Solar and charge rates
Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 6:41 pm
I recently purchased a motorhome that I intend to take touring for a few years. It is well set up with solar/house batteries, genset, Phoenix 3000VA inverter which also covers the charge side with the genset or shore power. From what I can tell the house batteries are 4 x 120Ah gel, currently trickle charged by 2 x 80 panels.
House batterys run lighting and a 180ltr (approx) upright fridge/freezer. A/C and 240v appliances will only be run with shore power or genset and the occasional use of microwave etc off inverter.
Currently I'm told and it appears to be correct the fridge runs indefinitely off the batteries/solar while sitting but I want to put my 40ltr engel underneath as a deep freeze and want to comfortable run lights, fridges and basics at nat parks without the use of the genset. This would realistically be a few days only at a time, house can be fully charged prior.
I know it's really how long is a piece of string question BUT assuming location gives panels output around half of the max and given the usage above how much should I be looking to expand the battery and solar banks? There is ample room for say 2 x 250w panels and can make room for batteries with no real hassles. I would probably look at diverting 1 of the 80w panels to the primary/bus battery's as the dunny runs of them
Thoughts?
Ta
Tiny
House batterys run lighting and a 180ltr (approx) upright fridge/freezer. A/C and 240v appliances will only be run with shore power or genset and the occasional use of microwave etc off inverter.
Currently I'm told and it appears to be correct the fridge runs indefinitely off the batteries/solar while sitting but I want to put my 40ltr engel underneath as a deep freeze and want to comfortable run lights, fridges and basics at nat parks without the use of the genset. This would realistically be a few days only at a time, house can be fully charged prior.
I know it's really how long is a piece of string question BUT assuming location gives panels output around half of the max and given the usage above how much should I be looking to expand the battery and solar banks? There is ample room for say 2 x 250w panels and can make room for batteries with no real hassles. I would probably look at diverting 1 of the 80w panels to the primary/bus battery's as the dunny runs of them
Thoughts?
Ta
Tiny