Kickass solar panel
Submitted: Thursday, Nov 05, 2020 at 14:32
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The Rambler( W.A.)
I am thinking of buying the kickass 300 w solar panel to charge two 120a. AGM batteries in my camper trailer.I am running a 30l engel as freezer and 40l Engel as fridge.I previously tried a 200w panel which could not keep up.Anyone with experience with the kickass 300 as it is quite expensive($900) but apparently very efficient and will this run my two Engels?
I don’t trust the cheap panels.
Reply By: swampy - Thursday, Nov 05, 2020 at 18:32
Thursday, Nov 05, 2020 at 18:32
Hi
borderline acceptable 160watt per for 1x 100-120ahr battery
Ideal 200watts per 100--120ah battery
Why,, its all about recharge time and how
well a system copes with semi cloudy days
200watts generates about 14amps with Mppt , good medium charge rate
160watts generates around 11 amps with Mppt , little slow and low
A fast charge for 100-120ah is around 25 amps
Many have 1x panel as portable and 1x fixed to roof
On a hot weather day 24hr period a 40ltr compressor frezzer can use 40ah //fridge 30ah
200 watts recharges 48ah in 24hr [not including mppt = +20%avg. ]
eg 4oo watt 96ah in 24hr [+mppt ]
-----Based on 5.5 hrs peak solar per day avg for mainland Aust summer spring and autumn
-----peak sun is sun at 100% effectiveness
discharging below 50% bat capacity seriously shortens cycle life of battery
AnswerID:
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Reply By: 2517. - Friday, Nov 06, 2020 at 09:36
Friday, Nov 06, 2020 at 09:36
300 watts divided by 17 would give you about 17 amp by 5 hr,I think it a big ask from my experience running a 100 litres caravan frig with 400 watts of solars and 2 90 amp batteries.I went to
Tamworth in January for 3 weeks three years in a row and I was surprised how it kept up no worries at all ,why not just buy another 200 panel. Low Energy in Melb have budget panels I have used heaps of them they seem to be good value for money,you would get a 200 watts for under
$200.
AnswerID:
634015
Reply By: Croc099 - Friday, Nov 13, 2020 at 11:17
Friday, Nov 13, 2020 at 11:17
What sort of controller are you using with the existing panel. I changed the pwm unit that came with my panel for an mppt device and it made a big difference.
I'm running an 80L fridge / freezer, lights, chargers and small 150W inverter ( not used much ) from a single 150Ah agm and 160W of solar with mppt. Average consumption is between 25 and 35 Ah per day depending on how often I get beer. If I happen to get rained in and solar is unavailable at least I can run for 4 days before I need to recharge from the car.
I don't know the consumption of your Engels but from my situation then intuitively something else might be going on. Might pay to
check everything else first before lashing out and spending $900.
AnswerID:
634095
Follow Up By: The Rambler( W.A.) - Friday, Nov 13, 2020 at 13:05
Friday, Nov 13, 2020 at 13:05
I had bypassed the controller as the panel was plugged directly into the Ctek dcdc charger in my camper.The two Engels would probably draw 5ah if used continuously but I turned off fridge at night.From the previous comments it didn't seem that a 200w panel would be enough.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Croc099 - Friday, Nov 13, 2020 at 13:23
Friday, Nov 13, 2020 at 13:23
My 80L draws around 5A when the compressor is running. It doesn't run all the time and shuts off at 2 deg below setting then comes on again 2 deg above setting. So if I have my fridge set to 2 deg the compressor runs 'til 0 deg and restarts at 4 deg. On average it spends between 1/5th and 1/4 of the time actually running. I find it unusual that a compressor would run a continuous duty cycle.
Naturally, it runs for about 20 minutes when first turned on and then cycles once the temperature setting is reached.
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Follow Up By: The Rambler( W.A.) - Friday, Nov 13, 2020 at 13:53
Friday, Nov 13, 2020 at 13:53
Agreed,the compressor on my Engels would probably be running Half the time unless very hot conditions.
FollowupID:
911214