With 200 watts of solar panels, I'd go for a second 100 amp. battery. No point in adding batteries unless you can charge them and that means extra solar panels.
__________________
Retired Airline Pilot and Electrician..
I'm not old, I've just been young a long time....Ken
Since light travels faster than sound, some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
You could try an Anderson plug linked to your vehicle, and start your ute to put some charge into your battery. You need to speak to someone who knows more about it than me. It's a cheaper than buying a genny option. There's something you do so it won't run your start battery flat.
Do you know how low you were discharging your battery?
Do you have the space for more solar panels or batteries?
Is your existing panel fixed or portable?
What sort of solar controller do you have?
What electrical load do you have apart from the fridge?
Thanks Brian
portable panels both 80 & 120( By passed on board regulators ) running over 30 amp regulator
had an bit of sun he day before regulator told me fully charged
normal charging 2 phones and 2 android tablets and maybe an hr of news on the tv and a few Led lights ( less than 10 watt)
no idea how low battery gets I presume say from 1700 hr till 0800 when the sun is down times 4 amps or so 15 x 4 = 60 amp
We have 3 Uni-solar panels on the top of our van. They are the flexible type so weight is reduced. They work in the shady spots or dull days, need some light on them. Haven't flattened the batteries yet although I have one at 100 amp and one at 120 amp. I bought them at the 12volt shop in Perth but I'm sure others will stock them, look at www.12voltshop.com.au for info if you are interested, can't remember the cost at the moment though.
Hi John , Ive got 2x 140w panels and 2x 105Ah batteries supplying fridge , freezer , led lights , tv etc simular to yours and I hope it is enough, depends where you are as heat effects the output of a panel by up to 30% so I installed an extra one to be safe.
As far as Generators are concerned , I bought a 4.4Kw Full Sinewave genny of fleebay for $520 and seems pretty good, runs all the gear, even the A/C .
all i wanted to point out is that with no sun and heavy over cast solar is useless what i found out this week
Cheers John
-- Edited by Cruising Cruze on Sunday 2nd of February 2014 12:34:25 PM
John, you need sun for the solar panels to charge the batteries, but with no sun, even though overcast, light will still charge the batteries but at a slower rate. You say you found out last week when the weather was bad. If you had another battery you probably would have made it. I have solar panels totalling 235 watts, 2 x 6 volt 100 amp hour batteries and I run an 80 liter refrig. i don't have any problem. I'd suggest a second battery. .
__________________
Retired Airline Pilot and Electrician..
I'm not old, I've just been young a long time....Ken
Since light travels faster than sound, some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
Well John - lovely sunny day today. Blue sky even. And what a fantastic sunset. Sorry I'm no use with the technical bits. Not my department. Cheers Alice.
After long thinking at my side
and talking over the problem with a few people
I decided to go for an small generator
so I'm looking now for an Honda EU10i
what is plenty to charge an battery
