05-31-2018, 02:02 PM
Glad it works for you, I’d try a single 100W flexible and a good solenoid system. A fridg draws about 20+ amp hours if left on 24 hours (unknown variables like the compressor cycle time, inside temps, any insulation usage and the set point of thermostat) and you might be able to replace that on solar alone (100W panel figure 5 amps max times the solar hours available, maybe 5 = 25 amp hours if a sunny day). If you drive and charge that helps, but if you run into 2-3 cloudy or rainy days you might have a problem. I think she said after about 2 days her low voltage cut it off...
Most conventional panels are about the same sizes, Amazon products normally give dimensions.
You can get small ones (<40w) in skinnier vs square sizes but you pay more to assemble 100W worth. Course you can “jigsaw” them better.
In the end its whatever you can afford and make work. The advantage of roof racks is that you could suspend the panels inside the racks, by using angle steel/aluminum, and then they wouldn’t stick up.
One these days I’ll actually have a van and about $500 in solar parts to play with. Someday...
Most conventional panels are about the same sizes, Amazon products normally give dimensions.
You can get small ones (<40w) in skinnier vs square sizes but you pay more to assemble 100W worth. Course you can “jigsaw” them better.
In the end its whatever you can afford and make work. The advantage of roof racks is that you could suspend the panels inside the racks, by using angle steel/aluminum, and then they wouldn’t stick up.
One these days I’ll actually have a van and about $500 in solar parts to play with. Someday...
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