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Subject Topic: solar power Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonAshly1990
13/6/2016 at 11:40am
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Hi everyone
I'm considering adding solar to my caravan. I'm planning on having 4 x 125ah batteries. These will then power a 3000w inverter and then whatever is plugged into this. It will be running things such as, lights, water pump, a small tv for minimal use, fridge, and sockets for charging phones etc. How many solar panels would I need for this setup? I was thinking 500w but I'm not sure if I'm right? Thanks for your help!


Personalan126
13/6/2016 at 1:08pm
 Location: West Scotland
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is there a reason why you are so against a genny

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-ig2000-2kw-inverter-generator/ £406

batteries http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/platinum-agm-100ah-leisure-battery-p367638 x3 £420

solar panel http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/pv-logic-fold-up-solar-panel-60w-p293530 £215

plus your inverter, personally i would go for 1 decent battery and the genny, run the genny for tv. I managed 4 days on a 75 amp hr battery charging phones, lighting and pump so that genny would keep you running as long as you have fuel. mate has one not too heavy and actually quiet

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PersonHacksaw Bob
13/6/2016 at 4:10pm
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Is it a three-way fridge? If so, could you not run it on gas and avoid the need for the inverter altogether, assuming the waterpump, tv and suitable usb adaptors will use 12v?


PersonAshly1990
13/6/2016 at 5:42pm
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to be honest I didn't really want to use gas but it seems that is the logical way to go. As for the generator were not really fans of the noise/fumes to be honest which is why solar would be great if possible


PersonGrampian91
13/6/2016 at 9:16pm
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Is this a caravan sited? All that weight maybe an issue.

4 x 125aH batteries going to be over 100kg..

RM 2335 fridge draws 175 watts, Add in the inefficiency of the inverter which maybe as low as 60%. Lets make it approx 75% efficient..

So your 175 watts is going to be closer to 220 watts, thats over 18 amps. I dont know how clever that fridge is to lower power consumption or if its a dumb one that just keeps cooling?

If you dont get much sun your 4 batteries could be dead within 24 hours.


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Personnavver
13/6/2016 at 11:42pm
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Your suggested loads (lights, water pump, a small tv for minimal use, fridge, and sockets for charging phones etc) won't use much power except the fridge.

Definitely run the fridge on gas which is a perfectly simple and feasible thing to do.

What's left will probably run quite happily from a 100watt solar panel and maybe just one 110AH battery in summer, say from April to September. In winter, solar is much less feasible as the output is so much less.


Personfleck2
14/6/2016 at 3:14pm
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Or use a 12v compressor fridge that only uses 35w (when it's running)


PersonRay Clayton
14/6/2016 at 4:27pm
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cheaper to buy and run a geni

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Ray

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PersonGrampian91
15/6/2016 at 9:38am
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Cheaper to pay the hookup prices?


PersonRay Clayton
15/6/2016 at 4:36pm
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Quote: Originally posted by Grampian91 on 15/6/2016
Cheaper to pay the hookup prices?




yes that as well if there is hook up

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Ray

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PersonDaveCoaches
17/6/2016 at 10:03am
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Fridge on gas. For the amount of gas it uses, it's not worth the cost of all those panels, batteries and a huge inverter. Many inverters draw 10% of their rated power even under no load, so the 3000 watt inverter could be using 300 watts alone.

First thing to do is replace your 12 v halogen or fluorescent bulbs with LED. This will reduce the power used by as much as a factor of 50.

50-100 watts of solar panel hooked to your leisure battery will happily power a small inverter for the rest of your needs. We have had a tv and games console on all day in the rain before now and watched tv well into the night with 100watts of solar panel and a 110 ah battery. By 10 am the next morning the battery showed full charge again.

When it comes to solar power, don't be tempted to cut costs on the regulator. Go for a bigger regulator than you need, you can add extra panels to it later if you want. Panels cost around £1 a watt. For the sake of an extra £10 on a regulator though you can often get one twice as efficient. Some of the cheapest regulators are only around 40% efficient whereas the top end ones are nearer 90%.



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