Hi all. We are looking at portable solar for our van. We have had a 100ah deep cycle wet cell battery installed and have used the spreadsheet I put up on here yesterday to try and gestimate usage.
We want to be able to free camp tops at this stage is 4 days (both still working full time)
Our van 12v Lights are LED and amp usage of the CF-60 which is our back up fridge is approx 7.0amps/hr on 12v.
I thought with minimal opening of the fridge and starting it off cold and keeping it in a shady spot, it might only need maybe a total of 6 hrs running a day to maintain temp
I have decided on a 120W solar from bit deals (eBay)
the one unknown to me is how often the Waeco compressor will run during the day kept as a fridge 4deg C
Our Waeco CF50 draws 3.6 Amps when running, and as a fridge i think it runs about a third of the time (About 29 A/hr). I assume you mean your fridge draws 7 Amps (not 7 A/hr) when running which seem very high. Could you clarify if this is so.
Hi Alan, according to the users manual, the rated current is 7.0 amps on 12v, 3.0amps on 24v and 1.3 to 0.7 amp on 100-240 VAC. It also gives the same figures for the CF-50
I would have double the solar and storage capacity required in calculation to allow for overcast days etc ., especially solar as it's reasonably light and used mainly in daylight hours ..
This is not very technical. I agree with what has been suggested but after being north of Capricorn for almost a year the night temperature is really important. Southern Victoria or Tasmania is one thing FNQ is a totally different thing. At 3am they are still working. Anyway luck with that. Remember north of Capricorn. Woody46
Thanks all, going out free camping on the w/e of the 22nd so will try it all then and monitor the battery usage, that will determine what size solar we get, obviously not going to monitor the fridge 24/7 but not going to scrimp on its usage. We have a back up gen available in the family if needed. Will keep you posted
A 60 lt fridge around 60a per 24 hrs in hot weather
50% of above in 25 deg cel
To recover amperage in reasonable time during poor weather 200 watts min
Many spread sheets suggest at least 240 watts of solar
As old track has mentioned x2
Idealy at least 200watts on roof
Portable 160-240 watts
at least 200 anps of storage /batts
Go to an insulation Ducting supplier. Get whatever length needed of 17mm Ducting insulation Hard. Silver backed. 2.5m x 2m did 80ltr Waeco plus.
It cuts your compressor time in half. and keeps fridge (In CQ and North) running fine on 4 dots 6 dots if using as freezer. I had a 50 ltr then. 80ltr Waeco now.
My 80 ltr draws around 3.5 a (when full) and when I lift lid flap of insulation, it's got condensation all over top of fridge. That's in rear of Patrol or ute. in Darwin. Cairns. T'Ville etc.
I now have an 80w panel on Ute roof. 2 x NZ70Z battery in tray. Using veh every day covers usage of fridge for 24hr cycle as freezer/fridge combined.(It's on now)
When stopped and with caravan, I couple to AC charger and/or caravan solar supply
200w panel and 85w battery. only run LED lights TV and fan.Anything more,
air cond Microwave frypan kettle etc.I just start genny if not on power
With decent EXTRA insulation. those fridge/freezers are easily 50% more efficient power wise. and also internally.
I had a 1/2 thick layer of it round the sides of built in Waeco 110ltr fridge in caravan too. Never on more than 3 1\2 or fridge froze things.
We up North all the time ( Yeppoon and above) It really makes them efficient and more than worth the money cost.
-- Edited by macka17 on Thursday 2nd of June 2016 11:26:43 PM
-- Edited by macka17 on Thursday 2nd of June 2016 11:31:58 PM
I think put simply, if you run the waeco as fridge only, and a few led lights for 4 or 5 hours, you will be fine with 100ah battery and 120w solar for 4 days if battery was full at the start...
