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Old 09-20-2011, 08:13 PM   #11
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Seattle
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Re: Sizing solar panels

Again, thanks all for the info, it's very helpful. Even though my home is in grey and dismal Seattle, (I just say that to deter any more folks from moving here), most of my summer camping is in Eastern Washington and Oregon. Summers are stinko hot East of the Cascade crest, and that makes the Norcold work harder to maintain temp when it's hot inside The Van when I'm out on the lake fishing. In late May, when I make my annual trip to my favorite lake in North central Washington (well known for its beatis hatch, but shall remain nameless), daytime temps can get up to 85 or so, and the reefer is running quite a bit. After two days, I need to take a drive to charge up the house battery. A solar panel would let me enjoy the lake, without having to check my volt meter every few hours and worry about my dinner going bad in the fridge. Of course the reality is, that for the thousand bucks or so that the panel, controller and installation will cost me, I could get one of those really neat high end ice chests that will keep things cold for days, and have money left over. But if common sense was called into play, would I have bought The Van in the first place?

Tom

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Old 09-21-2011, 09:59 PM   #12
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Re: Sizing solar panels

Quote:
Originally Posted by flyfisher
Again, thanks all for the info, it's very helpful. Even though my home is in grey and dismal Seattle, (I just say that to deter any more folks from moving here), most of my summer camping is in Eastern Washington and Oregon. Summers are stinko hot East of the Cascade crest, and that makes the Norcold work harder... high end ice chests that will keep things cold for days, and have money left over. But if common sense was called into play, would I have bought The Van in the first place?

Tom
Hi;

Two items to add;

1- Costco had one of the monster Igloo coolers for about $100 recently. My same unit will keep ice for a week. Longer if you start with large homemade chunks. It is not nearly as pretty as the high end units.

2- There is a link floating around here from one of our intelligent members that researched his fridge operating times and then put insulation around portions of it resulting in a 50% reduction in operating electrical draw. They say conservation is a cheap alternative so I suggest researching that link or perhaps someone here can find it/quote it. I am overseas now and just woke up. Funny that I would pick the SMB forum as my first web-stop of the day. Must be hooked...

Regards,

Gavin
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