Solar Power / Batteries / Engel Fridge

[Pete Sinclair]

Anybody got any experience of running an Engel Fridge from an auxillary battery topped up by a solar panel? I've done a bit of messing around at home and reckon that the Engel needs about 30ah per day. (Fridge empty, ambient temp 28 degrees C sat in front of a central heating radiator, internal fridge temp running at 2 degrees C.) Not sure if this will be similar to conditions on the road . . . probably not but any suggestions or comments from others who've tried to do it would be very helpful. I need to have the fridge running all the time for medical reasons. Thanks in advance,

Pete Sinclair. email northbi@attglobal.net

[Chris Scott]

Well my ironing board-sized panel puts out 40 w apparently, but only in the sun of course. If its vital then I would have a split charger system off the car as a back up. and the smallest fridge with no air cavities and always in the shade

Chris S

[Sam Rutherford]

I run my Engel off a solar panel and split charge system - has worked well over last three years (over 12 months of which in various deserts).

There was a discussion on fridges about a month ago, on this forum - I left some contact details for useful people on it - otherwise email me...

Sam.

[Sam Rutherford]

It's titled, 'What coolbox?'

Sam.

[roamingyak]

If you need to get serious on the battery side of things you could try a split charge system from National Luna in South Africa.

It tells you how much charge is in each battery, has battery alerts etc etc

See www.nationalluna.com but ring them rather than email.

[IanS]

Sam
What size ( and make) solar pannel do you have. Have you also routed it through a regulator?
thanks.

[A.B.]

I recommend ditching the solar panel all together and just using a dual battery setup. That’s what I did and I’m very happy with it. This setup is simpler when it comes to installation, uses less wiring and components that can fail and most important of all, gives you the ability to jump-start your main vehicle battery in the middle of nowhere.

I installed 2 good batteries in the engine compartment. I also installed an isolator / combiner that charges each battery separately when needed and keeps them isolated from each other. This way if I drain one of them the other stays fully charged. It also lets me jump-start the main battery from the auxiliary battery.

I hooked all my accessories (and fridge) to the Jeep’s regular main battery. Yes, the main battery. I hooked nothing to the auxiliary battery to save it for jump-starting if needed.

A good main battery can power the Jeep and all the accessories (including a 40L Engel) with no problem for more than a day on a full charge. Once I start my engine it gets charged again. If I’m camping in the same place and I’m not moving around with the Jeep, I run the engine every morning for 10 minutes or so to recharge the battery.

In the case the main battery looses it’s charge and I cannot start the Jeep, then I flick the isolator / combiner switch and start the vehicle from the fresh auxiliary battery then return the switch to isolate them again. I leave the engine for 10 minutes to recharge the main battery.

No solar panel, regulators, unnecessary wiring or any of that. Even if the isolator / combiner fails. Just disconnect it from the batteries and jump-start the car manually.

More info / tips:
Install your best/newer battery as the auxiliary battery. You want to make sure the juice is there when you need it the most. Even if your main battery is not in top condition and you have jump-start it every day. Other wise you won’t have backup.

There are ready-made battery trays that accommodate dual batteries for popular 4x4 brands. But I decided to make my own from angled iron I had lying around.

The isolator combiner I use comes from Hellroaring . It’s also available from Painless Wiring , Wrangler NW and ARB .

Get deep cycle batteries not regular batteries. Optima Batteries , ACDelco . Regular batteries tend to go bad if discharged completely often. The deep cycle variety can handle up to 500 total discharges. They’re very popular with marine people just for that reason.

500 total discharges is a big number. Even if you leave your Engle and lights on all night and you can’t start your vehicle in the morning that’s maybe 50% discharge at most. It’s just that cars needs full charge to be able to start.

Feel free to ask me if you need any help with this project.

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A.B.
www.ShortWheelbase.com

[This message has been edited by A.B. (edited 16 February 2002).]

[Pete Sinclair]

Thanks for all the advice everyone. I think I'll opt for dual batteries, split charging system and solar panel. Surepower (www.surepower.com) make a battery separator which will handle 3 batteries and two charging sources (alternator and solar panel). I'll let you know how I get on.

Regards,

Pete.

[ChrisC]

Hi All

While in SA last year I was looking at fridges and ended up purchasing a 40l engel, however just after this I came across the National Luna brand, their 40l fridge is lighter comes with a longer guarantee is about the same price but most importantly draws only about half the power of the engel or equivalent fridge!! Also the build quality is superb.
I would also check out their battery management system- a frind had one fitted and it worked very well.

Cheers

ChrisC

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ChrisC

[Terry Davies]

The National Luna battery management system is available in the UK from Footloose4x4, price £175 plus the dreaded.

[roamingyak]

Originally posted by Terry Davies:
The National Luna battery management system is available in the UK from Footloose4x4, price £175 plus the dreaded.

Or 1250Rand (about £85 + postage+ VAT) direct from SA. Better service at Footloose, but much cheaper if you can be bothered organising it yourself etc

[rclafton]

Hi all - just a warning about the hellroaring stuff - it don't like the kind of currents that diesels draw. I looked at this setup last year and emailed them - they recommended I needed 2 units in parallel at 150 Us each ! (nearly as expensive as footloose)

I have the aforementioned National Luna system and am very pleased with it (bought it while in south africa, interesting taking a box of wires and relays thru security checks at airports.......)

DJ - looks like we need to get a container shipped in from south africa with all this stuff

Rich

[Roman]

Rich,
Hellroaring put this recommendation on their website after a signle unit blew up in my Disco 300Tdi. I must admit their reaction was very correct. They replaced FOC the damaged unit and sold me another with a huge discount. I haven't seen the NL thing but I know that Hellroaring quality is very good. It has been sitting under the bonnet for three years now and despite being submerged in water and splattered with mud, it never gave me a problem since. Actually, I am considering to buy from them a new system for my Landcruiser.

In case you want to import it, I have the Customs release number on my website.

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Roman (UK)
www.polandrover.com