[markley]

Finally got around to mounting solar panels... though still not yet wired. Had an opportunity to see how well the system worked without any charging this past weekend. Parked by a lake for two full days and batteries were at 71% SOC when we left to come home. Nice to know that we can go that long without charging. The van charged them back to 94% on the 2 hour drive home. One thing I noticed is that the ctek was charging at around 50-60 amps when we left and around 14 amps when we got home. Guess it dials it down when it nears full charge?

So far so good!!

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[markley]

Quick question...should I be using switches for my outlets ( USB, 12 v)? It seems that most folks use them. At least that's what I'm guessing they are being used for when I see folks electrical control boards... they sure do look pretty anyway. What would the advantage be?

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[TomW]

While you could unplug everything, I like having a switch to turn off the power as needed.

At night I don't like LEDS or lights on all over the place, so a switch to turn off things is handy.

One panel, with a cigarette lighter and dual usb with a switch:
https://www.bluesea.com/products/43...cuit_Breaker_12V_Socket_2.1A_Dual_USB_Charger

They have variations of those and you can make them cheaper, but for form/function I like those little panels.

 

[markley]

Now that I finally have everything wired up I had a chance to give it a test to see how the 200w of solar would handle our usage...well sorta. I did the test in my driveway so the only thing drawing power was my fridge, but this is likely 90+% of our total daily consumption. I estimate that it is consuming approximately 35-40 amps/day. I turned the fridge on a few hours before sundown on Saturday. Sunday was a complete washout with no sun whatsoever. I checked the SOC Sunday evening and it was at 88%, and then down to 81% Monday morning. Monday was a partly to mostly cloudy day and the SOC was at 89% that evening. So the solar did charge some. This morning it was at 82%, so looks to be that the fridge is using about 7-8% of battery overnight. It was a nice clear day today and it was at 99% when I got home from work!!

One thing I noticed today is that my 4 inch floor vent isn't doing as good a job as I'd hoped. The outside temps only got to around 70, but it got up to 101 inside. I know that the dark color is contributing to most of that, but still thought it would have stayed a little cooler. I had the roof vent open (but not on), floor vent open, and most windows covered. Although, the location of my 4 inch floor vent is inside a closet, but I do have openings running through the back (past back of fridge) and out the top. I also noticed that the vent fan is working harder with just the floor vent open (really quiets down when a door is opened). I think I may add another floor vent out in the open somewhere.

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[markley]

I did put a temperature controlled fan to pull air up from floor vent and pass by the back of fridge.

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Also, cut a hole beside the fridge coils that I can cover with a silicon hot mat to block noise at night.

 

[Anchorless]

That's pretty crazy that you have that much of a temperature gain inside the van when the outside temperature is so moderate.

 

[dray2009]

Now that I finally have everything wired up I had a chance to give it a test to see how the 200w of solar would handle our usage...well sorta. I did the test in my driveway so the only thing drawing power was my fridge, but this is likely 90+% of our total daily consumption. I estimate that it is consuming approximately 35-40 amps/day. I turned the fridge on a few hours before sundown on Saturday. Sunday was a complete washout with no sun whatsoever. I checked the SOC Sunday evening and it was at 88%, and then down to 81% Monday morning. Monday was a partly to mostly cloudy day and the SOC was at 89% that evening. So the solar did charge some. This morning it was at 82%, so looks to be that the fridge is using about 7-8% of battery overnight. It was a nice clear day today and it was at 99% when I got home from work!!

Thanks for sharing. So nice to hear the practical results of peoples' electrical build. If you could go back in time would you increase your PV? (2 x 180 GS, maybe?) How is your alternator charging working out. CTEK, right?

 

[TomW]

@markley

Thank you the photos of the fridge set up.

One thing about fans, when off they block about 50% of the air flow when they are not running. You might want to try some testing without a fan in the floor vent. That roof opening is enormous by comparison. I plan on having a "blast gate" to close off the floor vent when driving, otherwise open when parked.

 

[markley]

That's pretty crazy that you have that much of a temperature gain inside the van when the outside temperature is so moderate.

Yeah, pretty surprised myself. However, our van is dark gray and in full sun all day (on asphalt).

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[markley]

Thanks for sharing. So nice to hear the practical results of peoples' electrical build. If you could go back in time would you increase your PV? (2 x 180 GS, maybe?) How is your alternator charging working out. CTEK, right?

I hope it can be of help to someone. Regarding more solar...not sure. I feel that 200w will work for our current demand. Although I could see replacing one for a 180 GS in the future. The CTEK is great..will charge back to 100% in about 2 hrs (if I'm at 70 %).

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[BabyBuffy]

Yeah, pretty surprised myself. However, our van is dark gray and in full sun all day (on asphalt).

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I second the surprise at the temp behavior. It made me wonder how the van and particularly the roof is insulated.

I installed a fan like yours that is above the cooling coils beneath the wooden grate (shown in unfinished stage) but have concluded it was mostly a waste of time, I seldom use it.

On the front opening Engel the coils run vertically one corner of the fridge. I've made a grate that is open to the outside of the cabinet alongside the coils. So it gets as much air circulation as available with no help from outside except open windows if any. Have never reached the temp you describe even in hotter weather.

 

[markley]

@markley

Thank you the photos of the fridge set up.

One thing about fans, when off they block about 50% of the air flow when they are not running. You might want to try some testing without a fan in the floor vent. That roof opening is enormous by comparison. I plan on having a "blast gate" to close off the floor vent when driving, otherwise open when parked.

Good point! While I do not have a fan on the floor vent (pictures I posted are fan above fridge), I do have a piece of slotted aluminum over the hole on inside which could be obstructing some air flow. I have a blast gate underneath van to be able to close as needed

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[markley]

I second the surprise at the temp behavior. It made me wonder how the van and particularly the roof is insulated.

I installed a fan like yours that is above the cooling coils beneath the wooden grate (shown in unfinished stage) but have concluded it was mostly a waste of time, I seldom use it.

On the front opening Engel the coils run vertically one corner of the fridge. I've made a grate that is open to the outside of the cabinet alongside the coils. So it gets as much air circulation as available with no help from outside except open windows if any. Have never reached the temp you describe even in hotter weather.

My ceiling is covered with thinsulate, then reflectix, then thin plywood. Yeah, wondering how often I'll use the fan..but I had it and figured I'd install it. I do also have an opening next to coils as well.

I guess I'm surprised that nobody has seen temps this high. Anyone else with dark color van see this?

Today the outside temps were in mid 80's, and it got up to 105 inside. I am seriously considering painting the roof white.

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[markley]

That's pretty crazy that you have that much of a temperature gain inside the van when the outside temperature is so moderate.

Yep, ya know I may park in my yard this weekend for a day to see how much getting off blacktop helps.

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[Anchorless]

I haven't taken many scientific measurements on my van, because it's unfinished, but we've never had temps above 100* in our van (which is white), no matter the ambient temp.

Right now we have our MaxxAir fan installed, we have a layer of Thinsulate taped up (no wall / ceiling panels), and we use Reflectix on our windows. We also try to park in the shade when we can. It almost always stays pretty cool in there, maybe getting into the 90s, but never higher. We're very careful because we have dogs and at times we leave them in the van while we're kayaking, almost making absolutely sure they have water, moving air, and the inside temps are less than 90*.

Maybe the color really makes a load of difference?

 

[markley]

Yeah, I am guessing the color must be the difference maker. I am also testing this in worst case scenarios..full sun and on pavement. Would like to hear what others with dark vans are seeing. Although I guess this will be a good thing when in cooler climates

I would say that our van is fairly(ish) well insulated. We have thinsulate on all walls and ceiling (as well as in most gaps in which it was reasonable to stuff in), followed by reflectix (although no air gap so likely not doing much, then wood, and also use reflectix on all windows.

 

[dray2009]

Maybe Orton can weigh in. I recall him saying his set up (hole in floor and fan in ceiling) gave good results in a same-colored dark gray van.

"The open hole and open roof vent will keep the interior very close to the outside air temperature. I know immediately when entering the van on a warm day if I forgot to open the hole and the Maxxair cover."

Link here.

 

[ranxerox]

there is a guy on this forum that painted the top half of his red van white! (half way down the sides of the van.)

 

[markley]

I'm also guessing that the fact that my rear doors, as well as above doors, are not finished at all (bare metal) is not helping. There large hole to access the rear light is also still open. I plan on stuffing thinsulate in the void above doors then covering metal with reflectix and fabric. Not sure how I'm gonna cover the back doors yet... seems tricky. I may try to just hang an insulated curtain across the rear to see how that does.

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[markley]

there is a guy on this forum that painted the top half of his red van white! (half way down the sides of the van.)

Wow..that seems a bit ambitious. I'm sure if done right that would look good. While I am considering painting roof, I am even hesitant about that as I like the all gray and black look I currently have.

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