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Post by homesteader on Jul 8, 2015 6:19:00 GMT -7
We picked up a small solar panel this past weekend at Cabela's. DH added some cables and connectors for flexibility. The solar panel is portable and can be used to recharge our cell phones and bike helmet communications. We'll see how it does when we rough it on our vacation this summer.  |
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Post by thywar on Jul 8, 2015 8:04:12 GMT -7
Look forward to hearing how it does
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Post by crashdive123 on Jul 9, 2015 14:23:54 GMT -7
Small solar seems to have really come a long way. Let us know how it works out.
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Post by cajunlady87 on Jul 9, 2015 15:20:13 GMT -7
As you can see we'll all be waiting for a review.  |
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Post by angelhelp on Jul 9, 2015 16:33:50 GMT -7
I bought one too, so I guess I'll have to post a review when the time comes.
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Post by homesteader on Jul 10, 2015 6:41:02 GMT -7
The solar panel has been sitting on the roof of the cargo trailer at home. He's charging the 12 volt car battery in the trailer which runs the lights in the trailer. He added a 12-volt outlet that allows us to charge our helmet communicators. There is also an inverter connected to it so we can run our 120v RV refrig when going down the road.
So far so good. Now to go camping/riding somewhere and use the new system. :-)
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Post by thywar on Jul 10, 2015 8:24:46 GMT -7
Sounds like all is well. Thanks for the update
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Post by thywar on Sept 29, 2015 12:16:15 GMT -7
Looking back through this post, wondering what size the panel was and how did it do keeping your trailer fridge charged
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Post by marc on Sept 29, 2015 16:54:38 GMT -7
Refrigeration with solar-electric is really tough. The basics of heat transfer using a compressor, are inherently "energy heavy."
Running a high efficiency refrigerator can consume the same amount of power per hour, as a dozen high efficiency lights. Remember that a refrigerator in a warm room draws a whole lot more power than in an air conditioned room.
Typically, a PV module or two on the roof of an RV isn’t remotely enough to support a refrigerator full time.
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Post by woodyz on Sept 29, 2015 19:37:10 GMT -7
The panel on my rv are 30'x16' and are mounted where the rollout type porch roof used to be. They lay down against the side and over the center door when pulling or stored.
I think I did a post on them about a year ago.
But as Marc says when its parked its plugged in and I keep the refrigerator turned on electric power. It seemed when we powered the refrigerator on and off with the use of the RV it wore out sooner. They seem to last better just left on. Ours is a AC/DC/PROPANE unit, as most are. I also keep the freezer part of it full of ice which tends to make it use less electric while on all the time.
The battery bank seems to keep it fine during pulling, but if I stopped without electric I will turn it on propane and not batteries.
The panel on the retreat water well pump is a 5 watt as is the panel on the cistern/stored water. But we went to 2 5 watt panels phase wired for the house pumps and the batteries are lasting better.
The boat and ATV's/Jet Ski's are wired to a 5 watt and they do fine. The ATV's and Jet Ski's are on a quick disconnect but we just leave the one on the boat connected while running.
The cargo trailer my Son hauls his Tri-Glide in has 15 watts of solar panels on top so he can camp in it and have lights and a refrigerator but it is wired like an RV and runs AC/DC/PROPANE and is either plugged in or on propane when not moving. But the refrigerator in it is just a little 3' one. Its set up so the front wall is a stove/fridge/sink with over/under cabinets. But he doesn't like it any more because now he has a trailer he pulls behind the tri-glide and it doesn't fit in the hauler, so he is looking for a bigger one.
But the point is 15 watts does fine for what it is.
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Post by Cwi555 on Sept 30, 2015 8:32:29 GMT -7
Using a compressor/refrigerator is not a particularly efficient use of solar pv cells. I would suggest looking into absorption refrigerators for off grid.
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Post by USCGME2 on Sept 30, 2015 8:39:03 GMT -7
Using a compressor/refrigerator is not a particularly efficient use of solar pv cells. I would suggest looking into absorption refrigerators for off grid. What are those? |
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Post by Cwi555 on Sept 30, 2015 8:45:11 GMT -7
Using a compressor/refrigerator is not a particularly efficient use of solar pv cells. I would suggest looking into absorption refrigerators for off grid. What are those? They use a heat source instead of a compressor  en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absorption_refrigerator |
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Post by USCGME2 on Sept 30, 2015 8:52:50 GMT -7
Oh yeah, actually I used to install these (residential model air conditioners) way back in the late '80s and early 90's. We called them gas chillers - didn't immediately recognize the term you used  . Actually they are quite efficient. Gotta be careful on the install with all that liquid ammonia though. That stuff is not mucus friendly! Amazing concept to use fire for cooling. |
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Post by Cwi555 on Sept 30, 2015 9:09:46 GMT -7
A source of heat is a lot easier to produce than electricity. A Solar collector for heat can work as well with more efficiency than a pv array.
That said, the down fall is storage. Without that heat it doesn't work, and there are few viable options for storing heat. Either way, conservation of energy/thermodynamics apply. You won't get more out of it than you put in it.
The biggest difference between them is efficiency (for now), and the ability to skip the compressor (energy hog).
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. Actually they are quite efficient. Gotta be careful on the install with all that liquid ammonia though. That stuff is not mucus friendly! Amazing concept to use fire for cooling. 