DCDC Charger - Solar and Fridge 24/7

DCDC Charger - Solar and Fridge 24/7

Postby jabiru18 on Tue, 28 Jan 2020 9:59 +0000

Just thought I would post this in the thought it may help someone spec their power needs as I always have 100% charge before dark without turning vehicle on ..

I worked on the fact during the day (Summer) the Fridge is using around 2amp per hour, solar panel provides about 4-5 amp (depending on the day). When overcast or cooler, the fridge doesn't draw as much so it balances well with the solar.

My Setup:
1 x Blue Top Optima AGM - 55 AH - Under Bonnet.
1 Redarc 1225D (With Solar Input)
1 x Engel 40 Litre. Draw is up to 2.5amps per AH (In Canopy)
1 x 110 w fixed Unregulated Solar Panel using Redarc Solar Input. Max AMP output 5 amp @ 21 Volt. I average about 5 amp in.

Fridge set at 2c with Beers, water and some food.

Average temp - 30-35C during day, 25-30c at night.

With fridge running overnight @2c, battery dropped to 80% (12.5V), Sun hit solar panel at 7am, took 3 hours to fully charge with fridge running (7am to 10am) and sat on 100% all day.

Charging via Solar Vehicle not started for 48 hours - Click image to see full graph:
Image


Charge during day:
Image

Work out your device amp usage and then try double that with solar input if possible.

I was thinking to go to a 200W or even a 160W panel, but, I don't at this stage I don’t need to. Before dark I always have 100% charge @13.2V.

If i increase the solar it appears Ill just get a quicker charge when the sun comes up. 1-2 hours @10amp input. Handy on days when sun is out only a few hours.

We also have a 70 litre Xero Companion Fridge which is around 5 amp per hour draw on hot day and still have 100% charge at dark.

My lighting doesnt really make any difference at all as they draw so little. I usually charge phones/Ipads/Speakers etc during Day.

Hope it helps someone.
Last edited by jabiru18 on Tue, 28 Jan 2020 7:11 +0000, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: DCDC Charger - Solar and Fridge 24/7

Postby Pradlux on Tue, 28 Jan 2020 12:28 +0000

Thanks mate great post I reckon
I love my ute but not as much as my dashound does!!
I just put a 3 inch exhaust on the ute, now the D4D sounds like a V4!!!
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Re: DCDC Charger - Solar and Fridge 24/7

Postby Cardy59 on Tue, 28 Jan 2020 5:43 +0000

Cheers bud very helpful as I’m looking at getting solar soon.
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Re: DCDC Charger - Solar and Fridge 24/7

Postby rusty66 on Tue, 04 Feb 2020 4:46 +0000

Cheers mate.
Is the smartphone app part of the Redarc? Can find it on their spec list. I’ve got a 160w panel that I want to put on the Hardtop for the summer.
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Re: DCDC Charger - Solar and Fridge 24/7

Postby jabiru18 on Tue, 04 Feb 2020 8:26 +0000

Hi Rusty,

The app is for Matson Battery Monitor - Bluetooth. Just plug the monitor to your + and - on your Aux, download the APP, done. It is a killer setup, shows charge rates, charging status etc etc. You get History Graphs also which is handy.

https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/mat ... 40712.html

Then download the APP - Battery Monitor BM2 works on Android or Apple.
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Re: DCDC Charger - Solar and Fridge 24/7

Postby Sartor on Tue, 04 Feb 2020 4:06 +0000

If you'd allow me, here is my info as well.

Setup is:

1 x Yellow Top Optima AGM - 55 AH - Under Bonnet installation
1 Redarc 1240D (With Solar Input)
1 x Engel 35 Litre. Draw is up to 3amps per AH (in the tube, under an aluminum tonneau cover)
1 x 135W foldable solar panel, German-made brand

My fridge is without the electronic control due to simplicity. I set it at 2 or 3 depending on EU summer (living in the Balkans in eastern Europe, temperatures can rise up to 40 degrees in some of the rocky mountains).

Using a CTEK unit to keep an eye on the charge. The CTEK does not work well when temps are under 10 degrees (I do not think you get these low in Australia however :) ).

So, we got a day off on expedition through Bulgaria and setup camp in overcast conditions

At 10:46 we setup the solar panel. The previous day, we were driving the Hilux, so it got to 100% before camp.
Image

The charge about noon was already at 85%
Image

During the day we were charging our night lights, phones, small pocket photo camera, GoPro, using water pump. At some moment we folded the panel because there was heavy rain.

In the end, at around 19:30 when the sun set, the battery was at 98%.
Image

During better weather conditions usually it takes around 2 hours to fully charge the battery. At the seaside using some old Chinese panel, we had full battery and fridge with always cold beers (we were moving just a couple of days for one week during which the BCDC charged off the alternator).

Image

Here is a photo of the seaside (we are not allowed to drive on the beaches here in EU): https://www.instagram.com/p/B02iVLRHvb6/
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Re: DCDC Charger - Solar and Fridge 24/7

Postby Gipsy on Wed, 05 Feb 2020 5:32 +0000

I'm considering putting the solar panel on the hard lid and the battery in the tub. Then I can open the hard lid to improve the angle of the panel.
Cheers Gipsy :D although I'm sure somebody will challenge that :lol: even Einstein wasn't certain of his theories.
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Re: DCDC Charger - Solar and Fridge 24/7

Postby HK1837 on Wed, 05 Feb 2020 9:41 +0000

Mine sits on the canopy roof between the canopy racks. Victron Solar MPPT regulator in the back with the fridge and good size cable running inside the chassis up to the aux battery under the bonnet. No need for a dc-dc converter doing it this way with a lead-acid aux battery as it is right up close to the alternator and starting battery. Fridge hangs off the Victron load terminals.

You’ll get a bit more tilting the panel but ideally you want to follow the sun (for latitude) rather than tilt it for longitude. Both is best but you get more by following it over the day. Mine is 110W and keeps the battery happy and runs the fridge as required, just has to park in the sun.
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Re: DCDC Charger - Solar and Fridge 24/7

Postby Gipsy on Wed, 05 Feb 2020 9:58 +0000

ALDI is selling a panel with an adjustable bracket so you can mount it on the hard lid and angle it as required, along with the lid I can get multiple angles to follow the sun.
Cheers Gipsy :D although I'm sure somebody will challenge that :lol: even Einstein wasn't certain of his theories.
My 2013 auto D4D DC SR5, prefilter, 3" exhaust and Chip with egt probe, stock SR5 rims with Toyo Open Country AT2 265/65R/17's
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Re: DCDC Charger - Solar and Fridge 24/7

Postby HK1837 on Wed, 05 Feb 2020 10:37 +0000

Worth having a play with, you will find the sweet spot using a Bluetooth app on your phone, but it moves away pretty quickly as the earth rotates so you'll be changing it lots!
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Re: DCDC Charger - Solar and Fridge 24/7

Postby jabiru18 on Wed, 05 Feb 2020 4:40 +0000

Is there anything ALDI dont sell haha. What W is the panel Gipsy?

My Panel is mounted flush on my Canopy, Ute tilts about 10 Degrees (Higher at back) and I always seem to get a good charge... I dont even really aim it toward the sun, if I am doing some driving I park in shade, if not driving I do try to aim toward the sun if we are camped there a few days. Not sure how that works. We don't get much cloud here in summer.

One thing I notice is the AGM batteries do seem to charge damn quick. I can be at 12.3 V in the morning, drive 30KM, charged.

HK1837 thats a nice setup.

I reckon if you struggle for Sun the biggest Wattage/Amperage panel you can get/fit seems to be the way to go. Max charge in short period.
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Re: DCDC Charger - Solar and Fridge 24/7

Postby HK1837 on Wed, 05 Feb 2020 5:23 +0000

Mine is just a cheap Kings 110W. Fits neatly between the roof racks on the Caddy systems workman canopy. I have seen it as high as 98W but normally it will be running about 60-75W. If I drive the 20min to work and it sits in sun for 5-6 hours it is always in float and throttled right back to 10W or so.
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Re: DCDC Charger - Solar and Fridge 24/7

Postby rusty66 on Thu, 06 Feb 2020 3:09 +0000

Thanks jabiru18 and the others, good info on here. I come from old Landrovers so (vehicle) electrics is quite a challenge for me :roll:

I have two panels off a mate who upgraded his camper van setup, one at 160W per hour and the other at 80W. I want to put one of them on my RSI canopy to charge a battery in the tray (and the primary battery, too) and provide for a cooler, a small Viair compressor and some LED lighting. The 160 being a tad too long (50mm), I prefer the smaller 80W panel, but think it might not be powerful enough.

My mate recons so. He's also crazy about lithium batteries, which he says I should get one. But they are shockingly expensive ...
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Re: DCDC Charger - Solar and Fridge 24/7

Postby HK1837 on Thu, 06 Feb 2020 3:27 +0000

If neither fits try another, this is what I fit as it is far squarer than most, at $89 delivered cheap as chips

https://www.4wdsupacentre.com.au/110w-f ... gJtm_D_BwE
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Re: DCDC Charger - Solar and Fridge 24/7

Postby Gipsy on Thu, 06 Feb 2020 5:24 +0000

jabiru I think its 160w
Cheers Gipsy :D although I'm sure somebody will challenge that :lol: even Einstein wasn't certain of his theories.
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Re: DCDC Charger - Solar and Fridge 24/7

Postby rusty66 on Fri, 07 Feb 2020 6:02 +0000

I do already have the panels. My friend passed them on to me. And they are almost new and the best you can get over here (Germany) at the moment. But the size is a bit odd - for my RSI canopy. Fairly long and small width. Once the weather improves I'll lay them on and see how it looks. But it will definitely protrude towards the cabin.

My mate is a bit of a 110% guy and says I definitely need the 160w panel. The 80w one would fit very nicely on the canopy roof. As I've said, being a bit thick when it comes to electrics I can't really say if 80W is too little...
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Re: DCDC Charger - Solar and Fridge 24/7

Postby m sciffer on Fri, 07 Feb 2020 3:14 +0000

hi there
I have find that 80w is not enough power to replenish the power you use and over a few days the battery will drain to a point that it will not run the fridge .yes the 160w is enough but if you have an over cast days it will struggle . my brother runs two 160 on the cab and one on the canopy and by 10am the battery is recharged for the day and night running that is only for the fridge and lights. you can never have two much solar
with the two 160 it will maintain two 120 batteries .I was down at lake st clair and with a 120w panel to run the fridge and it was over cast and raining I had to put my 120 flexible fold up panel and it just maintain the battery.
you must sit down and work out the power consumption of the items you use and add up how much solar you need for the a overcast day and how long to charge the battery
I found that if you can charge the battery by 10am in the morning that is fine and keep the regulator closes to the battery this will help with voltage drop .and do not use small size wire use wire that does not struggle, its like water going through a hose, bigger the hose less the water struggle same as current so use the thicker size, I hope this helps .
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Re: DCDC Charger - Solar and Fridge 24/7

Postby jabiru18 on Sat, 08 Feb 2020 7:32 +0000

Great tip sciffer, I totally agree, you need to allow for mimimal sun and know your power draw usage. As you say double the solar to your draw at least.

80w is too small, even when you have full sun the Amps are like a small trickle charge, would be mimimal.

My 110w gives me a full charge in full sun while fridge is running in about 2-3 hours. I may look at a 160w in the future.
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Re: DCDC Charger - Solar and Fridge 24/7

Postby Sartor on Mon, 10 Feb 2020 8:14 +0000

rusty66 wrote:
I have two panels off a mate who upgraded his camper van setup, one at 160W per hour and the other at 80W. I want to put one of them on my RSI canopy to charge a battery in the tray (and the primary battery, too) and provide for a cooler, a small Viair compressor and some LED lighting. The 160 being a tad too long (50mm), I prefer the smaller 80W panel, but think it might not be powerful enough.


As we are both in EU, check my comment about getting solar. During overcast conditions, you'd really need that extra power. Ability to direct the panel to the sun makes a HUGE difference. That is why we are using a foldable solar - more power, and it is moveable. The brand is PreVent (it is in Germany) and we are quite happy with it (comes with an MPPT solar regulator but we do not use it, as we are going through RedArc with a custom-made adapter cable).

BTW, would you recommend RSI smart canopy dealer in Germany (are they "genau")?
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Re: DCDC Charger - Solar and Fridge 24/7

Postby rusty66 on Wed, 12 Feb 2020 5:12 +0000

I’ll go with the 160W panel then. Just have to see how to fit it nicely. I’ve got an off-road trailer which also gets a 160W removable panel. So I should have enough input. The smaller one would have fitted very neatly.

I got them for little money so that’s why I took them. Foldable ones also appealed to me.

The RSI fits nicely but the paintwork is awful. The German dealers are all pretty decent if you go with the renowned ones like Taubenreuther. Recently there are offered canopies and stuff on eBay small ads. These seem new companies and I would be inquisitive about warranty and such. I like the new rsi trayback but am not so keen on them using stainless. There is a pretty cool trayback conversion on this forum that I’d love to do, too, but when I asked the company if they’d deliver to Germany they didn’t even answer. Maybe just as well, as shipping costs might be huge.

I need to look into the Redarc thing. As said, I’ve got very little clue about electrics...
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