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Quote: Originally posted by Rune Caster on 16/7/2011

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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.   

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

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<<< 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 >>>

Well I reckon that 4 X 110Ah batteries at 80 quid each will just about cover the cost of a 12v compressor fridge that would run off one 110Ah battery that was topped up with a solar panel.

Mine was in my last van, a Wheelhome Sprintaway Lux.

i run a household fridge with a freezer compartment in my trailer . other than in the darkest months of winter it ran all thtime .powered by 3x 80wat panells and 400amp of battery power. i have since fitted another 3 x80wt panels and a further 300amp of batteries .this works lovelly allowing washing machines spinners etc . i do live in it for up to 6months at atime. at the moment its powering a fridge and a full sige freezer in my house. park next to the house run a lead from the inverter in to the kitchen.

the fridge in the trailer was 110wt .

solar does work but the more you get the more leccy you use. i got fed up of having to be on the level or it being too hot abroad for the 3 way fridge to cope. compressor is the way forward .

cheers alan.

80 watt solar panels on the Internet, range in price from £300 to £450 each.
Couple that to each 110Ah battery at £80 each and you are talking in the region of  over £2000 at the cheapest. That ofcourse does not include the inverters etc.

Much as I would like to "save the planet", as I am only caravanning for aprox 60 nights per year, that price is the equivillent of 33+ years on EHU.

I would have to still be caravanning at 100 years old to recoup that outlay, but good on ya and more power to your solar panel.

you can get new bp solar panels on ebay .i paid 165quid for mine only last year. i had 3x80watt on the roof . i now have 6x80wt ppanels and a bank of 700/800amp batteries . they work fantastic. i use an electrolux 240 household fridge through a ring 2kw inverter . have far more power than i need now but that leaves more for washing machines etc. .. i cant have ehu if in the sahara or in north africa in winter . even spain and portugal i dont use sites. being away for anything up to 9months i find it nice to have leccy. i do carry a big diesel genny as well but only for use when welding /grinding in emergency. i found the 3 panels just didnt quite work all the time in winter in portugal.  keep your eyes on ebay have seen 80wt panels for 150quid. very often you have to buy 5 panels but you can sell one or two add atenner on and it makes yours even cheapedr. or do a share buy. i find it best and cheaper in the long run to use wet truck batteries as the liesure batteries. i always use a couple the same size as vehicle battery they can be nicked from the battery bank if vehicle batts go down.

been that dark and miserable here in cornwall... yesterday i had to revert to mains for my house fridge and freezer .cant get enough sun to keep up. roll on winter off to the sun. cheers alan.

Ahhh i knew some of you out there had kinda sorted this. I bought my 80watt panel with regulator for less than £200. I bought mine from this chap who was very helpful
Daniel McIntyre MA BA hons ACMI
Mob: O7817516505
Home: 01952 250011

I do intend to try and run the caravan fridge from my battery using the solar panel to charge it, i will let you all know my results.

Thanks