More Solar for "Us"

[MrWizard]

Ok, I went off.the deep end?
Bought 3 used 37watt uni-solar panels and a blue sky 2000e controller for the hefty price of $400,
They were being listed as 75w panels, they are not

The tested open circuit voltage was 21+, short circuit amps 2.9
I tested each panel multiple times tilted into the sun and laying flat on the ground , got the same readings each way, that was the deciding factor, they appear to put out full power while laying flat, I will try to mount them tomorrow before it gets hot, right now 104°F
I will use the existing wiring until I buy & install the new wire

[mena661]

vcallaway wrote:
I'll take a stab at that answer, because we are doing the same.

Cooling unit in ours went out. $2k for a new one. By all reports the new ones wont last as long as our old one.

A 10 cu ft electric refrigerator can be had for less than $300. Home Depot has the Magic Chef for $298. I tested several and they all pretty much were ~ 500w startup, < 100w running. In 24hrs it was less than 1 kilowatt.

A true sinewave inverter to run it if you don't have one is $150 at camping world (Xantrex PROWatt SW 600). Adding a 175w Suntech solar panel to boost battery time ~ $315.

So for less money than a flaky refrigerator that does not do that good of job you can go electric. To me this was a no brainer.

For me it made even more sense. I already had a solar system in place and a 2k sinewave inverter.

Fixed that for you. :B

[vcallaway]

I'll take a stab at that answer, because we are doing the same.

Cooling unit in ours went out. $2k for a new one. By all reports the new ones wont last as long as our old one.

A 10 cu ft electric refrigerator can be had for less than $300. Home Depot has the Magic Chef for $298. I tested several and they all pretty much were ~ 500w startup, < 100w running. In 24hrs it was less than 1 kilowatt.

A true sinewave inverter to run it if you don't have one is $150 at camping world (Xantrex PROWatt SW 600). Adding a 130w Kyocera solar panel to boost battery time ~ $400.

So for less money than a flaky refrigerator that does not do that good of job you can go electric. To me this was a no brainer.

For me it made even more sense. I already had a solar system in place and a 2k sinewave inverter.

[mena661]

greenrvgreen wrote:
Price/benefit wise, solar looks like its getting there, but I currently don't own enough roof space to make a difference I can appreciate.

It's pretty expensive and I don't know how much roof space you have but Suntech makes 280W panels. $613 each HERE.

[MrWizard]

I got tired of "fridge repair" failures
the cost of a new propane fridge was $1300 or more,
the MH came with a 1000w inverter oem, so I decided a residential fridge and some solar would be the best way for us at approx the same expense but.spread out over a period of months, instead of one lump.sum
the fridge was $350
found my solar panels on craigslist
3 uni-solar panels + blue sky controller $400
another 2 uni-solar panels for $250
then 4 new 6v GC batteries from sams club

[pnichols]

MrWizard,

I'm interested in why you went to a compressor refrigerator? I believe you're full-timing, so your reasons for switching are based on solid experience.

So far we've been completely happy with our propane refrig but the longest we've been out has been only 10 weeks continuous, so I wonder what refrigeration problems we have to look forward to.

[greenrvgreen]

Senor Wiz--

Can you recap for me (and any other memory-challenged folks) how the cloudy/rainy day output compares with the sunny day output. Say, "Total capacity = X, sunny day output = %X, rainy day output = %X.

I can see my first step will be the resi fridge, the results are overwhelming and the upfront costs are minimal (although there looks to be a good deal of bother). Price/benefit wise, solar looks like its getting there, but I currently don't own enough roof space to make a difference I can appreciate.

Thanks again for the solar journal!

[MrWizard]

Solar power total for six days of rainy weather Friday thru Wed
1120.7 watt hrs, 82.91 amp hrs

Watt was surprising, was during yesterdays "Wednesday" brief sunny period, the solar out put hit a peak of 16.61 amps 233.3 watts, likely it only lasted seconds,and I'm guessing it was the combined effect of three things clean rain washed panels, clear clean rain washed atmosphere, and the fridge cycling on causing a inverter surge with corresponding dip in battery voltage, letting the panels/controller hit a momentary peak

whatever the conditions causing this, it is the highest amps controller out put reading recorded so far

[pianotuna]

Hi Mr. Wiz,

I'm sorry the clouds didn't cooperate on the Solstice.

It is still useful data and does show that, even on a poor day, solar can make up for even 1% self discharge rates on a fairly massive battery bank (1300 amp-hours).

[MrWizard]

not the winter solstice I hoped for
But the solar added 13 amphrs today, bringing the 4 day rainy total to 56.59 amphrs and 741.xx watt hrs

[pianotuna]

Hi Mr. Wizard,

That's more or less 15 amp-hours per day and fits with what I got on Dec 22, 2009 which was 17 amp-hours on an overcast day.

[BFL13]

MrWizard wrote:
I wanted a sunny winter solstice for a solar reading
but it's been raining since Friday, right now thepanels are puting out 500ma, total for the last three days is 46.?? amp hrs

maybe xmas day or xmas eve we will get a day of sun

Not much use after Rudolf stomps on your panels. BTW Santa changed Rudolf's nose to LED after reading this forum on that.

[MrWizard]

I wanted a sunny winter solstice for a solar reading
but it's been raining since Friday, right now thepanels are puting out 500ma, total for the last three days is 46.?? amp hrs

maybe xmas day or xmas eve we will get a day of sun

[MrWizard]

I haven't tried to calculate fuel savings
the 6.5kw Onan is powered by propane, inconvenient and sometimes exspendsive to purchase and burns about 0.7 gal per hour, so 4 hours charge cost 2.8 gal of propane
, I prefer to use my champion portable generator, approx 4 hours of charge time per gal of gasoline fuel
it does seem I'm saving about an avg of 1.5 hour of generator runtime per day, somedays I save more some days less, weather, errands, chores etc..

[toolman1]

pianotuna wrote:
Hi toolman1,

A layer of plastic may not be optically "clear". If you want tempered glass panels there are many brands available, that have higher output per square foot than the unisolar.

My "main" concern would be scratching, and ruining the entire PV panel. I really wouldn't care if it was Plexiglass/tempered glass/safety glass. Any of those would be better than ruining a perfectly good PV panel while using chicken wire for protection. That's my main point.

[pianotuna]

Hi toolman1,

A layer of plastic may not be optically "clear". If you want tempered glass panels there are many brands available, that have higher output per square foot than the unisolar.

My unisolars show no signs of scratching. (touch wood {oops that's my head})

toolman1 wrote:

pianotuna wrote:
Although they are shade tolerant I would NOT put anything over them and especially not chicken wire that would cause minor shading to the entire panel.

I know that there are many posts/replys, since this was posted, (I have no internet service @ work) 😞

My concern would be the chicken wire scratching the PV surface and ruining the panel(s). Wouldn't a plexiglass sheet or suitable substitute work better?