Namibians are becoming more and more interested in solar energy, particularly as a way to power large energy-consumption items like freezers. If you want sustainable energy to run your freezer, you must know how to set up the proper solar power system.
If you have an on-grid solar system( This a system that can only be able to work if you’re connected to the grid), and you have wondered “how much solar power do I need to run a refrigerator”, you would be pleased to know that you can operate a freezer in a straightforward manner. As long as you have your meter leading from the municipality, all you need is to contact a provider of solar panels and have them install the same at your home.
However, if you depend on an off-grid solar system that you set up yourself, you need to take into account three important variables which are to make sure that your freezer works even on overcast days.
Calculating the Power Requirement for Solar Refrigerators & Freezers
The specifics of the power usage will probably be listed on the rating label for your freezer. This label, which lists the voltage and current specifications of the appliance, can be seen on the refrigerator’s body. You may calculate the necessary amount of watts by multiplying the two figures.
For instance, you would need 540 watts of solar electricity if your refrigerator specifies 4.5 amps of current and 120 volts.
Size of Battery for Solar-Powered Fridge Freezer
Battery size will be determined by the size of the panels you have and the solar regulator you are willing to use. (This can be either PWM or MPPT solar regulator) A medium-sized battery has a capacity of roughly 116.67Ah. You have about 720 watt-hours of useful energy and it is advised that you keep your batteries at least half full at all times.
Because the sun may not shine brightly every day due to cloud cover, be careful to use a battery with a high capacity.
If you want to run your solar freezer for 4 days and it consumes 840 watts per day, you must produce and store at least 3400 watts.
Requirements for inverters
Solar-generated DC is converted into usable AC using an inverter, some refrigerators require an Inverter and some do not. Direct current ( DC) refrigerators do not need an inverter, all you need is solar panels, batteries and a regulator depending on your fridge/freezer consumption. For a fridge/freezer that does require an inverter choose one with a high-efficiency rating to avoid wasting a lot of energy. It is important to keep in mind that using cheap, ineffective inverters could cost you half of the electricity you produce.
Battery Calculation for Solar Panel Freezer
The battery calculations are determined by the size of the solar panels, regulator and the energy demand of the refrigerator. You should give large batteries top priority while shopping because they are more reliable and last longer. Despite being more affordable, more portable, and more suited for a portable solar freezer, the smaller batteries are problematic for extended use.
Three 116.67Ah batteries are required to produce 3400 watts. You might need 6 batteries if you want to be on the safe side and only use the batteries up to 50% of their capacity.
How Many Solar Panels Are Required to Run a Fridge and Freezer?
You’ll generate about 375 watts on a typical sunny day with 5 hours of direct sunlight. This is due to the fact that a 100-watt solar panel can only produce 75 watts of electricity every hour.
As a result, if you want to produce 3400 watt-hours over the course of four days, you will need 8–10 pieces of 100-watt solar panels to power the freezer.
Pricing Details of the Solar System
If you live in a rural place or have frequent power outages, an off-grid arrangement for a solar-powered fridge freezer is ideal for you. If you do not fit into one of these categories, you might find it to be a significant investment. After accounting for the price of solar panels, batteries, inverters, etc. only to power a freezer, this is what is left. In that situation, an on-grid system that uses the electrical grid as a backup may be preferable
Conclusion
Even if learning how to run a freezer on solar power might not be simple, you can do it by paying attention to the directions above. However, make sure you utilize the appropriate parts and carry out the calculations carefully to get maximum efficiency.
Please get in touch with us if you require more advice or wish to buy a part for realizing your dream of a solar freezer.
Click on the link to request a quotation: https://taatisolar.