Solar Panels
Submitted: Saturday, Dec 06, 2003 at 19:41
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captnsnooze
Gooday all
I have read all the postings on here about solar panels. I have a couple of 130 amp hour batteries which run my bushman fridge and versalite for sec\veral days no problems but I want to go solar to keep them charged. For most of the year this will be a toy as
camping trips are pretty
well limited to 3 days and so on but annual leave gives four weeks or more for an extended trip. I go to one spot set up and stay for the entire time so I figure I need some charging capacity. I am looking at an 85watt BP solar panel and a dual battery thingo as a supplement. I dont drive much once I am set up and I dont want to run the old girl for any periods of time in the
camp. I am happy to go for a spin once a week for a coupla hours. So I only want to afford the one panel, am I wasting my time or will this give me a reasonable amount of recharge for say the one battery that runs the fridge? (the second battery runs the versalite which only draws one amp so its not a drama). In the future I could see myself getting a second panel for morte extended trips ( you know when retirement age hits).
Reply By: joc45 - Saturday, Dec 06, 2003 at 21:31
Saturday, Dec 06, 2003 at 21:31
Hi, Captnsnooze,
Sounds like you have a good reserve capacity, but even one solar panel will help; the less you run the batteries down (ei, the shallower the discharge), the longer will be the life, so keeping some charge into the batteries will help a lot. 85w is not enough to keep up with the fridge and light, but will reduce the draw-down on the battery.
I use an Autofridge (4A draw, 30% duty cycle) and a couple of Versalites, and I get by with about 130w of panels, so a second 85w panel later would fit the bill in your case. Go with it - early replacement of two 130AH batteries later sounds like a lot of money!!
Don't forget to factor in the cost of a solar regulator, tho it could be argued that you may never reach full charge with one panel.
Suggest you spend a few bucks on a reasonable digital voltmeter to monitor battery condition. Jaycar
http://www1.jaycar.com.au/ sell a nice one with tempertature guage included (monitor your fridge temp) for about $40 Cat no XC0116.
I agree about not running the engine while
camping - someone did that to us for several hours one night in the Kimberleys - was not a neighborly thing to do.
Gerry
AnswerID:
39587
Reply By: William - Saturday, Dec 06, 2003 at 21:36
Saturday, Dec 06, 2003 at 21:36
1 x BP 125w panel would just cut it in summer
1 x 80w panel would help to extend to 3 days but running your batteries that far down does them no good
2 x 80w in summer and 3 x 80w in winter
I have 4 x 80w and is the best investment I ever made
I started with 2 in summer bought another 1 in winter and during a time it was overcast for many days bought another one. with 4 I have not run out of power or got dangerously low to damage my batteries. I dont take my batteries below 60% according to the meter
I run my fridge tv radio and usually only 1 Versalite but sometimes 2 for short periods
AnswerID:
39588
Follow Up By: joc45 - Saturday, Dec 06, 2003 at 23:01
Saturday, Dec 06, 2003 at 23:01
I speak only from my experience, but in WA summer, the 130w works fine, the only problem is in hot overcast days, where I might not pick up enough sun for the day to fully recharge.
In SW WA winter, the temps are cool enough and there is generally enough sun that the autofridge (39L) hardly runs, and the battery still stays up ok. I did have problems last May at
Ningaloo when it was 42deg and we had 3 days of cloudy skies. Can't speak for Eastern weather patterns.
I use 3 x BP 43w panels and a Solarex intelligent regulator, and run the panels flat on the roof - if tilted and moved around with the sun, I get much better results, as expected.
But certainly, if one can afford it, more panels means that you cover all contingencies.
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Reply By: Shane M - Monday, Dec 08, 2003 at 15:30
Monday, Dec 08, 2003 at 15:30
Hi
I have also looked into this and another option would be to Buy a small DC generator. These use a 50cc honda motor and car alernator. They sell for about the same price as an 80w solar panel and can put out up to 70amps. Most of them are adjustable so you don't
cook your batteries. Let me know if you won't any more details.
Morgs
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Follow Up By: captnsnooze - Wednesday, Dec 10, 2003 at 19:17
Wednesday, Dec 10, 2003 at 19:17
yes I have looked at the christie pone. I guess noise is a problem for me..I lived many years in the bush no noise in relative isolation , moved to the city a year ago and get plenty of noise when I escape I want quiet....I guess while cost is an issue in sofar as how to afford it on the other hand quiet is priceless..
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Reply By: Mick - Tuesday, Dec 09, 2003 at 22:42
Tuesday, Dec 09, 2003 at 22:42
How about an 80 AMP christie honda battery charger?
http://usrwww.mpx.com.au/~christie_eng/
a lot cheaper than at least 2 panels which you WILL need if your staying in the same spot for a long time.
AnswerID:
39788
Follow Up By: captnsnooze - Wednesday, Dec 10, 2003 at 19:11
Wednesday, Dec 10, 2003 at 19:11
yes thanks....I spoke to Les Christie the other daygonna go out to the factory and have a look at them.....
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Reply By: -OzyGuy- - Wednesday, Dec 10, 2003 at 16:14
Wednesday, Dec 10, 2003 at 16:14
I use a 80 watt Solarex Pannel with 2 x 80 watt Delkor deep cycle jell batteries, with a Pirahna isolator, everything including the fridge, radio and interior lights work off the Dual battery system and I don't have any hassles, I
camp for weeks at a time not over night, however I had a good fridge, sold it to get a better one....
I believe that a lot must depend on the way the system it is wired up.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: captnsnooze - Wednesday, Dec 10, 2003 at 19:14
Wednesday, Dec 10, 2003 at 19:14
Thanks Ozyguy I have no electrical knowledge and so am sort of fishing in the dark here..what does he piranna isolatr do>?? how many amps does the solarex panel put out??
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Reply By: -OzyGuy- - Friday, Dec 12, 2003 at 13:08
Friday, Dec 12, 2003 at 13:08
Capt'n
the Solarex VLX-80 panel that I use puts out 80 watts, 21.1 volts (open circuit), 17 volts (at load) and with a current load of 4.71 amps.... yep, I coppied it from the back of the pannel.
The Piranha DBE 150S Battery Isolator allows the starter battery to be fully charged first then the charge is automaticly directed to the second battery(s) allowing the starter battery to be always at full power and disconected from the dual battery system when the vehicle engine is off.
AnswerID:
40055