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Subject Topic: Running a fridge on solar
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13/7/2011 at 10:27pm
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I have an 80 watt solar panel and thinking about the cost of gas got me thinking could i run my fridge off the 12volt during the day. The fridge is 120 watts i have 110amp battery.
Any thoughts on the subject would be apreciated.

 



13/7/2011 at 11:00pm
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may help

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/forsale/v/SOLAR-PANELS--POWER-INVERTERS/6205



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13/7/2011 at 11:25pm
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If the fridge is 120 watts power then you would need a solar panel with an output of at least 130 watts or more. Basically a solar panel is a portable generator that is powered by the sun instead of petrol or diesel but the power ratings would be identical. In other words, if you have a 1000 watt petrol generator then it wouldn't power say a vacuum cleaner which runs at 1600 watts and if you did then you would damage the electric motor. Therefore if you try to opreate a 120 watt fridge from a source of only 80 watts then the fridge would be under powered and wouldn't get cold.


14/7/2011 at 12:38am
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I dont understand what you are trying to do. If towing, your fridge would be 12volt - on hookup 230volt if no hookup then fridge on gas. for a week your fridge would consume about £5 of gas, on hook up £2 or £3 a night. your 80watt panel would power your lighting etc if frugal for about 2 weeks. I am pretty sure that it would not be a good idea to try and rig up your fridge off the battery as the panel would not cope.

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14/7/2011 at 12:52am
 Location: Argyll Scotland
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Our last van had a 12v only fridge.(Waeco)  It also had a 60w solar panel built into the roof.

The company claimed that the solar panel would power the fridge, water pump and lights for up to 4 days before we would need to top up the 110Ah battery with an EHU.

However, in practise we never got more than 3 days use being on battery only.



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Lobey.


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14/7/2011 at 8:38am
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I've read of solar panels being able to run a household fridge or freezer through an inverter but the panel was a minimum of 160 watt.

Gas fridges are very inefficient when used on electric (12 or 230v) and therefore use a lot of power. I think the answer to your question is no, especially within the UK.


Re: Lobey's post - I believe Waeco electric fridges are compressor type, the same as household ones? I think you'd be lucky to get 4 hours use from a gas fridge on 12 volt with a solar panel

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14/7/2011 at 8:54am
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Hi. If your fridge is the "normal" caravan type, I believe you'll find that it's not terribly good on 12 volt. This is normally only used when towing and the wisdom on this site is that it will not really be sufficient to cool it, but will simply help to maintain a lower temperature.

Pete

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14/7/2011 at 9:00am
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If you are concerned with the "cost of Gas" in respect to running the fridge then spare just a few seconds to consider the cost of the massive solar array you will need to run a fridge on electricity; even in the summer.
Then the size and fuelling cost of the tow car to carry the weight of them and the batteries.
Yes its technically possible but wholly unrealistic not least on cost saving grounds.


14/7/2011 at 9:55am
 Location: Argyll Scotland
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Rune Caster is correct in that my Waeco Fridge was a compressor type fridge.

These are ideal in a house where the fridge is normally in the kitchen and there are usually several brick walls between it and where people are sleeping.

However in a caravan or the like, these units can be right next to where people are sleeping and they can be noisey.

Eventually all caravans/tents will be powered by Fuel Cells and we will have all the 12v power we could possibly want. We will have 12v dishwashers, fridges, freezers, even jucuzzies, but that day is not here yet.

Returning to the original question, Gas is not really all that expensive when you consider that the amount that a 3-way fridge uses is neglible. It is one single flame burner which once the fridge is down to temperature, is turned down to half or even lower.
We have been away for one month so far and our 4.5kl gas cylinder is still more than half full. That is running the fridge and all the cooking.  

Comparing the cost of the gas to that of EHU and pitch prices, well gas is the cheaper option.



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14/7/2011 at 7:33pm
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Where are you hair please respond im dying to hear your answers

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16/7/2011 at 1:05am
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Well all interesting stuff thanks, it was not about saving money maybe saving the earth, i have the pannle already and the battery already so there is no extra cost, it was just an idea, oh and interesting that some of you think gas is cheap 6kg £23.00 where i am. i go away every week end to sites with no hook up "camping and caravan DA's" and i find that tha gas lasts 4 weekends. The book of words, instructions say that the Electrolux uses .5 kg of gas in 24hours. 
I relised that my 80 watt was not big enough to totally power the fridge but as it would run from 110 batt i wondered if any one had done it of thought abought doing this. how about a 12volt preheater for the hot water or 12vot kettle ???????? lets save the planet oh and some money.



16/7/2011 at 1:09am
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Ever considered charging a spare 110Ah battery in the boot of your car and then changing it over as needed?

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Lobey.


16/7/2011 at 10:17am
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Thanks, i do have several batts but i usually go to a site for 3 + days without driving the car, i also have a geni. but this is not the idea. I just thought that some one may have run their electrolux fridge from a 12volt batt. and may have some info on this before I try to reinvent the wheel. its another option and one that could have got me out of trouble when iturned up at a site and the spark igniter stoped working on the fridge (not that i knew that at the time). Perhaps some one could tell me how long my 120watt fridge will run for off of a new 110amp batt.   



16/7/2011 at 10:52am
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Quote: Originally posted by The hair on 16/7/2011

 Perhaps some one could tell me how long my 120watt fridge will run for off of a new 110amp batt.   




about 45 minutes at full power - but the calculation is more complex due to the battery losing voltage

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16/7/2011 at 11:38am
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Really the only way you can run a 12v fridge off a 110Ah Battery, topping up that battery with a Solar Panel, is to have a 12v fridge (compressor type) that is specifically designed to do that.

There are ones around but they are expensive.

If your 12v fridge is also a mains or a gas/mains, then the 12v side is purely there to be run by the alternator in the car and was not built to be powered by the caravan battery.



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Lobey.


16/7/2011 at 12:38pm
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If you have a 110ah battery it will be able to provide 110 amps for one hour when fully charged & in good condition. Or 10 amps an hour for 11 hours. You need to be careful when running on battery, make sure the battery voltage dose not drop below around 80% of it nominal voltage as this can cause damage to the battery and will reduce it life span and cost you more money in replacement batteries.

If I was going to do this Id use a number of blocks to create a battery string which would give me more Ah capacity i.e. 4 blocks at 110ah = a capacity of 440ah when connected in parallel. To charge the battery string I would use a number of solar panels, mains charging facility and my be a small wind turbine but this may annoy your neighbors.
I would the connect my inverter to the battery for 230V power or just use the 12 or 24 volt from the battery with it fused down.

you need to be very careful though as DC battery strings are very dangerous. if this small battery can do this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMy2_qNO2Y0 imagine what 4 heavy duty batteries can do.



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