<span class="highlight">Solar</span> <span class="highlight">Panel</span>, Battery & 57 litre combo Engel

Have a read of this. Some great info and easy to follow. Good Luck

http://www.exploroz.com/Vehicle/Electrics/BatteryCharging.aspx

Also this one

http://www.exploroz.com/Vehicle/Electrics/Solar.aspx#What_About_Watts?

Hi Amy, you’re going to find it’s difficult to get someone to give exact details without knowing where you going to be using it, whats the ambient temperature, amps drawn and so on.

I run 2 fridges, a 50 lt via a smart charger to a second battery (110 AH) we tend to move every second day

And a 21 lt via a third battery (again 110 AH) and a 120 watt Solar Panel with regulator.

They both work equally as well judging by my gauge, which consists of grabbing a beer and seeing if its cold.
2 trips in the bush with this set up 1 of 10 days and 1 of 9 days.
I have no reason to believe they would not run indefinitely, however we have no kids, have the drinks fridge turned up during the day and down at night.

Works well for my use, but not based on any technical calculation

Hi Amy,

As well as the references already given, you may find John's blog Electricity for Camping useful in determining your needs.

Also my blog Auxiliary Battery Systems -- Wiring Diagrams some help in selection and wiring.

Incidentally, a solar system is an asset, and needed, if you are going to be camped in one spot for a while, but if you are frequently on the move you may get sufficient recharge from the vehicle alternator alone.

57L Engel Combo will need 200W of solar panels, quality solar regulator and 120Ah to 150Ah battery.

Compassion,

I have a 60L waeco.
100 amp hour century agm battery = $300
Redrac system installed = $200
120 watt solar panel from Ray's Outdoor purchased second(new) $300

This set up would keep my battery 100 amp hour and another 100 amp hour battery charged to power 2 x 60L fridges every day with no driving providing you have full sun all day every 2nd day.

And thats using both fridges as every day fridges.

Amy,

What I would do in your case, is to start with a sound setup, to which you can add to if you need to.

Sidewinder (a business member on this site) provide a very good "flyer" battery box, to contain an AGM type battery in the tub of your Hilux. The Flyer can be purchased in two configurations, one with a built-in battery isolator and one without the isolator. As you intend to utilise a solar panel array to provide a charging source while stationary, I would suggest the Flyer without the isolator as a cheaper option, then include a Ctek D250S Dual dc-dc charger which has an alternator input port, a solar input port and a built-in MPPT solar controller. (you will need to bypass any on-board solar controller on the solar panels which are usually not all that good anyway)

So, you can maintain a charge from the vehicle alternator into the Battery (installed inside the Flyer box) when driving, then when setting up camp, connect the solar panel array to the solar input port of the Ctek. If circumstances prevail where insufficient charge is being received from the solar source, you can simply start the vehicle (without the need to disconnect anything) and the D250S will automatically determine the best input source, which in this case would no doubt be the vehicle alternator.

A run of half an hour or so may be sufficient to boost the battery level to an adequate level to maintain operation of the fridge.

The Flyer box has both cigarette style and Merit style sockets to plug the fridge into.

One other addition I would add, is a Battery Protector (also available from Sidewinder) to connect between the output port of the Flyer and the input to the Fridge.
This will stop excessive drain of the auxiliary battery to the extent that it may be permanently damaged if drained down too far.

Sidewinder

With this setup you could easily add another panel to the solar array if required, to eliminate the need to run the vehicle at all and without replacing anything else.

A 120Ah AGM battery should be big enough for this setup.

Hey, thanks for the replies everyone. I will read all the links & about everything suggested :-) Much appreciated.
Cheers Amy

I have two 120W Redarc solar panels mounted on the canopy roof and a 150AH slimline gel battery and this set-up works perfectly for our requirements. That is to say, we never think about it.

There are plenty of options available to you, including something as simple as portable panels and a simple controller.

You can view photos of our set-up in my blog, Toyota 79 Series Dual Cab - Finally Completed

But as suggested, JJohn and Val's blog is probably some of the best information you will find on the topic.

Good luck with your choices…

Baz – The Landy

I have been following this thread with interest, I'm in the same position with regards to fridge/freezer carrying and the scary thought of no batteries to get us back on the road. I have a solar panel and a duel battery system on the 4b4(patrol 3LD). We stayed at karijini for 3 days, but with only 1 fridge in use. After the second day I hooked the battery and solar panel up just incase. I restocked the fridge daily and we were in and out of it quite a bit during the stay. But now I want to run a fridge and a freezer for stays of a couple of days. From what I read, 1panel won't run a fridge let alone a freezer. So I need a battery array with panels as well as backup juice to keep it up to required temp. I'm a bit of a drongo when it comes to figures for said thing to run at said lenght for said temp. I don't like being shafted by some run of the mill shop who have less of a clue than me but use the net to diagnose my issue.
40/60 set up 40 for freezer 60 for fridge. Both run awesome in the car for traveling. And will be fine for a sinlgle night stay, as I've done before. 2-5 days I'm a bit worried. I have a generator and a battery charger but in the open country it will be nice to remain quiet if possible. I have a ark box avaliable to me and will need to try that too(has 100ah battery in it)
Cheers guys I'll check the info everyone has provided and when I go away ill report back
Shorty

Hi Amy ,
Easy question , Ok so your combo can draw a max of 4.2amps, Lets say 5amps for easy calculations.
So 60 Watts , I would suggest atleast 3x in a solar panel due to bad weather and imported panels claiming X watts when its generally Y watts . So 180Watt panel.
Now battery storage ? Only for the fridge or additional lights etc ? If only the fridge then assuming you are inbetween two hills and not getting full day light.

So during the day the 180W panel will easily keep up and recharge the battery from the previous night. ( and a MPPT charger)
During the night the fridge would draw at worst 60amps all up . So 120aH battery should see you through. (i'd doubt the battery would get below the 60% mark)
then by the next day its charged again .

If you have the funds, Get a 150 or 200aH Battery in the Hilux and a dual battery controller such as a GSL KBI100-12. And even up the panel to a 250W .
Then you have jump start power just in case and additional power for led lights etc.