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Bendable Solar Panels and Compressor Refrigerators


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#11 buzzman

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Posted 12 September 2014 - 01:21 AM

Thanks for the info RC and Mark. I'm still having a little difficulty deciding which type of frig would work best for my next camper, compressor frig or 3-way frig, but your input helps.

 

These stick-on roof solar panels look good.

 

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#12 Marco Cecala

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Posted 12 September 2014 - 02:19 PM

RC Pilot. Jim. Sorry to hear about Global Solar not calling back. Good to see you found some panels that will work. Keep us posted with their performance.
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#13 Kodachrome

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Posted 16 September 2014 - 03:54 AM

I use a Dometic CR1065 and honestly, I could run it full time on just the twin 100 watt semi-flex panels on the roof, in fact it has been running since July since I am using the rig on a ton of photo shoots, keep infrared film in it along with food and drinks.

So I run two batteries, two charge controllers, 200W on the main, 140W for the backup / computer, 4G cell booster and device side. The 200W are roof mounted, 140W is split between 40W flex on the air dam, 100W slide out for running electronics.

I'm really happy with this system, going semi-flex on the roof added 65W maxing out my Sunsaver 15L MPPT and shaved 20 pounds of weight off the roof.


Edited by Kodachrome, 18 September 2014 - 12:22 AM.

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#14 RC Pilot Jim

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Posted 16 September 2014 - 05:02 AM

Koda, how did you affix the panels to your roof?
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#15 Kodachrome

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Posted 16 September 2014 - 07:13 AM

Sheet metal screws, a couple in existing holes from the old panel. I do some pretty rough off-roading, hardware is the only thing I would consider...
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#16 Stalking Light

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Posted 16 September 2014 - 03:30 PM

I use a Dometic CR1065 and honestly, I could run it full time on just the twin 100 watt semi-flex panels on the roof, in fact it has been running since July since I am using the rig on a ton of photo shoots, keep infrared film in it along with food and drinks.

So I run two batteries, two charge controllers, 200W on the main, 140W for the backup / computer, 4G cell booster and device side. The 200W are roof mounted, 150W is split between 40W flex on the air dam, 100W slide out for running electronics.

I'm really happy with this system, going semi-flex on the roof added 65W maxing out my Sunsaver 15L MPPT and shaved 20 pounds of weight off the roof.

 

Off topic, but where in the camper did you mount your cell booster?


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#17 Ripperj

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Posted 16 September 2014 - 11:16 PM

"If your battery(s) is topped off when you get there and your conservative with the furnace blower and keeping the Waeco refer door closed most of the time (we use a mid-size Igloo ice cooler for our drinks) you might get 17- 24 hours - engine off - before needing to charge. Your choices then are portable solar pane, Honda generator (burns 1 gal gas per hour) or idle your motor for 1-2 hours as DrJ suggests. Or go sight-seeing during the day getting a charge from both alternator and solar."

My 2000w Honda runs all night on a gallon of gas.
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#18 RC Pilot Jim

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Posted 16 September 2014 - 11:37 PM

That's great Ripper.
My friends new Honda 2000 ran two hours on 2 gallons .
Maybe it was running too rich...however it wasn't 't smoking ??

He should take it in and have it checked.

Edited by RC Pilot Jim, 16 September 2014 - 11:38 PM.

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#19 DrJ

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Posted 17 September 2014 - 09:10 PM

I've been meaning to post pictures of my solar panels for sometime.

I finally took a few pictures and will post them here.

Hope this helps those who are trying to figure out where and how to glue them down.

Not sure if it's the world's best configuration, but it works for me.

Like I've mentioned before, I like the setup except for the wiring.

I can't decide if I'm going to trim all of those wires to a nice neat bunch or just leave them.

Looks unfinished to me, but it works just fine.

 

 

IMG 4129
IMG 4133
IMG 4137
IMG 4139

 


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#20 Kodachrome

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Posted 18 September 2014 - 12:12 AM

Off topic, but where in the camper did you mount your cell booster?

The antenna is on the front, booster inside down near the battery box. You can see it on the pic. Honestly, I got it mainly for my wife since she is the one who needs the computer to work, I don't really as I use film in my photography business, the fridge is great for that.

 

So there are 2 x 100W on the roof, the 40W on the front wind panel which more than keeps the aux / gadget battery topped and then the 100W slide out which I can pull completely off and run a 15 Ft. extension to it, also feeding the aux battery. On the very back right is a poly shooting platform, I put my tripod legs on the roof and work from the platform, roof down of course. It works great with everything from 35mm, medium format and even my slick carbon fiber 4x5 camera, none of it very heavy. 

 

So far a killer system, gotta keep that rare and expensive IR film cold...:-)

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Edited by Kodachrome, 18 September 2014 - 12:14 AM.

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