I’m new to solar, building a portable battery box for camping, to power my 12V fridge.
Current battery is 12V 50AH, but will get a 12V 100AH soon
MPPT 100/20
200W Solar panel.
I’m currently getting 150W from the panel, but 10A max charging into the battery.
12V Fridge draws max up to 5A
How can I get that up to 15A charging?
Solar panel specs:
Power: 200W
Open-Circuit Voltage: 20.4V
Short-Circuit Current: 12.7A
Work Current: 11.6A
Work Voltage: 17.2V
Efficiency: 22-23%
Solar Panel Material: Monocrystalline Silicon
Connector: MC4
And I’m also looking at replacing the solar panel at some point for a more portable one, maybe ever two 120W solar panels.
Thanks, if I get two 120W Bluetti portable panels, will that give me 15A, or do I need to look at two 160W or two 200W panels?
Bluetti:
Model: PV120
Power: 120W
Lamination: ETFE (Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene)
Cell Type: Monocrystalline Silicon
Cell Efficiency: Up to 23.4%
Voltage at Max Power(Vmp): 19.6V
Current at Max Power(Imp): 6.1A
Open Circuit Voltage(OCV): 24.4V
Short Circuit Current(Isc): 6.43A
EcoFlow NextGen 160W Portable Solar Panel
Specs
Rated Power:160W
Cell Type:N Type TOPCon monocrystalline silicon
Efficiency:25.00%
Connector Type: Photovoltaic connectors
Open Circuit Voltage: 21.3V (Vmp 18.6V)
Short Circuit Current: 9.1A (Imp 8.6A)
The ones I have is big and heavy, don’t want a second pair of them, so will go for 2 of the folding portable ones
You have a 200W and get 10A, you want 15A so you will need at least 50% more, i.e. 300W. Thetefore, 2 of the Eco flow 160W panels would be recommended.
In fact the voltage spec of the Eco Flow panels is close to your current heavy glass panel and you could probably run 2x 160W Eco Flow and 1x200W Gizzu for 20A charging when you get your 100Ah battery if the 3 panels are connected in parallel.
15A charging would be subject to many factors such as - actual irradiance ( light ) getting to the panels, angle of the panel’s( right angle to sun best), temp of panels, spec of the panels ect ect.
Work it out, it’s easy -
15A x 13.5V = 202.5W ( assuming zero losses, which isn’t possible, allow 20% loss, charge voltage ? Battery spec not provided, batttery spec sheet should provide this, charging voltage is always higher than battery nom voltage ).
If you want 15A charging, over panel as much as you can up to limit of MPPT, then you can set MPPT to charge at a max A you need.