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How Big Can I Go?

 
Posts: 39
Location: Finland, MN
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I have three 20-watt solar panels (Sunforce). The box claims to produce 2,940 watts (196 amps) per week (60 watts x 7 hours x 7 days). So this assumes one gets seven hours of optimal light. I would like to use this to power a chest freezer. I am just curious if A) this will power a chest freezer and B) how big can I go?

I was using this page as a guide to shop for freezers based on power usage
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=refrig.search_refrigerators

options
20%
Chest Freezer
<16 cu ft
No Icemaker
All Brands

Will these three panels power up a chest freezer that needs nearly 200 KWH/Year?

I assume that I am producing 164.64 KWH/Year (2940 x 56), which means no or find a chest freezer the size of your chest. Someone tell me my math is incorrect, please. I did purchase two sets of these panels as the hope was one for the freezer, the other for the wofati. I guess I'll have to combine the two sets into one somehow.
 
Posts: 9
Location: Smithers, BC Canada
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A generic answer is "not even close" but the devil is in the details. It's very risky relying on marketing claims on very cheap low quality panels to keep your valuable food frozen.

I can help you with this, but the first consideration is where do you live, how are the solar panels mounted, and do they get unobstructed sunshine?

A word of advise, these cheap panel kits like this purchased from retail outlets are actually significantly more expensive than getting quality panels from your local solar geeks.

Basically, we need to determine, in kWh how much energy the freezer uses, then looking at the climate normals in your area, then can do the math and figure out how much solar input to meet that need.

Kevin
 
Frolf Lundgren
Posts: 39
Location: Finland, MN
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thanks for the kick in the butt Kevin.
 
Posts: 137
Location: Seymour, MO Zone 6a
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You also have to factor in battery storage and inverter conversion losses.
 
Forget Steve. Look at this tiny ad:
permaculture and gardener gifts (stocking stuffers?)
https://permies.com/wiki/permaculture-gifts-stocking-stuffers
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