I also carry a small gas lantern for emergencies.

Hope this all helps a little.

Regards to you both

John & Irona

valnrob · Guru

Thanks for your input, the ARB is a portable compressor fridge freezer, see them in the 4 x 4 mags. I should have said we have 2 x 100 amp hr batteries, only used for fridge, and 60 amp hour deep cycle battery in van for lights tv etc. Rob says he will probably keep all batteries like u say better safe than sorry.
We live in Northwestern NSW and have a trip to Longreach and inland Qld in July so want to be sorted out before then. Doing mainly free camping.

Thanks again, getting there slowly !!

regards Val and Rob

Martin · Veteran Member

"I don't know the fridge but I run a 52lt Bushman portable fridge off my 1500amp Jumpack which has a 33 a/h deep cycle battery. That will run my fridge for a minimum of 48 hours without a recharge."
Absolutely dreaming. A 40l takes minimum of 24Ah and 52L would be minimum 32Ah at no higher than 25C

Suntech panels are fine and come from one of the larger manufacturers and have good track record. Have 3 120w on top of my vehicle.

-- Edited by Martin on Saturday 10th of April 2010 08:32:34 PM

JRH · Guru

Martin wrote:

"I don't know the fridge but I run a 52lt Bushman portable fridge off my 1500amp Jumpack which has a 33 a/h deep cycle battery. That will run my fridge for a minimum of 48 hours without a recharge."
Absolutely dreaming. A 40l takes minimum of 24Ah and 52L would be minimum 30Ah at no higher than 25C

Suntech panels are fine and come from one of the larger manufacturers and have good track record. Have 3 120w on top of my vehicle.

Don't tell me I'm dreaming, I have run my 52 lt Bushman on the jumpack for 48 hours without any problems at all. Your statement tells me I am lying, how dare you.

I don't tell lies and I don't exaggerate. If I had not done it I would not have mentioned it.

-- Edited by JRH on Saturday 10th of April 2010 06:49:19 PM

Martin · Veteran Member

What you are claiming is impossible.

If you read the specifications of the fridge power unit, the low voltage cutoff point, take the technical specifications of the battery and , maintaining a temperature to comply with Australian Food Standards, what you are claiming is technically impossible like not a hope in hell.

-- Edited by Webmaster on Monday 12th of April 2010 05:29:10 PM

JRH · Guru

For any body who is interested below is the link to Bushman refridgerators .

http://www.bushman.com.au/faq.html#31269

valnrob · Guru

Hi John, I don't know any of the technicalities of running any portable fridges, but friends of ours do have Bushman, and they swear by them and the minimal amount of amps used when running them on -2 deg. Thanks for your help.

regards Val n Rob

Martin · Veteran Member

The Bushman compressor is not variable speed and has a low COP compared to Danfoss. Once you get into the minus zone with those cheap fridges they seriously use a lot of power. No other fridge manufacturer of cheap fridges like Waeco, Engel are stupid enough to make such ridiculous claims.
The other issue when can you get 32Ah out of a 33Ah battery in 48 hours. You do read about some electrical miracles on forums which of course are all cow dung. My job is low voltage power consumption and involves portable refrigeration for keeping food and medical supplies in transit and people fed.

This is what Waeco are saying on a CF40 at 4C cabinet temperature
at 20C 5.28 hours / 22% 19.8Ah
at 30C 7.68 hours / 32% 28.8Ah
and you trying to tell me a cheap Bushman 52L which is 14% thinner insulation than a Waeco and 12L larger in size is going to draw less power.

-- Edited by Martin on Sunday 11th of April 2010 03:07:14 PM

-- Edited by Webmaster on Monday 12th of April 2010 05:31:08 PM

JRH · Guru

Of course everybody is wrong with the sole exception of Martin. Whatever you reckon is a fair thing.

-- Edited by Webmaster on Monday 12th of April 2010 05:32:29 PM

valnrob · Guru

Hi Martin, i don't know anything about all that, i am just saying what i was told, my original question was about Suntech solar panels, i am not really interested in which fridge does what, as long as mine keeps food and drinks cold and that the panel i get will keep the batteries up to fully charged.
regards Val and Rob

-- Edited by Webmaster on Monday 12th of April 2010 05:33:16 PM

twobob · Guru

Yeh Martin

I notice through out this forum you refer us to other sites, for BETTER information. I wonder why you even grace us with your presence

We discuss things here. We do not need to attack anyone personally. These sorts of attack's are done by those that have little faith in their knowledge and seek to humiliate others, and make themselves look better.

You have presented some facts, again from other sites, but not asked how John came to his conclusion. A reasonable thing I would have thought, given your wealth of knowledge.

We act as adults, and read and make up our own minds based on facts. We ask questions and generally try and have a civil converstion, as we already know that there are lots we do not know. We can accept anothers point of view, not necessarily agree, but there are always things to learn. You seem to have leant it ALL, except good manners.

-- Edited by Webmaster on Monday 12th of April 2010 05:34:56 PM

JRH · Guru

When I first bought my Bushman I was skeptical about it's economy claims so I decided to try an experiment.

I set the fridge to -2c put in some stubbies(warm), some vegetables ( lettuce, tomatoes and a few onions) and in the middle basket where the makers claim it will keep the food at an average of +2c I included a few sausages, bacon and a couple of Lamb chops. I connected the fridge to the 240 volt power until it had reached the desired temp. I then changed over to 12volt via my Projector 1500amp x 33a/h deepcycle battery and kept a watch over it all for the next 48 hours.

At the start the Jumpack had a voltage reading of 12.9v and after 48 hours it had a reading of 11.6v. I then disconnected the 12 volt and recharged the Jumpack.

As I would be using the fridge mainly in the back of my station wagon I set the fridge up in there at the start, so at time when the vehicle was parked in the sun at a shopping center the temp inside was quite high.

Whenever we travel I now am quite happy to leave the fridge connected to the Jumpack for 48 hours after which I connect my portable 80 watt solar panel to charge up said Jumpack. I have used this system now for at least 2 years without a problem, what others may achieve I do not know I can only relate my own personal experiences.

John

-- Edited by Webmaster on Monday 12th of April 2010 05:36:10 PM

JRH · Guru

Val'n'Rob,

Please accept my apologies for the way your topic deteriorated, it was never my intention to enter into a bun fight with anyone.

I have stated my experiences only, what others may or may not achieve I cannot say.

Please do not let this unfortunate state of affairs stop you from posting and asking questions.

Regards

John

valnrob · Guru

Martin, no one entered this post to have an argument. There are people like myself who have little knowledge of this subject and have to ask questions on what would be the better course of action to take.
How do any of us learn if we can't ask questions? There are probably many things each of us can do that someone else can't.

Education is a wonderful thing for us all - it's a pity yours didn't include good manners, ...............
and spelling!

Val

valnrob · Guru

Hello John,

Don't worrry about it my friend, thanks for your input. Much appreciated, we are thinking we will get an 80 watt Suntech panel. With the 50 watt panel we already have, should be enough to keep us going.
We don't run much, only the ARB, a light, TV and laptop.

thanks again,
regards Val and Rob.

Thanks to you too Two Bob

regards Val and Rob.

Smokeydk · Guru

I know..I know.......I have a waeco 40l.....like JRH....I use a jumpstarter a 1900amp/38amphour battery.....starting with 13.85.....in 48 hours it still has 12.8 left...

Sure the waeco isnt a Bushman.....but I beleave everything JRH says.....I've read all the forums.....and statistics and best results are those you get yourself when experimenting.

The jumpstarters are great investment when your free camping when its cold and wet and solar panels arent working...I use mine also to run lights and charge mob phone and camera batterys....and charge them when I'm using solar panel or while travelling

-- Edited by Smokeydk on Sunday 11th of April 2010 07:56:47 PM

Augy · Newbie

Hi Valnrob I use a suntech panel for camping and they are brilliant,
also i have 9 of them on my roof at home..and they have performed flawlessly so far (6months) so i can recommend them to you

cheers
Augy

valnrob · Guru

Thanks for your input Smokeydk. Looks like a Jumpstart may also be a handy piece of equipment.

Thanks Augy, we have had really good feedback on Suntech panels and looks like they are a winner.

regards
Val n Rob

Pam · Guru

how expensive are the jump starters ?

DeBe · Guru

Hi JRH, Very interesting info on this site http://www.cubigel.com/docs/ACC_GD30FDC_EN.pdf It apears the Bushman uses a Cubigel GD30FDC compressor designed in Spain. Contrary to what Martin says the compressors are capable of running at different speeds, & can have an LED conected to flash fault codes. Well worth a look. Cheers Daryl

JRH · Guru

DeBe wrote:

Hi JRH, Very interesting info on this site http://www.cubigel.com/docs/ACC_GD30FDC_EN.pdf It apears the Bushman uses a Cubigel GD30FDC compressor designed in Spain. Contrary to what Martin says the compressors are capable of running at different speeds, & can have an LED conected to flash fault codes. Well worth a look. Cheers Daryl

G'day daryl,

Thanks for the link, I did know that they were capable of running at different speeds but was not going to grt into a bun fight with Martin over that one also.

The link is well worth a look, in fact I did not know of it until your post, so once again thanks a million.

jimricho · Guru

I purchased a Bushman over 9 years ago and after about 15 months the unit gave trouble in that it failed to adequately cool in high ambient temperature conditions. Clem from Bushman willingly replaced the fridge under warranty and since then the replacement unit has performed flawlessly.

Smokeydk · Guru

I bought my jumpstart from SuperCheap Auto..keep an eye out cause the purple colored ones 1900 amp do sell cheaper at times..

Smokeydk · Guru

They on special in todays catalog for $129 each at Supercheap Auto