DC compressor fridge power usage question
Hey guys - Looking for some help on a fridge topic. First post and have been reading as much as possible on this forum as well as others on the topic... has been very helpful. Quick summary of my ...
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Ydoggy - it IS possible, but not at all times.
Yes, a lot depends on where you are parked (in the open or not), and if there is any sun at least part of the day. 100W panel won't cut it if you're under tree canopy and/or if there is overcast all 4 days.
If you want to know how much a flat 100W solar panel will collect in PNW, here is a PVWatts calculator. I found it to be quite accurate. It doesn't accept watts, only kilowatts. So click on, say, Seattle, enter DC rating=100, Array tilt=0, and it gives you 13065 WH for June (ignore that is says KWH, it just doesn't accept watts). Divide this in 30 days and in 12V, and you get 36 AH a day.
36 AH is your average day, could be better and could be worse. When there is an overcast for 4 days in row (it can be 2 weeks in row in this area, as you know), you'll get a lot less than 36 AH, - maybe 6 or 7 AH. Then what are you going to do - run home with tail between legs? Or try charging it through the weak alternator of your truck, burning gallons of gas and inhaling fumes for hours? Get more solar wattage, you won't regret.
Yes, a lot depends on where you are parked (in the open or not), and if there is any sun at least part of the day. 100W panel won't cut it if you're under tree canopy and/or if there is overcast all 4 days.
If you want to know how much a flat 100W solar panel will collect in PNW, here is a PVWatts calculator. I found it to be quite accurate. It doesn't accept watts, only kilowatts. So click on, say, Seattle, enter DC rating=100, Array tilt=0, and it gives you 13065 WH for June (ignore that is says KWH, it just doesn't accept watts). Divide this in 30 days and in 12V, and you get 36 AH a day.
36 AH is your average day, could be better and could be worse. When there is an overcast for 4 days in row (it can be 2 weeks in row in this area, as you know), you'll get a lot less than 36 AH, - maybe 6 or 7 AH. Then what are you going to do - run home with tail between legs? Or try charging it through the weak alternator of your truck, burning gallons of gas and inhaling fumes for hours? Get more solar wattage, you won't regret.
