cold drinks
Submitted: Monday, Jan 07, 2008 at 18:56
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Member - Ron O (VIC)
Hi all just back from spending nine days camped on the murray(bloody hot).I have an 80watt panel and two 100amp batteries that ran the engel not to bad but what l would like to know can l run the engel straight from the panel during the day. Thanks all.
Reply By: Yowie73 - Monday, Jan 07, 2008 at 19:40
Monday, Jan 07, 2008 at 19:40
I don't think you can. As far as I am aware (and I could be wrong) you can't guarantee a solid voltage supply from a solar panel, and fridges like a good steady supply of power. They have low voltage cut outs, but I don't think they like it very much.
This is why you run it through a battery. The battery powers the fridge, and the panel tops up the battery when it can.
I hope this is accurate. It is how I understand it.
Cheers,
Craig
AnswerID:
280331
Follow Up By: Member - Mike DID - Monday, Jan 07, 2008 at 20:54
Monday, Jan 07, 2008 at 20:54
People would find it much easier to understand how to use Solar Panels, if they accepted that even though most DC sources are constant-voltage, a solar panel is a constant-current source.
e.g. an 80 watt panel will put out 4.5 amps - as the load is varied the voltage can range from 1 to 20 volts - very bad for any load you will have. But connect it to a battery and the output will stay between 13 and 14 volts.
There is no benefit in trying to run a fridge directly off a solar panel.
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Reply By: Member - BIGDOG G (WA) - Monday, Jan 07, 2008 at 19:50
Monday, Jan 07, 2008 at 19:50
I dont know much about this but Im sure 1x80 to 2x100 is a bit out of kilta.
Why do you want to send power straight to fridge ?, I dont think thats a good Idea.
Regards..............BIGDOG
AnswerID:
280334
Follow Up By: Yowie73 - Monday, Jan 07, 2008 at 20:18
Monday, Jan 07, 2008 at 20:18
You have to remember it 1x80 Watts and 2x100 Amp/hour
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Follow Up By: Member - Ron O (VIC) - Monday, Jan 07, 2008 at 20:33
Monday, Jan 07, 2008 at 20:33
its just something we were chewing over one nite and l didn't if it could be done
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544541
Reply By: Jim from Best Off Road - Monday, Jan 07, 2008 at 21:00
Monday, Jan 07, 2008 at 21:00
Ron,
In simple terms (not being condescending, I myself am a simple man), if you drip water into a container at 4 litres an hour and the container is leaking at 5 litres an hour; it will eventually become empty. This is what is happening on the Murray. An 80 watt panel in those conditions simply won't keep up with the fridge.
No advantage whatsoever running it direct to the fridge. In fact a disadvantage, if the fridge cycles off, the excess power is going nowhere. If connected via the batttery, the batt is saving the energy whilst the fridge is "asleep".
Hope yhis helps.
Jim.
AnswerID:
280351