need help

tin_pan
tin_pan Registered Users Posts: 5 ✭✭
I am a good mechanic , but poor with numbers , i just bought a new ac fridge that is energy star and is estimated to use 332 kwh per year I am going to put it in my cabin up in the hills so i want to power it on solar , what size inverter , charge controller will i need , how many batteries and how many watts of panels will i need, thanks for any help you can offer

Comments

  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    We will need your location (zip code is good)

    Your site needs to have a clear view of the sky, from 9am -3pm

    You need to harvest about 2kwh daily,  That will vary according to your site conditions

    Now the tough part
     What will you do when you have 2 or 4 cloudy days? Let your beer get warm, or start a backup generator?
    Gee, it would be nice to charge a cell phone, and play video games on the big tube.  Maybe a light or 3 at night
       All that takes power and more gear.
    Powerfab top of pole PV mount | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister ,

  • tin_pan
    tin_pan Registered Users Posts: 5 ✭✭
    we have a 360  clear view of the sky, north west of Oroville  yes i do have a generator that we run at night for lights, but when we are away from the cabin i want to keep my fridge cold, no tv or video games
  • 706jim
    706jim Solar Expert Posts: 514 ✭✭✭✭
    I'd go with a minimum of 1000 watts of panels. PWM or MPPT controller capable of this current. And at the very least 4 golf cart batteries.
    Island cottage solar system with 2500 watts of panels, 1kw facing southeast 1.3kw facing southwest 170watt ancient Arco's facing south. All panels in parallel for a 24 volt system. Trace DR1524 MSW inverter, Outback Flexmax 80 MPPT charge controller 8 Trojan L16's. Insignia 11.5 cubic foot electric fridge. My 30th year.
  • tin_pan
    tin_pan Registered Users Posts: 5 ✭✭
    thanks 706jim what size of inverter do you think i should go with, and do you think i should find an inverter that has a battery charger 
  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Keep your inverter and charger separate.   I'd go 4 golf cart batteries in series for 24V and I like the Victron Energy Phoenix Power Inverter 24V 800 Watt Pure Sine Wave 120V , should start most fridges, but try it, or get a 30 day exchange if  you need the next larger one.

    Powerfab top of pole PV mount | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister ,

  • tin_pan
    tin_pan Registered Users Posts: 5 ✭✭
    thanks for your reply Mike ,706jim suggest to go with 1000 watts panels, would that also go for 24 volt panels,or would i need less due to the higher voltage, great info though i think we are almost there
  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Watts are watts, doesn't matter the voltage.  Panels will need to be wired to produce the proper voltage for your charge controller. Generally, over 300 or 400w, best to use a MPPT controller.
     You are not "nearly there"   There is housing for the gear, wiring, circuit breakers and all sorts of configuring.
    Plan on looking at 200 - 300 w panels.  More than 300w, they get bulky and hard to handle.  Depending on their voltage configuration, dictates how they are to be wired. and what the input limits of your charge controller are.
    1Kw of PV will produce about 41Amps, so you need at least a 40A controller,
    How much "monitoring" do you want to be interested in ?  Do you want to read data and status from the blinky lights off the controller, a meter on the controller, or a laptop connected to the controller with cable or wifi ?
    Powerfab top of pole PV mount | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister ,

  • tin_pan
    tin_pan Registered Users Posts: 5 ✭✭
    thanks mike, i know iv got lots to learn yet , im going to try and find some schematic tonight to look at the build design and i am hoping not to do a lot of monitoring hoping to get it properly set up so i dont need to baby sit it
  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Monitoring is what lets you know something is wrong - before the lights go out and your batteries are ruined.
    Powerfab top of pole PV mount | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister ,