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Old 04-08-2021, 04:47 PM   #1
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Thor Propane/Electric Fridge and Solar

I found this old post but does not really answer a question.
While driving with my dual fridge and having solar (180W panel i am thinking) can I put the fridge on electric and it uses the house batteries and the solar keeps the fridge going
and this will not drain the house batteries?

https://www.thorforums.com/forums/f4...ane-23167.html

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Old 04-08-2021, 04:51 PM   #2
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An Adsorption Fridge runs on propane or 110V. You would need to have the fridge plugged into an Inverter if you want to power it with 110V when not on shore power or running the genny. If you do have solar installed, it can keep the batteries charged enough if there is some sun when running the fridge off the Inverter. I did this on my old Outlaw 29H.
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Old 04-08-2021, 04:59 PM   #3
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Thanks Judge i will price the solar and some inverter config with my tech guy..we will be traveling for 4 months soon and i need to do something..i started an inverter post and i have good info there thanks a million
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Old 04-08-2021, 06:40 PM   #4
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What does “I need to do something” mean?

Are you making changes just to make a change, or do you have an objective in mind you’re trying to accomplish? Original post doesn’t make it clear.

In any case, 180 Watts of solar won’t power propane fridge on its own. How that may or may not figure into bigger picture will require more information.
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Old 04-08-2021, 06:44 PM   #5
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Originally Posted by Chance View Post
What does “I need to do something” mean?

Are you making changes just to make a change, or do you have an objective in mind you’re trying to accomplish? Original post doesn’t make it clear.

In any case, 180 Watts of solar won’t power propane fridge on its own. How that may or may not figure into bigger picture will require more information.

I had two 160W Renogy Panels on my Outlaw 29H and having the Adsorption Fridge runnong on 110V with my Inverter was no issue. If the fridge was already cooled down, I think the 180W panel and a good set of batteries could power the Inverter on a sunny day.
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Old 04-08-2021, 06:56 PM   #6
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I read somewhere that the AC draw is a couple of hundred watts for the fridge if is is set to AC. That will take a lot of solar panels in full sun to keep up with the load to supply an inverter.

Why? Just to save a 1/2 pound or so of propane each day.

David
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Old 04-08-2021, 07:06 PM   #7
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I did a test with my Norcold Fridge a couple years ago. I turned it on from ambient temp (late June day with good sun), it cooled down and I ran it 8 hours (10AM - 6:00PM) without the batteries running down.

Two stock 12V house batteries, two 160W flexible solar panels, an MPPT 30A Solar Controller and a Xantrex Pro 1800W Inverter.

Just my experience..... your mileage may vary.
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Old 04-08-2021, 07:07 PM   #8
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For how long? A couple of hours while sun is directly overhead, and batteries make up the difference? Then what? Back to running generator to charge batteries back up?

180 Watts of solar will produce in the order of 600 Watt-hours of electricity daily (more or less), and that’s a small fraction of what’s required to power a propane fridge all day using electricity.

That much solar won’t even power a new and highly-efficient 12 VDC refrigerator all day, so if he wants to “do something” to address the needs of a few hours a day that’s one thing, but without context of what he’s trying to actually accomplish, I’m staying out of this.
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Old 04-08-2021, 09:48 PM   #9
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Hi all appreciate..here is what Kurt is thinking 180 water
Solar with existing coach batteries and minimum
2000 watt inverter. I am ok keeping the fridge on propane

It appears to not use much. When we got the motorhome
We ran fridge on propane 3 days from Texas to Montana and
It was still almost full..deep dive next week
With kurts repair who fixed my water leak in 45 minutes
And my slide motor in 2 hours ..
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Old 04-08-2021, 10:11 PM   #10
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On my Vegas the 1200/2000 watt AIMs inverter is an integrated install, and powers the non-GFI outlet line.
That line includes the TVs, outlets in the kitchen & bedroom cabinet for the DVD player, and an outlet over the rear bed.
It also includes the outlet for the absorption fridge.

So, when the inverter is turned in the “auto” mode, the fridge automatically senses 110 volt and runs off the inverter.
When we are driving, I usually run the inverter so for safety reasons the fridge runs on 110 volt.

When we stop for a time along the way, I generally switch over to propane only or turn off the inverter so that the auto mode switches to propane.

I’ve found that without using the chassis engine/alternator to charge the batteries while en route...
the fridge really drains the batteries via the inverter unless under perfect solar charging conditions
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Old 04-08-2021, 10:54 PM   #11
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Someone posted we should not worry about the little propane
Used for the fridge
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Old 04-08-2021, 11:32 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Scubawise View Post
Someone posted we should not worry about the little propane
Used for the fridge
Probably me. I could go at least a month full time on one 5 gallon propane tank used for refrigeration and stove top cooking. I calculated that it took about 1/2 lb or 1/8 gallon per day to run the fridge on propane.

David
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Old 04-12-2021, 04:59 PM   #13
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I found a 72 page electrical pdf 4.3 meg all all the systems in our coach.
if you need a copy email me your email
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Old 04-12-2021, 05:15 PM   #14
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What is the avantage of 20amp vs what came with coach 10amp?
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Old 04-12-2021, 05:20 PM   #15
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found it thx
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Old 04-12-2021, 05:58 PM   #16
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Hi friends my service guys mentioned 20 amp solar controller. See attached i only see 10 or 30 amp. is 20 allowed in our coaches
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Old 04-12-2021, 06:05 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Scubawise View Post
Hi friends my service guys mentioned 20 amp solar controller. See attached i only see 10 or 30 amp. is 20 allowed in our coaches
.

Sure, as well as 15, 25, 35, 40.... amp solar controllers. Don't know where you got that attachment. Looks like a Go Power sheet. Lots of other solar controllers on the market.

In general you can't go too big, other than costing more money and may be a tiny bit less efficient than smaller ones.

Also if that is a Go Power sheet, they only make pulse width modulation (PWM) types. MPPT (maximum power point tracking) types are at least 15% more efficient and let you use two panels in series to minimize voltage drop in the panel to controller wiring.

David
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Old 04-12-2021, 06:34 PM   #18
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Here’s a 20amp PWM for $12.99

https://smile.amazon.com/PowMr-Solar.../dp/B088B8T43K

IIRC, my 30amp PWM cost under $15. 30amp works fine for my needs.
I have three 100 watt panels that charge two 12 volt Flooded Lead Acid batteries.
And, as previously stated...I use a 1200/2000 watt inverter with auto-transfer switch.

It’s a great set-up that I recommend for all Vegas/Axis owners.
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Old 04-12-2021, 06:53 PM   #19
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Excellent info old Wise ones!!
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Old 04-17-2021, 08:00 PM   #20
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Propane

7 days camping using stove, water heater and fridge and we only used 2.5 lbs propane
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