We’re solar’d up

jimberlake

jimberlake

0
Spent the last couple of days adding solar as the next couple of sites don’t have hookup available. 150w and happily generating even in the cloudy weather today, hoping should get around 42amps a day through it. Mounted a flexible panel to an aluminium sheet so can be removed and the rack still used even with the panel for journeys if covered with some foam.
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That's excellent Jim :cool:
Maybe it could be suspended below the rack, that way there would be even less chance the panel being damaged when loaded up with luggage.
 
Unfortunately these panels hate any shadows and the rack is planked so wouldn’t get nearly enough sun. I think these flexi panels are quite hardy things as they’re sometimes bonded on boat decks to be walked on occasionally with softer boat shoes. foam and carefully choosing what goes up there should be good. Ill let you know after next week if it still works :)
 
Ah sorry I thought the rack was made from tube. Best position is how you have it, nicely done :cool:
 
Great! Perfect spot!
Do you mind sharing your inverter setup?
I’m hoping to get a 12v fridge and am looking at the best power options.
 
I’ve not used an inverter as no need for 240v atm. This is the solar setup I used but you probably get it all cheaper separately and with a better controller.

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Fridge wise to run from just solar and a battery you’d need a low power compressor type that’ll run at about 20-25 amps per day but they’re quite expensive things
 
Those in the know tell me I’ll need an inverter here in Canada.
The compressor 12v fridges are expensive, but so are the propane ones.
I hear the newer 12v models are very energy efficient and can be run with the house battery. I’m still in the fact finding stage.

I’m beginning to wonder if I’d be better off getting one of those tabletop ice makers instead..
 
Haha yer maybe so. You’d only need an inverter if you have a 240v fridge, not sure how efficient inverters are and would pull a lot of amps but your right a 12v low energy fridge is v expensive but with 150w solar and a 110amp battery it’s the only way for me. I don’t like having a gas fridge in the van plus I’d have to cut vent holes in the side :)
 
You can get 12v heater elements for the old type fridges but I guess they would gobble up the batteries and solar would struggle to keep up.
 
jimberlake said:
Unfortunately these panels hate any shadows and the rack is planked so wouldn’t get nearly enough sun. I think these flexi panels are quite hardy things as they’re sometimes bonded on boat decks to be walked on occasionally with softer boat shoes. foam and carefully choosing what goes up there should be good. Ill let you know after next week if it still works :)
Click to expand...
Get another ali sheet with foam bonded to that as lid to spread the load?
 
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