TheBackShed.com

Forum Index : Solar : Going Camping

Author

Message

KarlJ

Guru

Joined: 19/05/2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 1178

Posted: 10:20am 12 Feb 2011

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

Well
started simple Beer not cold after 4 hr drive in an esky with freezer bricks etc.
MAJOR issue beer not being cold.

Resolution
got some camping panels (trick -back contact 21%+ efficient)120W for 1m x 700mm

Utilised some thrown away connections and cable to connect.

MPPT regulator came with the panel

Watts up $35 from EV power measures exactly how much things use/input.

Fridge is mmmm HUGE at 55L capacity and works really well even in the steaming hot car.
Aussie Direct $650 beats the hell out of Engell at 3x the price sawafuji swing motor or not!

next is the LIfePO4 60AH battery as missus wants to be able to leave the lot for road trips (will get a cable/siren lock for $60 too)

Oh and for those of you who reckon it takes up most of the boot, you're right!
still have enough space for a week long trip of gear and food but the roof box is certainly on the cards .....another $600Edited by KarlJ 2011-02-13

Luck favours the well prepared

Tinker

Guru

Joined: 07/11/2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 1904

Posted: 03:19pm 12 Feb 2011

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

Karl, where in Perth did you get those solar panels?
Re the MPPT controller, I got the same and tested it - it does no MPPT (more current out than in from the regulator) but it works very well as a multi stage regulator on my sailboat.

Klaus

KarlJ

Guru

Joined: 19/05/2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 1178

Posted: 11:19am 13 Feb 2011

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

Not in perth, got them from Valeri Borodinov from PVCOOL in Melbourne
was $35 in delivery.
try
www.pvcool.com.au

Perhaps yours is a dud, when did you test it -if hot no surprises you didnt seem much different.
I had panel inside, 22degrees, put into the sun get 17V from panel to reg and 12.8V to battery.

give it 10 minutes when the panel has heated up and more like 14V from the panel
and 13.2V in the battery.

Voltage drop is fairly typical of all panels -ie derating due to temp.

Next weekend advise pending, i'll connect the panels as 24V and see what happens
looks like spec allows for upto 40V input, this would obviously halve the wiring losses. dont want to blow it up for the sake of 5W though.

here are pertinant specs
Technical Index:

1. Model:WS-MPPT15
2. Rated Voltage:12V/24V
3. Max load current:15A
4. Input Voltage:12V～40V/24V～80V

hence guessing that the panel in 24V mode will be OK.
I'm waiting on Val to get back to me first.

Luck favours the well prepared

Tinker

Guru

Joined: 07/11/2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 1904

Posted: 02:56pm 13 Feb 2011

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

Thanks Karl for the panel info, I'll check them out.

Re the little MPPT, I measured Amps in and out as well as voltage across it. Compared that to a 'real' MPPT (60A job) that charges the house battery bank.

There was no difference on both input & output Amp meters with the Wellsee from a 64W amorphous panel, hot or cold. Voltage across the unit looks just like what one expects from a regulator, not the big difference seen with the big MPPT.

There is always about 3A difference between in/out charge from the 420W panel (2 x 210W Sunpower, 24V) on the tracker on the shed roof, no matter what the time of the day or panel temperature.
I conclude the Wellsee is no MPPT but found it is a good regulator for the boat panels to charge the batteries which feed the boat fridge & the beer cold

BTW, the heat sinking arrangement inside my Wellsee was poor, fixed that.

Klaus

KarlJ

Guru

Joined: 19/05/2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 1178

Posted: 02:16pm 14 Feb 2011

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

to be honest i'm not that surprised
you're thinking -probably right too
is that the voltage drop across the controller is simply a function of
its resistance and PWM charging circuit.

re the heatsinking i'll have a look at that!

cheers Karl

Luck favours the well prepared

MacGyver

Guru

Joined: 12/05/2009
Location: United States
Posts: 1329

Posted: 03:26am 15 Feb 2011

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

Karl

I really like the idea of the stick-on panels (?) and the solar application is nothing but cool, but let me get this straight; you spent $600-plus for a cold beer (?). Yikes; you must be swimming in cash. That must certainly be some very good beer; Fosters?

. . . . . Mac

Nothing difficult is ever easy!
Perhaps better stated in the words of Morgan Freeman,
"Where there is no struggle, there is no progress!"
Copeville, Texas

shawn

Senior Member

Joined: 30/03/2010
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 210

Posted: 06:02am 15 Feb 2011

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

AU beer yuc might as well be warm

KarlJ

Guru

Joined: 19/05/2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 1178

Posted: 11:36am 15 Feb 2011

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

oh oh like bud is any good....

Its funny as I used to drink Tooheys Red exclusivly at $26 for a 30 pack but over here in Perth -despite advise to the contrary before we moved it costs $38 for a 30 pack so I figured for that money i'd drink better beer.

Visited some friends and was thoroughly embarassed when he had 5-6 beers to choose from.

As a result I normally have 5 or so beers in 7-10 varities in the fridge at all times (ie 35-50 beers in the fridge) at home.
Some highly recommended beers not necessarily in order

Tooheys Pils - under $40 a carton on par with little creatures pils ($60 a carton)
James Boags -a surprisingly hard hitting beer from Tassie that is always refreshing
TED's (Tooheys extra dry) almost unbeatable for an easy drinker when you're thirsty
Beez Neezs -although a tad expensive a lovely drop
Coopers pale ale (green label) full flavour and more often cheap as $38 a carton
Crown lager -on special at $34.60 a box its great value at $50 I wont touch it.
Miller -slightly better TEDs but $20 a box dearer

tough to go past any of the Little Creatures but with Huge monsters on the price tag I most often do.

So ....you might say I enjoy a beer and NO it doesnt have to be at 1 deg normally drink beer at (guessing) 4-5 degrees to appreciate the flavour -beer fridge turned up as warm as it will go.

Luck favours the well prepared

KarlJ

Guru

Joined: 19/05/2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 1178

Posted: 11:38am 15 Feb 2011

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

Oh and after all that they reckon I can run the panel at 30V+ so ill cut the plugs off and give it a go.

Luck favours the well prepared

Print this page

To reply to this topic, you need to log in.