Solar setup for Camping

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AKLGUY79

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#282714 7-Mar-2021 19:31

Anyone here built a small solar farm for Camping?

To charge a small battery to run Lighting at night.

maybe run a small cooler to help keep the beer and food cold?

Any recommendations to start? would a 100w charging panel be enough? I know the cooler will be the biggest drain.

Would you use a 12v car battery (or 2) or would you need a special one?

Handle9

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#2669613 7-Mar-2021 19:41

There's a fair bit out there on youtube about putting together a solar system. Your biggest decision will be whether you'll look to be car based or want a freestanding system. If you go tethered to your car then you have much more of a set and forget system, if you want it to be removeable then it's a bit different.

Something like this is a nice way to build a system without too much knowledge but obviously you pay for the priviledge.

You want deep cycle AGM batteries at the low end or Lithium at the high end. Car batteries aren't suitable. It really depends on your budget and what loads you want to run.

Best bet it to choose your fridge first then build your system around that.

AKLGUY79

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#2669616 7-Mar-2021 19:49

Yeah Free standing. the place where several friends go camping you are not allowed to take cars to the camp site (to stop thefts I think) Cant see how.

The fridge thing maybe isn't the big deal. Maybe just for lighting and maybe entertainment ie a projector for when it is dark (and arnt allowed camp fires)

timmmay

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#2669618 7-Mar-2021 19:56

Lighting is easy, LEDs don't use much power. Fridge uses a lot of power. Projector can use a moderate amount. Suggest you start with a small system for lighting and see how it goes. You main needs are a panel, battery, and regulator thingy - I forget the name exactly. I did think about an integrated solar panel / battery but charging batteries in the sun is the definition of how to reduce their lifespan.

Jase2985

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#2669688 7-Mar-2021 20:10

timmmay:

Lighting is easy, LEDs don't use much power. Fridge uses a lot of power. Projector can use a moderate amount. Suggest you start with a small system for lighting and see how it goes. You main needs are a panel, battery, and regulator thingy - I forget the name exactly. I did think about an integrated solar panel / battery but charging batteries in the sun is the definition of how to reduce their lifespan.

This one states: Battery powered 12V DC - 75 W per hour

others ive seen are 1A/hour which isnt too bad

timmmay

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#2669700 7-Mar-2021 20:29

Jase2985:

This one states: Battery powered 12V DC - 75 W per hour

others ive seen are 1A/hour which isnt too bad

LPG is probably a better bet. 75W working 24/7, assuming 12 hours or sun per day and solar panel not 100% efficient probably means 250W solar panel. That's probably fairly big. My 40W panel is about (guessing) 80 x 40cm.

AKLGUY79

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#2669702 7-Mar-2021 20:41

LPG is probably a better bet. 75W working 24/7, assuming 12 hours or sun per day and solar panel not 100% efficient probably means 250W solar panel.

Thank you that is what I assumed.

its just I was after the panel and the bit that charges the batteries(and stops when the batteries are full)

Then the battery/ies

Thanks team

tchart

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#2669707 7-Mar-2021 20:44

If you want something portable and not DIY look at goal zero or something like this;

https://www.equipoutdoors.co.nz/companion-rover-lithium-70ah-power-station

As others have said solar isn't that effective especially if you are using the battery at the same time.

I have a goal zero plugged into a 200w fixed solar panel. On a good day I might get 120W from the panel. Bad days it will be down to 15W. It's usually enough to keep the goal zero topped up as I only draw about 25W (lighting) while I'm working.

I also have a foldable 100W panel but it doesn't seem as effective as the fixed panel and I usually only get 50-60W max from it.

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Handle9

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#2669709 7-Mar-2021 20:45

timmmay:
Jase2985:

This one states: Battery powered 12V DC - 75 W per hour

others ive seen are 1A/hour which isnt too bad

LPG is probably a better bet. 75W working 24/7, assuming 12 hours or sun per day and solar panel not 100% efficient probably means 250W solar panel. That's probably fairly big. My 40W panel is about (guessing) 80 x 40cm.

Absorption fridges are hopeless on 12V. A compressor fridge is far more efficient and is what anyone who uses solar should use.

Something like this uses ~12W/he

https://www.rvworldstore.co.nz/dometic-waeco-cfx-35-fridge

GoranZ

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#2669839 8-Mar-2021 09:39

I see PB have this on special today

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/UPSPRK1050/Poweroak-EB50-400Wh-Portable-Power-Station

A couple of 3A oultets for LED lights and plenty of USB style for phones etc.

Find a good 120W solar panel to charge.

I myself have one of these just for the lights and it works well in our large canvas tent. Its reasonably small size is a bonus
https://tinyurl.com/2zkxad4y

timmmay

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#2669848 8-Mar-2021 09:57

GoranZ:

I see PB have this on special today

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/UPSPRK1050/Poweroak-EB50-400Wh-Portable-Power-Station

A couple of 3A oultets for LED lights and plenty of USB style for phones etc.

Find a good 120W solar panel to charge.

I myself have one of these just for the lights and it works well in our large canvas tent. Its reasonably small size is a bonus
https://tinyurl.com/2zkxad4y

That looks awesome. I don't need one, but I want one!

AKLGUY79

87 posts

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#2669851 8-Mar-2021 09:59

GoranZ:

I myself have one of these just for the lights and it works well in our large canvas tent. Its reasonably small size is a bonus
https://tinyurl.com/2zkxad4y

Thanks GoranZ

I have one of those too and it is fine for inside my tent. I was just looking for a little something to have outside my tent So we do not need little lanterns etc.

tchart

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#2669871 8-Mar-2021 10:29

AKLGUY79:

I have one of those too and it is fine for inside my tent. I was just looking for a little something to have outside my tent So we do not need little lanterns etc.

There was a discussion a few weeks back about portable lighting (for a farmers market stall?).

Anyway the user ended up getting a Ryobi work light that works with Ryobi power tool rechargable batteries. So just as an alternative if you have invested in cordless power tools already there can be some reuse.