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Post by jamesc09 on Mar 11, 2021 16:29:01 GMT -5
Tomorrow I'm picking up a gently used K-Z Sportsmen SE 260BHSE from the dealer. I have no experience w/ the 12V refrigerators and have some questions now that these have been out there for a bit.
Battery Life
1. Assuming the fridge is cool and the battery is charged when I arrive at the campground, how do you find the 12V fridge drains the battery when not hooked up to electricity? How does it affect your generator usage?
Solar panel recommendations
What solar panels are you using w/ the solar-ready connection? Found any that perform OK in the shade?
My apologies if this has been posted recently. I did a search and couldn't find in new-ish posts.)
Thanks!
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Post by Edd505 on Mar 11, 2021 19:33:45 GMT -5
Are you sure it's 12v and not gas/110v
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Post by HiWayOurWay on Mar 11, 2021 21:55:57 GMT -5
No solar panels "work ok in the shade".
Solar panels will only produce their rated wattage of output under the most optimum conditions of full sun with perfect angle of panel to sun, etc, etc.
Any shade on your panels will immediately reduce their output by a significant percentage. You don't need to have 50% in shade to lose 50% of output.
It also take a significant solar system to keep a refrigerator operating with no shore power. The basic "off the grid" packages will provide basic battery charging but not much else, and will not keep up with discharge associated with a refrigerator running off an inverter. You need to upgrade panels/wattage/amps to get to that level of functionality.
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Post by laknox on Mar 12, 2021 10:16:53 GMT -5
Tomorrow I'm picking up a gently used K-Z Sportsmen SE 260BHSE from the dealer. I have no experience w/ the 12V refrigerators and have some questions now that these have been out there for a bit. Battery Life 1. Assuming the fridge is cool and the battery is charged when I arrive at the campground, how do you find the 12V fridge drains the battery when not hooked up to electricity? How does it affect your generator usage? Solar panel recommendations What solar panels are you using w/ the solar-ready connection? Found any that perform OK in the shade? My apologies if this has been posted recently. I did a search and couldn't find in new-ish posts.) Thanks! If you have a "standard" RV fridge, it will run on 110v while plugged in and gas, if not. Most have an Auto setting that will automagically switch, OR, you can manually select the mode you want. I know more than a few people who feel that running on propane cools better than electric so, even when hooked up to shore power, will run the fridge on gas. The only 12v power the fridge uses is to power the control board and the igniter. As for solar, no panels work "OK" in the shade. A good MPPT controller will help maximize what charge you are getting, though. If you do want to keep your rig in the shade, but still have solar, then simply get yourself some good, heavy wire and make an extension cord and set your panel(s) in the sun. There seem to be a lot of commercial grade panels floating around here in AZ, for cheap. I'm talking big-@ss ones, 435 watts each. Can easily be had for < $100 each, sometimes cheaper. Lyle |
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Post by debbie on Mar 13, 2021 9:06:44 GMT -5
1. We did extensive research on the 12V refrigerator and are considering replacing our gas/electric. To determine run time you’ll need know your battery’s capacity (amp-hr or watt-hr), the fridge draw and the other nominal draw from lights, etc. We estimated about a weekend of run time with our 300 amp-hr battery bank with no recharging and no inverter usage. Based on all we’ve seen and read, these 12v compressor fridges are way more efficient than the adsorption fridges (gas/electric). As for generator usage, just depends on how frequently you need to recharge your battery or run your A/C.
2. As for solar, no solar works well in the shade, but we purchased 3 Renogy suitcase panels (100W, 100W and 200W) and can operate one or all three for a total of 400W. The suitcase panels allow us to move them around our site to optimize charging in a shady campsites. You do have voltage drop across the cords, but it doesn’t seem to impact us too much.
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diferg
Newbie RV’er
2019 KZ 270THLE / 2006 ST-1300
Posts: 32
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Post by diferg on Mar 14, 2021 18:48:18 GMT -5
I have a 2 door 12volt refrigerator in 2019 KZ 270THLE. (these friges cool down Fast!) Have used it several occasions towing for 2 & 3 days without any hookup other than truck while towing. Have also left trailer (with nothing on except refrigerator) for 24 hours with no power source other than its own battery and it was still running. Don't know how long it would last dry camping for more than overnight. We love the 12 volt system, more reliable than propane while traveling! Don't worry just enjoy!
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