R-pod Owners Forum : Solar power for fridge http://www.rpod-owners.com/ This is an XML content feed of; R-pod Owners Forum : Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks : Solar power for fridge Copyright (c) 2006-2009 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Sat, 02 May 2026 11:27:27 +0000 Tue, 07 Nov 2017 09:53:51 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 9.64 360 www.rpod-owners.com/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=10854 R-pod Owners Forum http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_images/web_wiz_forums.png http://www.rpod-owners.com/ Solar power for fridge : Originally posted by GlueGuyThe... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10854&PID=101811#101811 Author: CharlieM
Subject: 10854
Posted: 07 Nov 2017 at 9:53am

Originally posted by GlueGuy


The ampacity of a 12 AWG wire is 20 amps. No problem running the fridge with that. However, the capability of your TV is a real concern. If you also need to charge the battery, then you might come up short (no pun intended).

The ampacity of 12 AWg is not really the issue. Ampacity is a fire safety rating based on the allowable temperature rise at a given current. Voltage drop is the real issue for us. One half to one volt drop at 120V has little effect but it has a huge effect on a 12V charging system. The TV's charging system limits the alternator output to ~13.5V as measured at the TV battery. By the time this suffers the drop in the long #12 wire it delivers very little current to the TT battery and appliances. Most TVs only deliver 10A max to the TT and much less most of the time.
]]> Tue, 07 Nov 2017 09:53:51 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10854&PID=101811#101811 Solar power for fridge : Margaritas with ice crushed by... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10854&PID=101808#101808 Author: lostagain
Subject: 10854
Posted: 07 Nov 2017 at 8:57am

Margaritas with ice crushed by hand requires no electro/mechanical equipment whatsoever.  Just smash the ice inside a towel with a crescent wrench, or what ever blunt objet is handy, put the ingredients in a mason jar, shake, and serve.  

For those who are purists, use a good tequila, lime juice, triple sec or Contreau [depending on your budget], and salt along with your manually crushed ice.  --- no margarita mix stuff.  Yuck!
]]> Tue, 07 Nov 2017 08:57:09 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10854&PID=101808#101808 Solar power for fridge : Originally posted by fwunder .... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10854&PID=101805#101805 Author: sailor323
Subject: 10854
Posted: 07 Nov 2017 at 7:49am

Originally posted by fwunder

. . . However...

An earlier discussion involved gallons of Vodka. I therefore, do recommend a solar powered blender! Strawberry Daiquiris for everyone! Star

LOL  but I just use a 12v blender

 
]]> Tue, 07 Nov 2017 07:49:18 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10854&PID=101805#101805 Solar power for fridge : And I was feeling pretty smug... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10854&PID=101475#101475 Author: Keith-N-Dar
Subject: 10854
Posted: 29 Oct 2017 at 1:20pm

And I was feeling pretty smug for adding a solar battery maintainer to our Pod.]]> Sun, 29 Oct 2017 13:20:23 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10854&PID=101475#101475 Solar power for fridge : Ha! A must for every camping trip!... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10854&PID=101474#101474 Author: Leo B
Subject: 10854
Posted: 29 Oct 2017 at 1:15pm

Ha! A must for every camping trip!]]> Sun, 29 Oct 2017 13:15:40 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10854&PID=101474#101474 Solar power for fridge : I agree with the above comments.... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10854&PID=101470#101470 Author: fwunder
Subject: 10854
Posted: 29 Oct 2017 at 12:48pm

I agree with the above comments. Solar powered fridge just doesn't make a lot of sense. Propane is the way to go. However...

An earlier discussion involved gallons of Vodka. I therefore, do recommend a solar powered blender! Strawberry Daiquiris for everyone! Star




]]> Sun, 29 Oct 2017 12:48:54 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10854&PID=101470#101470 Solar power for fridge : Just run on propane. It will run... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10854&PID=101469#101469 Author: furpod
Subject: 10854
Posted: 29 Oct 2017 at 12:05pm

Just run on propane. It will run for 5-6 weeks on a single 20 pound tank. The battery bank and solar panel requirements for "running on solar"just can't be done on a 17 foot trailer with 8 sq feet of flat roof.. and will cost 1/2 as much as the Pod did.
]]> Sun, 29 Oct 2017 12:05:23 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10854&PID=101469#101469 Solar power for fridge : Originally posted by JandLRefrigerator... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10854&PID=101467#101467 Author: GlueGuy
Subject: 10854
Posted: 29 Oct 2017 at 10:34am

Originally posted by JandL

Refrigerator on DC draws around 11.00 amps. It would take many solar panels to power the refrigerator. I would recommend running it on propane if you don't have AC available. I can't run my refrigerator on DC while driving because the wire from the truck battery to the RV socket is only 12 gauge. The truck alternator can not supply the needs of the truck and refrigerator at the same time, so I run on propane
The ampacity of a 12 AWG wire is 20 amps. No problem running the fridge with that. However, the capability of your TV is a real concern. If you also need to charge the battery, then you might come up short (no pun intended).]]> Sun, 29 Oct 2017 10:34:13 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10854&PID=101467#101467 Solar power for fridge : Refrigerator on DC draws around... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10854&PID=101466#101466 Author: JandL
Subject: 10854
Posted: 29 Oct 2017 at 10:21am

Refrigerator on DC draws around 11.00 amps. It would take many solar panels to power the refrigerator. I would recommend running it on propane if you don't have AC available. I can't run my refrigerator on DC while driving because the wire from the truck battery to the RV socket is only 12 gauge. The truck alternator can not supply the needs of the truck and refrigerator at the same time, so I run on propane]]> Sun, 29 Oct 2017 10:21:32 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10854&PID=101466#101466 Solar power for fridge : Hi all,I bought a 178 last december... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10854&PID=101453#101453 Author: js555
Subject: 10854
Posted: 29 Oct 2017 at 1:44am

Hi all,

I bought a 178 last december and I am so happy.
I want to run the fridge with solar, I am not familiar with any of these things.
I could not run the fridge on battery the other day as I was on a 7 hour trip. Any ideas or reasons why ?
But I would love to save battery and run the fridge, but it seems that the fridge will not run on battery mode. Is there a reason for this ?
So what wattage and amperage would I need to run the fridge and the TV ? How many batteries would I need and would I need an inverter to make it 120 V's ?
Any help would be appreciated.

Best

JS•
]]> Sun, 29 Oct 2017 01:44:00 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10854&PID=101453#101453