Engel fridge in van-what is needed/recommended

[zachbgreen]

Hi folks,
I'm thinking about installing an engel fridge in my Ram 3500 van. I live on the road (rock climbing) and feel like this would be a smart investment. I know nothing about panels, power, batteries, etc, so if you all would help me out, that would be great! I only really want to run the fridge, maybe the occasional blender, and small electronics. Thanks!

[SunEagle]

Hello zachbgreen and welcome to Solar Panel Talk

Without knowing what that Engel fridge uses in watt hours daily it would be very hard to size a solar /battery system. For that matter unless you have a lot of roof space or are able to set up your solar panels on the ground pointed directly at the sun all day it would be hard for them to recharge a battery being used by a refrigerator or any kitchen appliance. They use a lot of power which can drain a small battery system quickly.

[zachbgreen]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002Q1INDM/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687462&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B001SNWCFO&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1MCARER5A4X6S9P42DCV

This is the fridge I'm looking at, and I have plenty of roof space. It appears that this particular fridge doesn't use much power.

[zachbgreen]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002Q1INDM/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687462&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B001SNWCFO&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1MCARER5A4X6S9P42DCV

This is the fridge I'm looking at. It appears that it doesn't use much power. I have plenty of roof space-think 15 passenger van with industrial roof rack.

[SunEagle]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...R5A4X6S9P42DCV

This is the fridge I'm looking at, and I have plenty of roof space. It appears that this particular fridge doesn't use much power.

I see that it can run off of either AC or DC but I did not see how many watt hours it will consume in a day.

[SunEagle]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...R5A4X6S9P42DCV

This is the fridge I'm looking at. It appears that it doesn't use much power. I have plenty of roof space-think 15 passenger van with industrial roof rack.

Do you plan on mounting the panels flush with the roof or have the ability to tilt them toward the sun? If only flush you will end up derating their output a lot.

[Logan005]

If you start this van everyday, forget the panels and install a battery isolator instead. If you add panels to your roof even if flush mounted you will pay in additional fuel cost. If you go for days w/o starting, you could use panels but if flush mount is only option, would be better to just run the van for an hour and enjoy some AC too... since the Watt hour consumption of top load refrigeration is so low a small panel properly positioned and angled could work and use the alternator for maintenance.

[Wy_White_Wolf]

Get a 12 deep cycle battery and a battery isolator to charge it from the vans alternator. running the engine for 15 minutes a day will do more than any solar panels you put on top. Plus then you don't have to park the thing in the sun. Parking it in the shade will keep interior temps down and do more for keeping cool than the solar panels could do.

WWW

[zachbgreen]

Thanks for the advice folks! I do have the ability to angle the panels if need be! I have a large, industrial rack that frames the top of the van, and could easily mount at an angle. Also, what would the solar cost be vs. the 12v deep cycle battery? Also, could I run more things off of the solar system than the 12v deep cell? I will unfortunately be parking in the sun a lot (good thing for solar, though). Also, I may go days at a time w/o needing to run the van.

[zachbgreen]

Looking to run something (a small amp) that runs at 5 watts as well.

[Bala]

Your header says engel but you then link to an ARB unit, they use totally different compressors.

As usual it depends on use and climate.

I run a 40litre enegl off a 100hr battery in a hot climate no problems. I dont use solar to charge i travel daily or use a generator to recharge if staying in the one spot for days.

I dont open the fridge a lot and it is set on cool which will maintain approx 4c, or normal fridge temp.

You current draw will depend on what temp you want the fridge to be at, how often you open it, if you drink a lot of cold drinks and continually put hot drinks in to cool etc etc

Unless you have excessive use if you factor on a 100hr battery and panel wattage for your climate to recharge it you should be ok for the fridge, but then you need to factor in any other usage you may add.

[SunEagle]

Thanks for the advice folks! I do have the ability to angle the panels if need be! I have a large, industrial rack that frames the top of the van, and could easily mount at an angle. Also, what would the solar cost be vs. the 12v deep cycle battery? Also, could I run more things off of the solar system than the 12v deep cell? I will unfortunately be parking in the sun a lot (good thing for solar, though). Also, I may go days at a time w/o needing to run the van.

You will still need deep cycle batteries if you installed solar panels but you do not need solar panels if you charge your battery from the alternator.

Being able to point the panels at the sun helps to increase the output production, but also increases the costs of the installation as well as the need to make sure the panels do not try to lift while driving. People install pv panels with tilt systems on larger RV's with success. I just wanted to make sure you understood some of the details about putting panels on your van.

[zachbgreen]

Could someone possible give me a run-down of what I would need to buy to power the appliances I'm looking to install/power in the van? I'm not too electronically-savvy (yet), so your help would be so very, very appreciated. I live on the road full-time, so this will make life a little more comfortable. Definitely looking to go solar-powered, with the option of charging the battery off the alternator as well.

Things I'd be looking to power:
-Engel Refrigerator (http://www.engelcoolers.com/fridge-f...hting/mt45f-u1)
-Vox Amp (http://www.zzounds.com/item--VOXAC4T...bgaAsb68P8HAQ=) 4, 1 or .25 watts
-Ventilation Fan (https://www.amazon.com/Fan-tastic-Ve...stic+vent+1250)
-Charging small devices (cell phone, iPod, laptop)

That is it! YOUR HELP IS VERY APPRECIATED!

[Mike90250]

Welcome.
First you need to calculate some of your loads a bit more. there is a big difference between running a 40w fan for 2 hours a day vs 12 hours a day. Does the compressor on the fridge run all the time, or just 50% of the time.
Figure your loads like this
Light 6w x 5 hours = 30 watt hours
fan 40w x 4 hours = 160 watt hours
computer 60w x 4 hr = 240wh
cell phone 5w x 2hr = 10wh

Add it all up, = 440wh x 1.2 (add in 20% losses) and that's what you need to put back into the batteries
Can you do it with solar that is not oriented well ?
The fridge will be the big energy hog, I didn't even try to include it,

[Sunking]

Zach the eissue is you are asking for too much from solar. Sure it can be done if you have enough room to mount the panels at optimum orientation and tilt angle, and have clear view of the horizon to the east, south and west. without any shade issues. Not sure where you are at but where I live if you park a vehicle in the full sun all day and stay in it, you are going to die. If you cannot keep th etruck in full sun all day with correct orientation and tilt, your batteries die. Take your pick

So assuming you can do that the minimum required is:

Panel Wattage = 500 watts, about $1000
40 amp MPPT Charge Controller about $350
12 volt 400 AH battery, about $400 to $500
Isolator = $60

Here is the catch. You still need a generator or Battery Isolator. A good Isolator is about $50 to $75. You can eliminate the panels and controller with the Isolator, but you cannot eliminate the Isolator, but still need the battery. With the Isolator and you run the truck 30 minutes per day you can make the battery a 12 volt 225 AH battery for about $300 like a pair of Trojan T-105's a 6 volt Golf Cart battery. Without a genny or Isolator you are Screwed if all you have is solar.

So think about it. $400 with smaller battery and Isolator, or $2000 for Solar rig. Take your pick

Happy trails.

Edit Note:

Have you thought about a good high end cooler like a Cabella's Polar Cap or Yetti Tundra. Then make a $2 ice run every 3 or 4 days?