These Solar Generators Are So Confusing - Fiberglass RV
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 06-23-2021, 08:14 AM   #1
Senior Member
 
Name: bill
Trailer: 2013 Escape 19
The Mountains of North Carolina
Posts: 4,136
Registry
These Solar Generators Are So Confusing

On the surface, this looks like a deal. With the coupon, its $359 for a 620 Wh unit.

Am I missing something?

The 300 Wh units are running about this price. I am a believer in you don't get something for nothing.

The watt outputs are more about the on board inverter, so I am more interested in the storage capacity. But I know just enough to be confused!! And not enough to click and buy.

My objective is to get a backup that my portable solar can charge, and run a 12V DC compressor fridge and a few LED lights in my Trillium.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08YRFLSR3...dDbGljaz10cnVl
__________________
Check my Trillium Project Page: https://www.facebook.com/Bills-1977-...dmin_todo_tour
thrifty bill is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2021, 08:19 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
Name: P
Trailer: Casita
Washington
Posts: 343
My trailer battery is the charger of things that need charging.

I was a bit worried while on my way to W. Oregon to dry camp. The weather report was for rain. I put out my solar panels anyway. I found that even on the overcast days, with sucker holes appearing briefly, the panels kept my battery charged up. It was a pleasant surprise. It didn't take much and even on the overcast parts, the readout showed a charge happening.
slowpat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2021, 08:21 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
David Tilston's Avatar
 
Name: Dave W
Trailer: Trillium 4500 - 1976, 1978, 1979, 1300 - 1977, and a 1973
Alberta
Posts: 6,926
Registry
Quote:
Originally Posted by gordon2 View Post
Check your link.
Bill, You linked to this:
Attached Thumbnails
Capture.JPG  
David Tilston is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2021, 08:45 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
Name: bill
Trailer: 2013 Escape 19
The Mountains of North Carolina
Posts: 4,136
Registry
Trying again.

https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Stat...ct_top?ie=UTF8
thrifty bill is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2021, 09:06 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
Name: You can't call me Al
Trailer: SOLD: 1977 Scamp 13'
Massachusetts
Posts: 824
That one is US$559 which seems to be inline with others.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SM5HBK1/ref=emc_b_5_t

Was US$359 a type or a special price?
AlanKilian is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2021, 09:54 AM   #6
Senior Member
 
Name: bill
Trailer: 2013 Escape 19
The Mountains of North Carolina
Posts: 4,136
Registry
Amazon is giving me a $200 coupon on it, making it $359.
thrifty bill is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2021, 10:43 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
Name: You can't call me Al
Trailer: SOLD: 1977 Scamp 13'
Massachusetts
Posts: 824
Quote:
Originally Posted by thrifty bill View Post
Amazon is giving me a $200 coupon on it, making it $359.
It sounds legitimate then.
AlanKilian is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2021, 10:51 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
Name: You can't call me Al
Trailer: SOLD: 1977 Scamp 13'
Massachusetts
Posts: 824
Quote:
Originally Posted by thrifty bill View Post
a 620 Wh unit.

My objective is to get a backup that my portable solar can charge, and run a 12V DC compressor fridge and a few LED lights in my Trillium.
How much power does your refrigerator draw?

I've seen numbers between 7 Amps and 15 Amps.

Assuming (You know the saying...) it's running 50% of the time, that's between 3.5 and 7.5 Amps.

At 12 Volts, that's between 40 and 90 watts.

So you'd be able to power your fridge for between 8 and 3.5 hours to get your battery 50% depleted. (Which is what I understand is as far as you should go to get good lifetime out of a battery.)
AlanKilian is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2021, 03:55 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Name: JD
Trailer: Scamp 16 Modified (BIGLY)
Florida
Posts: 2,445
622 wh with an 80% discharge to protect the battery from over discharge leaves 497 watt hr for use.
497 watt hr is equivalent to 497 watts / 12.8 volts or about 40 amp hrs.
40 amp hours is not too bad considering that the DC compressor fridge will draw about 4 amps running and maybe 2 - 2.5 amp hrs if running ~50% duty cycle.
40 amp hrs available divided by 2.5 would give you maybe 16 hours of run time, if the specs are as I understand them.
The only worry I would have is if the reviewers are really buyers and users of the unit.
redbarron55 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2021, 10:04 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
John in Santa Cruz's Avatar
 
Name: John
Trailer: Escape 21, behind an '02 F250 7.3 diesel tug
Mid Left Coast
Posts: 2,937
Quote:
Originally Posted by AlanKilian View Post
How much power does your refrigerator draw?

I've seen numbers between 7 Amps and 15 Amps....
they said they had a COMPRESSOR fridge. 7-15 amps is for an absorption fridge. Compressor fridges use far less power.
John in Santa Cruz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2021, 05:22 AM   #11
Senior Member
 
Name: bill
Trailer: 2013 Escape 19
The Mountains of North Carolina
Posts: 4,136
Registry
Yes the plan would be to partner it with a compressor fridge, solar panel and regular battery.
thrifty bill is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2021, 06:58 AM   #12
Senior Member
 
John in Santa Cruz's Avatar
 
Name: John
Trailer: Escape 21, behind an '02 F250 7.3 diesel tug
Mid Left Coast
Posts: 2,937
as long as you realize, a 'solar generator' is just a portable battery with a bunch of attached junk.
John in Santa Cruz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2021, 07:03 AM   #13
Senior Member
 
Name: Pat
Trailer: 2006 Scamp 19 Deluxe
Enchanted Mountains of Western New York State on the Amish Trail in Cattaraugus County!
Posts: 621
Just to give you a idea, I run a Domenic CFX28 portable compressor fridge in my Honda Odyssey. It runs off the cigarette lighter plug in the back of the van. The "rated input current (DC), [A] 6.5" quoted from the manual. Never have had any problems with it killing the battery. Been running it for at least 3+ years now. It turns on when I start the van and off when not running. Leave it plugged in all the time.
parmm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2021, 07:16 AM   #14
Senior Member
 
Perryb67's Avatar
 
Name: Perry
Trailer: 2016 Bigfoot 25RQ
Lanesboro, Minnesota, between Whalan and Fountain
Posts: 753
Quote:
Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz View Post
as long as you realize, a 'solar generator' is just a portable battery with a bunch of attached junk.


Yes, and for that you get one expensive battery! There is no free lunch.

Enjoy,

Perry
__________________
2016 Bigfoot 25RQ - 2019 Ford F-150, 3.5 V6 Ecoboost,

Previous Eggs -2018 Escape 5.0 TA, 2001 Scamp 16' Side Bath, 2007 Casita 17' Spirit basic, no bath, water or tanks, 2003 Bigfoot 25B25RQ, that we regreted selling
Perryb67 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2021, 07:26 AM   #15
Senior Member
 
Name: You can't call me Al
Trailer: SOLD: 1977 Scamp 13'
Massachusetts
Posts: 824
Quote:
Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz View Post
they said they had a COMPRESSOR fridge. 7-15 amps is for an absorption fridge. Compressor fridges use far less power.
Well that's why I looked:
Dometic 3.8 cubic foot says 6.2 Amps
https://www.dometic.com/en-us/food-a...crx-110e-56279

You are right that the 15 Amp draw was 12 Volts on a three-way fridge so that was my problem. Sorry.

Do you have a reference I can look at showing compressor fridges drawing "far less than" 7 Amps? I've LOVE to find something like that and I'm not the best google searcher. Thanks.
AlanKilian is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2021, 07:49 AM   #16
Senior Member
 
Alex Adams's Avatar
 
Name: Alexander
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1300
New Hampshire
Posts: 1,140
Quote:
Originally Posted by AlanKilian View Post
Do you have a reference I can look at showing compressor fridges drawing "far less than" 7 Amps? I've LOVE to find something like that and I'm not the best google searcher. Thanks.
Are you looking for built in or portable?

Built in:
https://static1.squarespace.com/stat...+2021+-+R3.pdf
http://www.marinewarehouse.net/image...atalog-USA.pdf
https://truckfridge.com/products/ac-...mercial-trucks

Search on Amazon for portables. You have to look through the listing to see power consumption:

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=portable+..._ts-doa-p_8_19

Not a complete list but it will get you started. Can you tell I have been looking? I'm probably going to get a NovaKool R-3100 for my trailer once I rewire it.
Alex Adams is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2021, 07:53 AM   #17
Senior Member
 
John in Santa Cruz's Avatar
 
Name: John
Trailer: Escape 21, behind an '02 F250 7.3 diesel tug
Mid Left Coast
Posts: 2,937
https://www.northernfridge.ca/pages/faq suggests the *average* usage is 2 AH per hour.

specs on a 3 cu ft tall fridge from that maker suggest its actual usage is 5 amps while on.
John in Santa Cruz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2021, 09:22 AM   #18
Senior Member
 
Name: Gordon
Trailer: 2015 Scamp (16 Std Layout 4) with '15 Toyota Sienna LE Tug
North Carolina
Posts: 5,155
Quote:
Originally Posted by AlanKilian View Post
..

Do you have a reference I can look at showing compressor fridges drawing "far less than" 7 Amps? I've LOVE to find something like that and I'm not the best google searcher. Thanks.
My portable Indel B (Same as Truckfridge and others), draws between 220 and 900 watt hours in 24 hours. 900 is with it set to freezing. The typical number if you dont open it a lot and the ambient temperature is close to room temp would be 250-300 watt hours a day.
gordon2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2021, 09:26 AM   #19
Senior Member
 
John in Santa Cruz's Avatar
 
Name: John
Trailer: Escape 21, behind an '02 F250 7.3 diesel tug
Mid Left Coast
Posts: 2,937
Quote:
Originally Posted by gordon2 View Post
My portable Indel B (Same as Truckfridge and others), draws between 220 and 900 watt hours in 24 hours. 900 is with it set to freezing. The typical number if you dont open it a lot and the ambient temperature is close to room temp would be 250-300 watt hours a day.
so thats between 18 and 75 amp*hours per day, or 0.75 to 3.2 amp*hours per hour.
John in Santa Cruz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2021, 09:33 AM   #20
Senior Member
 
Name: You can't call me Al
Trailer: SOLD: 1977 Scamp 13'
Massachusetts
Posts: 824
Quote:
Originally Posted by gordon2 View Post
250-300 watt hours a day.
What does 300 watt-hours per day mean?

https://www.goalzero.com/blog/what-is-a-watt-hour/
AlanKilian is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
generator, solar


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Trillium Manufacturers = Confusing Roger C H General Chat 51 08-31-2013 04:18 AM
Brake Control Adjustment: Confusing Lawrence W Towing, Hitching, Axles and Running Gear 1 08-10-2010 09:07 AM
So many confusing choices for newbies Frank G. Care and Feeding of Molded Fiberglass Trailers 21 03-16-2007 12:15 AM
solar vs. portable generators. both? Francine P Electrical | Charging, Systems, Solar and Generators 8 07-06-2006 04:55 PM

» Upcoming Events
No events scheduled in
the next 465 days.
» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:39 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.