What you have to grasp is that Solar panels generally don't 'power' anything, they recharge batteries that are the real power source! Solar panels only 'work' (as in generate electricity) about 8 hours a day at best when the Sun is at it's brightest, so you have to match your load (fridge in this case) against the storage battery capacity, and select a Solar panel that can recharge the 24 hour drain on the battery with a 7-8 hour recharge period! - if that makes sense.
If you are running a fridge off a battery-solar panel set up, you are only going to get that to work with a compressor fridge (with a thermostat that trips it in and out to maintain set temp, and low current drain when running), Absorption type fridges run constantly at a high current drain and would require a huge battery capacity to keep going, and consequently a huge solar panel array to recharge such a large battery capacity, pretty much a totally impractical set up for mobile camping.
Camping (12v) compressor fridges are not cheap compared to other types (Domestic 240v or Absorption 12v types)! Expect to pay from circa £250 (for a budget brand) up to £600-£800-££££ for premium Dometic brand! Then you have the cost of a decent battery and solar panel plus charge regulator on top, budget maybe £600 upwards for the complete set up minimum!
If you are budget conscious and looking for EHU independent refrigeration, then it's pretty much down to a 3-way (Gas-240v-12v) Absorption type fridge running on gas, available from around £250 upwards. But gas supply aside, that's the total cost of a functional fridge.
Absorption type fridges work well enough in northern Europe, but start to get pushed to their ambient temp limits in say Mediterranean temperatures, they also if running on gas need to be used in a well ventilated area (partitioned off porch area of a tent with ventilation is fine, in an inhabited sealed tent area is absolutely NOT) as risk of Carbon Monoxide poisoning from combustion fumes. The 12v works fine in a vehicle WITH the engine running, so great for keeping chilled on the journey, but too high a current drain to run simply off battery. 240v of course will be fine at home to initially chill fridge down, or run off EHU on site. They are not weather proof, so need shelter from the elements.
We use them when camping without EHU, have done for years, and they've served us well. I've also got a Compressor fridge/freezer that I use with EHU, so plenty of experience of both types.
Temptation is always drawn to relatively cheap Peltier/Thermoelectric coolboxes (misleadingly sometimes referred to as 'fridges'), but absolutely no substitute for a fridge (a true fridge should maintain 0-5C for safe storage of perishables), coolboxes can only manage around 18C below ambient, so in a 30C ambient the contents will be a toasty 12C! And they again have a very heavy power drain that is constant, so not at all suitable for running off battery, or battery solar set up.
I think Monty15 has it spot on, a "12 volt" fridge setting is really a misnomer. All it can do is keep an already cold fridge cool for a while, and usually it doesn't run off any battery (as it draws far too many amps) but from a car's alternator when the engine is running faster than tickover.
If no mains supply then running one of the three-way ones (electric/gas/12v) off bottled gas can quite a good option, unless in a tent, because of deadly CO2 fumes.
Dave.
------------- Never argue with an idiot, they will drag you down to their level and beat you on experience.
Mark Twain.
the OP did say tent.. so we are talking a small compressor fridge running off car battery.. this could be kept charged by a fold up 200 watt solar panel..
one would need to keep an eye on the car battery of course.. job done..
Quote: Originally posted by trog100 on 07/1/2024
the OP did say tent.. so we are talking a small compressor fridge running off car battery.. this could be kept charged by a fold up 200 watt solar panel..
one would need to keep an eye on the car battery of course.. job done..
trog
That wasn't quite how the OP posed the question, so access to a car may be an assumption in the first place!
And then, many camp sites don't allow cars to be parked by tent pitches, so a remotely parked car may not be convenient place to store/use the fridge, also a large solar panel outside the car in a parking area may not be an option!
My compressor fridge, as do the majority I believe, has 'Battery Protection' features, whereby the fridge will turn off if it depletes the battery below a certain voltage, and will not kill the battery totally. Depends on how large a capacity battery fitted to car, and how hot it gets in car which will determine how hard the fridge works as to just how long it would run for unaided. My car only has a 70Ah battery, so I wouldn't expect very long!
We are now straying into speculation, as OP hasn't updated us or commented recently, so we don't really know which way we should be advising further!
Hi, I would say I have quite a High end Set up. I initially got My Solar Panel Renolgy 100w to Charge my Jackery 500, The Battery pack was required as I needed to power my Cpap Device, on a site which did not have EHU. This worked Very Well.
I have Subsequnetly upgraded and Purchased a Anker Everfrost 40 Fridge This has its own battery, which lasts up more than 36 hours (I needed it to last the Ferry to Spain) and I can charge it from the Renology Solar Panel, Mains or Car Charger quite Quickly.
I would Highly recommend the Everfrost, even though it is not cheap (i got mine discounted as part of the Kickstarter campaign), but the whole set up I have works very well
We have managed 2 weeks in the UK with only ice packs and a cool box, providing the camp site provides a freezing service. The key is to keep your perishable goods to a minimum, tinned & dried food for most meals, we are "roughing it" afterall.
The only time time I have considered solar panels is to charge up power packs to keep mobiles charged.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Solar panels
