How the solar refrigerator exactly works depends on the type it is.
Camping solar panel refrigerator diy.
There are the rare dc powered refrigerators that are actually more efficient than the inverter types.
24 hours a day we have refrigerated food and it is damn glorious.
When the rvs first started to integrate residential fridges these systems were around a kilowatt.
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.
We ve installed the combiner box on the roof gaining access to an inconspicuous location inside the rv.
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.
Your charge controller needs to be efficient and be able to handle the power it s given.
The photovoltaic cells then convert the solar energy into electricity which is later stored in a battery.
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.
But generally they work on the same principles.
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.
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.
The need to run solar systems to power a residential refrigerator in rvs started a whole line of larger arrays solar kits.
4 batteries and 3 panels would probably do.
Currently as we speak our self installed rv solar panels are completely running our new refrigerator.
Through the refrigerator vent or a combiner box.
Now as the manufacturers are using more efficient refrigerators the size of that array required may go down as low as 570 watts.
100 watt portable solar panel.
Basically any fridge will do but the more energy efficient means a smaller solar setup is needed.
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.
Ideally an inverter refrigerator is the best bet but my old refrigerator needs 300watts when on.
The solar refrigerators are equipped with solar panels for the collection of solar power.
I recently went camping with a dozen of my neighbors up to northern az out next to a lake.
