What size solar panel can be used to keep the humless generator working continuously; a number of hours.
458390
It's a combination of solar panel size and the inverters self-contained in the Sentinel unit. The unit can accept 12v at 16amps from solar panels, so the recommended solar panel wattage is at total of 100-120 watts. That amount of power will charge the unit from completely depleted to 100% in approximately 8 hours.
458391
I've never played with solar charging the generator. I don't own their solar panel. I've only charged the generator from a wall AC outlet.
458392
I'm not certain that's even possible with any output over 100 watts without a massive array and an inverter I've only used it to recharge
1523593
I purchased this after reading the other responses and can confirm. I'm using a single Solarworld 250w panel (24v) with two 6v Sun eXtender batteries (wired for 12v). Works great.
1157682
If you plan to use this with an inverter attached to the solar charge controller, the amount of current being drawn from the battery is dependent on the solar charger and the inverter. the solar charge cotroller i use does not allow for more than 20 to 25 amps (300 ac watts). If you run the inverter directly off of the battery, you can use larger wattage inverters. The simplest way to use these panels is to hook them to the solar charge controller and hook the batteries up to the charge controller. Then hook the inverter of your choice up to the batteries. I use a 2000w samlex sine wave inverter. This covers refrigeration and recharging sensitive products. If you plan on running these to your electrical panel, you need an electrician to figure that out. I used these panels for my solar generator project. They worked great. The 2 panels combined give you about 10 DC amps of continuous power (about 120 watts of continous power). Without getting technical, It would take about 8-10 hours to charge a 100 amp hr deep cycle battery. How long that battery lasts depends on how much power you draw. Definitely can't run central Air conditioner with 120V. You can run a fan, lights, refrigeration. Your limitation will be the alternate current 120V inverter and the max continous wattage.
990636
Battery in question is 100ah x12v = 1200 watt hours. This panel can provide 144 watts per hour for battery charging purpose. Rule of thumb batteries should not be drained more then 50% or maximum 80% otherwise battery life will be compromised, so we will consider 600 watts to be charged. 600 watts divide by 144 watts = 4.16 hours. Since this panel is 24 volt and your battery is 12v - MPPT charge controller is highly recommended. MPPT charge controller can accept higher voltage (24~36 volt) from the solar panel and charges a lower voltage battery (such as 12v). Morningstar SS-MPPT-15L will be a good charge controller for this setup. Battery in question is 100ah x12v = 1200 watt hours. This panel can provide 144 watts per hour for battery charging purpose. Rule of thumb batteries should not be drained more then 50% or maximum 80% otherwise battery life will be compromised, so we will consider 600 watts to be charged. 600 watts divide by 144 watts = 4.16 hours. Since this panel is 24 volt and your battery is 12v - MPPT charge controller is highly recommended. MPPT charge controller can accept higher voltage (24~36 volt) from the solar panel and charges a lower voltage battery (such as 12v). Morningstar SS-MPPT-15L will... » Read More Battery in question is 100ah x12v = 1200 watt hours. This panel can provide 144 watts per hour for battery charging purpose. Rule of thumb batteries should not be drained more then 50% or maximum 80% otherwise battery life will be compromised, so we will consider 600 watts to be charged. 600 watts divide by 144 watts = 4.16 hours. Since this panel is 24 volt and your battery is 12v - MPPT charge controller is highly recommended. MPPT charge controller can accept higher voltage (24~36 volt) from the solar panel and charges a lower voltage battery (such as 12v). Morningstar SS-MPPT-15L will be a good charge controller for this setup. « Show Less
262552
I use a deep cycle marine battery with a 45 watt solar panel charging it. Keeps ice cream hard in the desert camping
714967
I would say no. You'd need a battery bank of about 6 12 volt re batteries ... and at such a drain from the freezer I am thinking it would take about 120 watts per hour of solar panels to keep the bank charged overnight. You'd want a much stronger inverter and controller than what comes with this kit.
1983476
I use a 50 Watt Solar Panel to keep mine recharged, which goes thru a 30 Amp Solar Control. Hope this helps...
1802165
I have the same setup with 45 watts of solar panels. I'm using 12 gauge wire, although 10 gauge will fit. No problems with 12 gauge here.
1727183
I'm using my solar panel to charge my 12v battery and using the battery to run my 12v mini pump. Works great it keeps the battery always charged.
1354145
Yes it should be about a one inch square solar panel. It has a film over it to protect it.
2257378
Yes, I use a large panel at home and it can fully charge the batteries in about two hours in direct sunlight. I have a small 40watt panel that I used out in the field and it kept my ham radio running all day without a decrease in stored battery power.
2257381
I've found that a 100-120 watt solar panel will be able to recharge this system from empty to 80-90% full in a good sunny day's worth of sun. It takes the full day to do it and if it's cloudy or worse then expect 2-3 days depending on conditions. You will need to add a solar charge controller to help with the task and to protect the battery from being over charged.
282107
I cannot be exact because the panel is at my lease on my feeder for the 2nd year in a row. My battery always stays at 100%. If I had to guess it's around 7 inches in side to side and 3 inches top to bottom. With a width of around 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch. Hope this helps. It's the best solar panel I've ever used on my feeder.
392411
Hey James - you can use any size solar panel as long as you use a regulator between it and your battery or battery bank. I have a 30 watt panel with a little regulator going to a set of 5 of these 35AH batteries. The panel is 20V, the regulator allows that to charge the batteries until they get up to something like 14.2 volts, then cuts off. Keeps the batteries nice and topped off and active for when we need them. I will eventually add more panels in parallel with the current one for faster charging. Here is a link to the regulator I am using: http://www.amazon.com/Sunforce-7-Amp-Charge-Controller/dp/B0006JO0XI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1384291827&sr=8-2&keywords=solar+regulator This is the panel I am using: http://www.amazon.com/Instapark%C2%AE-Black-Mono-crystalline-Solar-Panel/dp/B004FWW44Y/ref=pd_sim_auto_2
318769
I think you will be OK. If you do the math, 6X200 = 1200 watts. That's easily handled by wattsup. Be careful to connect the solar cells to the "source" end, also I would use a diode to prevent any chance of backflow, just as a safety feature.
883031
Run solar panels to combiner box. Larger wire (#4 or 6) from combiner to charge controller and controller to bats to lessen voltage drop.
942325
You would need at least 2 panels of this size and it would only work in direct full sunlight during daylight hours. For 24 hour operation, you would need about 4 -5 (or a larger 20-30 watt panel) panels of this size and a deep cycle storage battery and a charge controller.