solar panel

I think you should buy a Land Cruiser.

thanks for the tip, but I wasnt after a new car.

I think they use around an average 2 amps per hour, so to run it continuously you'd need to put about that much back into your battery. So say 48 amp hours over 24hours, with say average 7 hrs per day sunlight in a perfect world you'd need something that will output about 7 or 8 amps. Now volts times amps =watts, so watts divided by volts=amps.

From all that an 80 watt panel will deliver around about 6 or 7 amps depending on sunlight, shade and whether you move the panel to watch the sun.

This is all layman talk and if you search the forum here you'll probably find some much more intelligent discussion on the issue.

The simple answer -

if you are an optimist, buy one 80 watt panel.

If you are a pessimist (and can afford it) buy two 80 watt panels

If you are a realist, buy one 80 watt panel and a Kipor 1kVA generator and 15 amp charger.

Mike

The simple answer is to buy the biggest wattage panel you can afford and a regulator of at least double the minimum required for said panel,, solar power becomes addictive ,, try starting with a 120 Kyocera and a 20/20 Steca regulator and the addiction is well on its way to being satisfied.

hi chris,
i have a 80 watt panel and this seems to keep up with my fridge ( 40l engel) and 2 fluro camp lights. my batteries are 2x 75 amp hour deep cycle these are in my c.t. maximum stay in one spot was 5 days in summer time and had plenty of power,just remember panels are not as efficient incloudy or rainy condition .

shad..!MPG:4!

My setup:
Waeco CF50
Solarex 50W Panel
2 x 38Ah gel cells just on fridge with panel plugged in through steca regulator.
2 x 35Ah gel cells for all the other junk that needs amps.
Scorpion 1KvA Generator and 3 stage charger.

Waeco on freeze prior to departure then drop to 2 lights in camp. Chuck fridge in Paj on 4 lights when driving around looking at things.

We went 6 days in the Flinders over Easter without running the gennie. We were driving most days and just left batteries in camp with the panel plugged in and pointing north. If we were in camp all day I moved it around to follow the sun.

If we are planning on just staying put somewhere for a week or so, I leave the Waeco, gennie and fridge batteries behind and take the Chescold 3 way and a gas cylinder.

Works for me. (the Gel cells are all ex-gopher items at $25 a pop from a scooter servicing place)

Pete

Hi Chris

In your situation I normally supply my 100w bi-fold unit and would also recommend 2x 90a/h AGM's this will give you power for when it is overcast.

I also install a charge cable from the vehicle to 'Top Up' when needed.

The generator option is a good one but then I would only use the generator and a 20 amp smart charger and not solar. The fridge is your cheapest outlay in this situation.

Regards Derek.

Hi Chris,
80 w is ample to run one fridge.
Just have a lead to connect the vehicle to the battery, this lead is just in case you need to give the battery a boost charge.
I have run my engel for about 2 months on an 80w panel without any problems, your waeco should be about the same.

from Marty.