100 watt folding solar panel

[bdosborn]

Not a bad price for a folding solar panel. 100 watts would be plenty for the average teardrop



Linky

Bruce

[Tamarack Lady]

Saw this and sent an e-mail earlier today about it. I asked about the built-in charge controller..no name given. From my reading here, I had planned on getting a Morningstar Sun Saver 10 so this worries me a little. Also, the weight is really light. What do you think? I was looking at the 160 because I have a Norcold refrigerator. Does this make sense? Thanks for any help and thoughts.
Wendy, Tamarack Lady

[bdosborn]

Saw this and sent an e-mail earlier today about it. I asked about the built-in charge controller..no name given. From my reading here, I had planned on getting a Morningstar Sun Saver 10 so this worries me a little. Also, the weight is really light. What do you think? I was looking at the 160 because I have a Norcold refrigerator. Does this make sense? Thanks for any help and thoughts.
Wendy, Tamarack Lady

Yeah, the controller is probably a no-name chinese model. However, it's not the end of the world if it craps out as you can always buy a Sunsaver and wire it around the panel controller. The panel specs look good but it is a little light. I'm not sure what that means, I've never read anything saying that a light panel was bad or good.

Which Norcold refrigerator do you have? If it's like my Waeco, the 100Watts would probably be enough. Got specs?

Bruce

[Tamarack Lady]

I'm actually yamping tonight along a small creek in my back field so no specs tonight. I just finished it this fall and love it. The refrigerator is the only serious draw I have. I measured it and it is about 20 x20 and I seem to remember that worse case scenario was about 36 amps per day. I have a AGM 27 battery. I am planning to buy soon and try the solar at a music festival in the Berkshire Mountains in NY in August! Thanks again. I will check my specs tomorrow.
Wendy

[Shadow Catcher]

I now have experience from 8 days of solar use on the shore of Lake Superior, 180W high voltage panel Morningstar MPPT controller 150AH battery. LED lights... and the Waeco refrigerator. LOTS of shade and by the end of eight days we were down to 62% state of charge. Had we been in direct sun or had I used our folding panel we would have been to 100% SOC each day.

[Tamarack Lady]

Very reassuring, Shadow Catcher. My goal has been to be able to camp anywhere so solar seems logical. (I like folk festivals.). I have a hybrid car which means no alternator. I know charging can be done but not optimally,so I am not charging while driving.

My one luxury is the Norcold refrigerator...DE07151BB. A little under 3 cu. ft. The label says 0.71 A. I have been planning/ reading for a while and think 120 watts can work. Am I correct?
Bruce, would you go with the foldable ones? I originally was going to make one.
Thanks to all for input/help. Hope to see some of you in the fall.
Wendy, Tamarack Lady

[wincrasher]

I bought a Go Power! 120 watt folding panel with controller on Amazon this week based on some good reviews. If it does the 6.7 amps they claim, I'll be happy with it.

[bdosborn]

I reviewed the specs for the fridge and 36 amp-hrs a day is a pretty conservative number, that you'll probably only see in hot weather. But it's a good design target so we'll use it as a guide.

The 100 watt panel is probably good for around 32 amp-hrs a day, the 120w is good for around 40 amp-hrs. I'd go with the 120W so you can cover some lights and radio use as well as the fridge.

Bruce

P.S. Building a solar panel is hard to do, making it absolutely leak-proof is a non-trivial effort. I'd buy a panel.

[Tamarack Lady]

Thanks for the feedback. I will order this week!
By the way...building a panel is no where near my skill range. I meant putting two together to make it folding versus buying the pre-assembled one.
Thanks all. I go to my five day festival in the beginning of August so I'll let you know.
Wendy

[bdosborn]

Duh, okay I get it now. I would check for some small panels at the same site as the folding panel. They seem to have the best prices lately.

Linky

You might save a little money over the folding panel by making one but not a lot after you pay for the controller.

Bruce

[Tamarack Lady]

I went ahead and ordered the foldable one today. Until you explained, I did not know that I could easily replace the built-in controller with a Morningstar Sunsaver when/ if it dies. The weight of this makes it easy to move around. I also got fifty feet of cable that I will cut in half for the male/ female connections. I am excited for this! It should be here in a week.
Thanks all...feedback will be given after my festival.
Wendy

[Tamarack Lady]

Folding solar panel from SolarBlvd just arrived. It seems sturdy and well built. It's rainy here so will connect it later in the week and leave for my festival on Tuesday. I will report back after using it for five days!
Thanks again for all...
Wendy, Tamarack Lady

[bdosborn]

Cool, keep us an updated!

Bruce

[Richard A.]

That link in the first message is no longer working. They do not seem to be carrying that product anymore.

ALSO, regarding sizing your panel. If you assume a full days sun you will be dissapointed. There are partly cloudy days. There are totally cloudy days. There are sunny days with shade (you can't always park in the open), and there are rainy days. If you really want to run on solar you need to have enough extra juice to last thru the not so sunny days.

[Tamarack Lady]

Hi RichardA.
I think they sold out! When I called on the 16th, they only had five left in the size I wanted and they told me they had sold a bunch. Shortly thereafter, the 120 was off site and then the 100s. By the way, I did get the 160 watt for added insurance and if all else fails, I'll unplug the refrigerator versus running my AGM battery too low.
Thanks for your concern.
Wendy