Inverter Or Generator Inverter
- Thread starter Al Bonzo
- Start date
Practical?
Depends.
12v compressor fridges are generally more efficient than 240v ones, but 240v fridges are much cheaper to buy.
Even with the inefficiencies of going from 12v to 240v through an inverter I would expect that with a decent sized battery bank and a roof full of solar panels a 240v fridge wouldn't be a massive problem.
The air con, however, might be. These are very power hungry and if you're planning to run them for more than a few hours then you're going to struggle. Solar panels alone are unlikely to be able to top up what you lose from the batteries so you'd have to look at a B2B charger and be driving for quite a while each day in order to keep up. That or having a ton of fold out solar panels to help recharge the batteries, and a massive battery bank.
The alternative is a petrol/diesel generator to provide you with your own 'private EHU' but these are bulky, noisy, require fuelling every few hours and are vulnerable to theft etc. They are not without complication.
It's not impossible, but there are compromises to be made compared to a domestic AC setup and / or significant financial implications for storing enough power and replenishing that power.
It's a balancing act.
Depends.
12v compressor fridges are generally more efficient than 240v ones, but 240v fridges are much cheaper to buy.
Even with the inefficiencies of going from 12v to 240v through an inverter I would expect that with a decent sized battery bank and a roof full of solar panels a 240v fridge wouldn't be a massive problem.
The air con, however, might be. These are very power hungry and if you're planning to run them for more than a few hours then you're going to struggle. Solar panels alone are unlikely to be able to top up what you lose from the batteries so you'd have to look at a B2B charger and be driving for quite a while each day in order to keep up. That or having a ton of fold out solar panels to help recharge the batteries, and a massive battery bank.
The alternative is a petrol/diesel generator to provide you with your own 'private EHU' but these are bulky, noisy, require fuelling every few hours and are vulnerable to theft etc. They are not without complication.
It's not impossible, but there are compromises to be made compared to a domestic AC setup and / or significant financial implications for storing enough power and replenishing that power.
It's a balancing act.
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I’ve been running our Dometic ac unit for 2-3 hours from the inverter, it’s rated at 2400w, buts pulling anything from 450w - 950w.
We’ve got approximately 600ah of batteries (12kw) so I’m comfortable running the ac for a few hours to cool the van down.
Neil
We’ve got approximately 600ah of batteries (12kw) so I’m comfortable running the ac for a few hours to cool the van down.
Neil
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Lenny HB
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- Oct 18, 2007
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I take it you meant 500pbtu as 500 is only 146 watts.
Need to know max power of the fridge and power consumed over 24 hours.
Type and size of your battery bank.
How much solar.
Do you have a B2B ?
Need to know max power of the fridge and power consumed over 24 hours.
Type and size of your battery bank.
How much solar.
Do you have a B2B ?
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- Jul 6, 2009
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We have 700 watts of solar, 2 x 280 Lithium Pro, 90 amp Voltronic B2B and a Victron 12/2000/80-30 inverter charger. We can run our Dometic freshjet 2200 for several hours a day. Obviously you have to balance solar gain against use. We are near Blois in full sun expect to get 6 plus hours A/C today. The trick is not to try and turn the van into a fridge.
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