September 2, 20241 yr Some time ago I bought portable 200w solar panels from Outdoor Warehouse. I am camping now in the Kruger and don't get more than 80w from it. The challenge is my normal caravan fridge consumes 130w. Is it normal and what I can I do to get 150w from it? In a week's time I'll be in Tzendze where there is no power. I am looking at buying some 4 x 100w glass solar panels to get to the watts required. My intention is to charge a Gizzu Challenger Max 1000W / 835Wh Ups Power Station Lifepo4 from the solar panels while it powers the caravan fridge.
September 2, 20241 yr Author Some time ago I bought portable 200w solar panels from Outdoor Warehouse. I am camping now in the Kruger and don't get more than 80w in bright sunlight from it. The challenge is my normal caravan fridge consumes 130w. Is it normal and what I can I do to get 150w from it? In a week's time I'll be in Tzendze where there is no power. I am now looking at buying some 4 x 100w glass solar panels to get to the watts required. My intention is to charge a Gizzu Challenger Max 1000W / 835Wh Ups Power Station Lifepo4 from the solar panels while it powers the caravan fridge.
September 2, 20241 yr Are the panels connected in series or parallel? What is the panel's rating? Is the solar input voltage in the charge controller's range? What charge controller do you have? Are the panels aimed square to the sun with zero shade on it?
September 2, 20241 yr 1 hour ago, Johandup said: Some time ago I bought portable 200w solar panels from Outdoor Warehouse. I am camping now in the Kruger and don't get more than 80w in bright sunlight from it. The challenge is my normal caravan fridge consumes 130w. Is it normal and what I can I do to get 150w from it? In a week's time I'll be in Tzendze where there is no power. I am now looking at buying some 4 x 100w glass solar panels to get to the watts required. My intention is to charge a Gizzu Challenger Max 1000W / 835Wh Ups Power Station Lifepo4 from the solar panels while it powers the caravan fridge. I think you're fundamentally under-powered, even with the planned increase in panels. My estimate, 750W of panels, and double the battery capacity. And that's if you're using an MPPT controller rather than a cheaper PWM controller.
September 2, 20241 yr 3 hours ago, Johandup said: Some time ago I bought portable 200w solar panels from Outdoor Warehouse. I am camping now in the Kruger and don't get more than 80w from it. The challenge is my normal caravan fridge consumes 130w. Is it normal and what I can I do to get 150w from it? In a week's time I'll be in Tzendze where there is no power. I am looking at buying some 4 x 100w glass solar panels to get to the watts required. My intention is to charge a Gizzu Challenger Max 1000W / 835Wh Ups Power Station Lifepo4 from the solar panels while it powers the caravan fridge. Just a question. Is the Gizzu powering your caravan 230V fridge. Not sure about this power station but most are not intended to be used as a UPS or if there is no grid. They great for about 1hr a day with no power. Getting only 80W from a 200W shows there is a problem on the panel and I would return it if you can. The power from 4x100W should just make it on a sunshine day but you are running very marginal to draw 130W plus the over 1400W to start a 230V fridge say 12+ times after sunset. You would also need some very good batteries to do it at Tzendze. Edited September 2, 20241 yr by Scorp007
September 2, 20241 yr 3 hours ago, GreenFields said: I think you're fundamentally under-powered, even with the planned increase in panels. My estimate, 750W of panels, and double the battery capacity. And that's if you're using an MPPT controller rather than a cheaper PWM controller. We seem to have a double post with the same topic.
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