Thanks Ross, I thought they'd be more expensive than that. Most stuff that carries a 4wd label seems to be expensive!

Quote Originally Posted by DX grunt View Post
My solar panels are 2 x 125w panels. I was told my 95lt Evakool fridge would need a 120w panel. The 'Handiwash' is 6.7w.
Hmmm........ I'd be questioning those figures if I were you. I'd say that you need a minimum of the two panels just to run the 95 litre fridge, assuming it to be a 'stand alone' system.

120w x 2 = 240w. 240w/12v = 20amps. Working on an average of 5 sun hours per day this gives an input of around 5 x 20 = 100A/h per day. Knock 30% off that figure to allow for inefficiencies (fixed panel, forgetting to move any loose panels to face the sun etc) & that brings it down to a realistic 70A/h per day into your battery. I would guess that your fridge will use 60 to 70 a/h per day. So 1 panel would keep your fridge going over a weekend, (without discharging your battery to damaging 'life shortening levels) but you'd need the two for longer periods without alternator input.

The Handiwash uses WAY more than 6.7w! Their website says 9.6 amps. I measured mine with a clamp meter & it was drawing between 9.7amps & 10 amps. 10 amps = 120w@ 12volts. I've removed mine as I consider it too power hungry for a solar system. I'll go for a gas instant hot water unit I think.

I don't reckon perspex over the panels is really needed & potentially could reduce your solar input. The tempered glass in the panels should be tough enough to cope with stuff being dragged over them, but it might be worth putting a 'rail' of some sort in front of the panels to protect them against 'strike' from branches.

regards
Cuppa