Goldstream Solar Panels

Hi Derek I am leaning toward a Bi Fold unit although maybe a little smaller 60-80W?

80w will not keep up with a fridge. 100w min.

There are many factors to take into account when selecting a Solar Panel set up. It isn't as easy as just buying a Solar panel and connecting it up and hoping it will maintain full charge. You need to take into account several things such as Peak Amp output of the Panel noting that this is in ideal conditions and is rarely meet, what type of battery bank you are charging, what equipment is going to be used and it's usage rate in Amp/hrs (always take worst case scenario) and a simple thing such as the amount of effective sunlight you will get for that time of the year and what sort of regulator you wish to run. Below is an example of what sort of sunlight effective hours you will get.

Location Winter Summer
Melbourne & Southern Regions 2hrs 5.5hrs
Central NSW, SA and SW W.A 3hrs 6hrs
Central Aust 4.5hrs 8hrs
Broome To FNQ 5hrs 6hrs

Note: This is only a rough guide.

So using central NSW as an example with 2 X 50watt Solar Panels (6.3Amp Max) with 3 hrs in Winter and 6hrs in Summer gives 18.9Amps for the day in Winter and 37.8 Amps in Summer. Now with a 40ltr Engel draws a reported 2.5Amp hr Max which means an Engel alone will suck 60Amps out of your Battery. Now this is a very worst case and shouldn't draw anywhere near that? So in effect you are only replacing a 1/3 of what you use in winter and just over half what you use in summer. Now this is just the fridge without lights, inverters etc but I wouldn't envisage the Engel using this amount of power especially in winter but it is better to work on worst case as you can have rainy days, overcast days etc and you honestly can't count on the panel putting out it's claimed peak Amp/hrs.....I hope this helps and if you have any further questions, feel free to ask. Has Derek has already stated I would guest 100Watt would be your min without knowing you expected load requirements. I run twin 50watt panels which have performed exceptionally well running a 40ltr Engel and my camper LED lighting.....

Thanks,

Teabag

Hi Steven. I have my panels mounted on the roof of my 4by (2x75-1x80). Hinged
so I can tilt them if need be.I made a lead up.long enough to reach the battery on
the camper. Put a plug in wired to the battery, I just unplug from the batterys in the wagon and conneck to the camper battery for a couple of hours in the morning to
give it a bit of a charge. I run two 40lt engels ( 1freeze, 1fridge) I turn the
freezer back to no2 setting when the panels stop getting any power.
I have spent 3weeks in the bush like this. Keep thinking of a gene backup but as of
yet I have not needed one. Others may say I need more than this but it works for me. cheers Brian.
The goldstream is a good camper, like mine

Steven
hope this works. you can see the lead from the panel to the battery box
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c315/brian-m/BandyaAug2006007.jpg
brian

steven
maybe this

Now this might work having trouble getting the piccies to function ooppppsss!!!!!!

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c315/brian-m/BandyaAug2006007.jpg

this is the hyperlink to the piccies

maybe??

Hi Brian and thanks for your efforts but unfortunatley the hyperlink dosent seem to work. A for effort and persistence ;-]