The solar refrigerators are equipped with solar panels for the collection of solar power.
Camping solar panel refrigerator diy.
100 watt portable solar panel.
But generally they work on the same principles.
When the rvs first started to integrate residential fridges these systems were around a kilowatt.
Now as the manufacturers are using more efficient refrigerators the size of that array required may go down as low as 570 watts.
Currently as we speak our self installed rv solar panels are completely running our new refrigerator.
The photovoltaic cells then convert the solar energy into electricity which is later stored in a battery.
100 watt solar panel approximately 6 amps hour in direct summer sun no clouds here s an example of our calculation of how much the solar panels are generating to recharge our rv batteries.
Remember back when we decided to rip out our rv refrigerator because it kicked the bucket and lived out of a cooler for a year.
I recently went camping with a dozen of my neighbors up to northern az out next to a lake.
Well folks those days are long behind us.
In this video i show you the build of my little portable solar generator it consists of a 100 watt solar panel two 35 ah batteries a 400 watt inverter.
How the solar refrigerator exactly works depends on the type it is.
We ve connected the solar panels to the combiner box ran wire inside the rv to the location we are going to mount the solar.
4 batteries and 3 panels would probably do.
Ideally an inverter refrigerator is the best bet but my old refrigerator needs 300watts when on.
24 hours a day we have refrigerated food and it is damn glorious.
There are the rare dc powered refrigerators that are actually more efficient than the inverter types.
Remove the residential refrigerator and replace it with a 3 way refrigerator that uses propane gas then design a system that can operate most everything in your rv while boondocking except the refrigerator and ac unit.
Whynter fm 85g 85 quart portable fridge ac 110v dc 12v true freezer for car home camping rv 8 f to 50 f one size gray 4 3 out of 5 stars 113 659 99 659.
5 hours of direct sunlight x 6 amps generated hour 30 amp hours day.
We ve installed the combiner box on the roof gaining access to an inconspicuous location inside the rv.
Basically any fridge will do but the more energy efficient means a smaller solar setup is needed.
Your solar panel needs to have enough power to replenish that usage using only the sun it can which is about 5 hours per day more in cloudy places.
Through the refrigerator vent or a combiner box.