Headache
Well-known member
Recently a very expensive issue for me was rectified.
For the last two years I've been using coolers to keep my pet food, beverages and a few food items for me cool. While I knew this was going to be an expensive option until I could pay for a better one I didn't realize just how expensive it would become. The first year and a half I averaged about $16 a week for a total of approximately $1248. The last 6 months I've averaged about $25 a week for a total of about $650. Since it warmed up and any time the outside temps were higher than 80 degrees I was spending almost $30 a week for ice. Right now my total for the last 2 years stands at about $1898. This was unsustainable.
Starting out I had a set of two 75 watt panels connected to my start battery with a 10 amp charge controller, barely enough to charge my phone and power storage box unless the sky was completely clear. Not even close to any kind of refrigeration. However, this season timing and money was on my side and with the help of some friends my issue with ice has ended and the cooler is in storage.
My solar charging system is now three 200 watt panels on the roof for 600 watts, a 40 watt MPPT charge controller and 3 group 27 lead acid marine/rv deep cycle batteries for about 140 amp hours.
My fridge/freezer is an EdgeStar 3.1 cu ft. I just couldn't afford a 12 volt fridge at this time. A separate freezer section was a must.
I'm very pleased! The system charges on cloudy days as long as it isn't too dark. Just a few days ago it was cloudy for a few days in a row(one of them it was raining) and the lowest it got was 12.4v.
Right now the only things on the system are the fridge/freezer, the 600 watt pure sine wave inverter and the extension cord(it has lighted ends). The rest hasn't been hooked up yet. I'm going to add 600 more watts of panels next season, a bigger inverter and of course a 100 amp charge controller. My goal is to also run an a/c(and park next to HDR when it's running lol), my computers and TV and my kitchen things like juicer, electric hot plate and microwave. I blame Jim for this after seeing what he was running in his trailer!
I would like to thank Jimindenver for designing a working system including using stuff I picked up from the RTR free pile and abnorm who built the battery box and the wall that went behind it where the components are screwed into.
I'll update as I add/change things to the system. Please don't make this a 110 vs. 12 volt debate. I didn't have the money for the size of 12 volt fridge I needed that also had a separate freezer section.
One thing I still struggle with is understanding numbers and sometimes how things work. Jim has been very patient with me in this regard. One thing that kept me out of trouble with the 150 watt system is that I had one of the battery meters that plugged into a 12 volt receptacle. It had red, yellow and green lights and I charged/plugged in stuff according to the lights. My new charge controller is a Bluetooth app thingy and sometimes when I'm looking at it I draw a complete blank. Thankfully it also has idiot lights on it so I have some kind of backup when my brain just wont engage. I'm terrified of frying batteries.
Edit: I forgot to add that yesterday for the first time in almost 3 years I was able to buy frozen raw dog food and could put it right in the freezer. Absolutely life changing for me and my babies!
For the last two years I've been using coolers to keep my pet food, beverages and a few food items for me cool. While I knew this was going to be an expensive option until I could pay for a better one I didn't realize just how expensive it would become. The first year and a half I averaged about $16 a week for a total of approximately $1248. The last 6 months I've averaged about $25 a week for a total of about $650. Since it warmed up and any time the outside temps were higher than 80 degrees I was spending almost $30 a week for ice. Right now my total for the last 2 years stands at about $1898. This was unsustainable.
Starting out I had a set of two 75 watt panels connected to my start battery with a 10 amp charge controller, barely enough to charge my phone and power storage box unless the sky was completely clear. Not even close to any kind of refrigeration. However, this season timing and money was on my side and with the help of some friends my issue with ice has ended and the cooler is in storage.
My solar charging system is now three 200 watt panels on the roof for 600 watts, a 40 watt MPPT charge controller and 3 group 27 lead acid marine/rv deep cycle batteries for about 140 amp hours.
My fridge/freezer is an EdgeStar 3.1 cu ft. I just couldn't afford a 12 volt fridge at this time. A separate freezer section was a must.
I'm very pleased! The system charges on cloudy days as long as it isn't too dark. Just a few days ago it was cloudy for a few days in a row(one of them it was raining) and the lowest it got was 12.4v.
Right now the only things on the system are the fridge/freezer, the 600 watt pure sine wave inverter and the extension cord(it has lighted ends). The rest hasn't been hooked up yet. I'm going to add 600 more watts of panels next season, a bigger inverter and of course a 100 amp charge controller. My goal is to also run an a/c(and park next to HDR when it's running lol), my computers and TV and my kitchen things like juicer, electric hot plate and microwave. I blame Jim for this after seeing what he was running in his trailer!
I would like to thank Jimindenver for designing a working system including using stuff I picked up from the RTR free pile and abnorm who built the battery box and the wall that went behind it where the components are screwed into.
I'll update as I add/change things to the system. Please don't make this a 110 vs. 12 volt debate. I didn't have the money for the size of 12 volt fridge I needed that also had a separate freezer section.
One thing I still struggle with is understanding numbers and sometimes how things work. Jim has been very patient with me in this regard. One thing that kept me out of trouble with the 150 watt system is that I had one of the battery meters that plugged into a 12 volt receptacle. It had red, yellow and green lights and I charged/plugged in stuff according to the lights. My new charge controller is a Bluetooth app thingy and sometimes when I'm looking at it I draw a complete blank. Thankfully it also has idiot lights on it so I have some kind of backup when my brain just wont engage. I'm terrified of frying batteries.
Edit: I forgot to add that yesterday for the first time in almost 3 years I was able to buy frozen raw dog food and could put it right in the freezer. Absolutely life changing for me and my babies!
