Solar Panels

[ted 95]

Looking to install solar panels. I now have 2 Optimum Blue AGM 31. Got them at Pepboys and their price was at least 40$ less than anyone in the area. (Jupiter Fl.). The manager matched his online price and was really pleasant to deal with.

Question 1--Would you add 2 more batteries in the storage compartment or is 2 enough. We don't do a lot of dry camping and have a 6.5 gen.

Question 2-- How many watts of panels would you think I need to keep the batteries charged charged?? The fridge is a residential on the inverter and the unit can be in storage fro up to 3 weeks without shore power.

[boatguy]

I have a similar set up. I use 4 100watt controllers and an mppt controller. Did the install myself and everything was under $1,000. As far as how it works? Awesome. Sunny days will produce a consistent 30 amps going to the batteries for 6 or 8 hours a day. Even on a cloudy day it will do 10 or 15 amps. The residential fridge will run for 5 days in the summer without shore power. When storing I turn the inverter off.

[atom ant]

Originally Posted by boatguy

The residential fridge will run for 5 days in the summer without shore power.

Why 5 days and not continuous? Does the fridge draw eventually overtake the solar output? Would that be corrected by adding more solar?

[boatguy]

So far, I have found that a cloudy or rainy day will really drain the batteries. I can put 6 panels (600w) to my controller and I may just add some this summer. My preferred investment would be to upgrade the batteries to Battleborn Lithium. I could get twice the usable amp hours for 1/3 of the weight. Downside is they suck in freezing temps. They literally can't be charged in 32 degrees or colder. Unfortunately some of our travels start in sub zero so it won't work well for us. AL off this being done, we haven't dry camped ever! I just like to keep everything topped up when driving or when storing.

[atom ant]

Ah, I never thought of temp. I was just curious if there was a balance of solar that would allow the fridge to continuously run. I saw an experiment with a 200W factory Winnie solar on a small 6 cf fridge and it lasted 30 days, but eventually dropped enough the fridge shut off.