Fantastic Fan Draws & Solar Panels

[hammersley]

I am looking at a trailer that has 2 Fantastic Fans: From their website I found the following about their electrical draw:



Amps

High 3

Med 2. 29

Low 1. 86



If you have the fan on say low or medium - how big of a solar panel do you need to keep up with the load? Also - would it be better to just install 2 larger 6 volt golf cart batteries and dedicate them to this job? I guess I need some help on how long would they run?????

 

[djbobo]

volts X amps /solar efficiency loss(percentage) = watts needed



12(volts dc) X 1. 86 (low speed amp draw) / . 80 (basic semi sunny day is 80% of panel rating) = 27. 9 watts



Looks like a 50 watter should run the fan continually with enough reserve to charge the batteries some.



dj

 

[OTRPU]

Cept some days the sun don't shine. My case, I'm puttin in batteries and will use solar to charge them. Been a year trying to get heater rigged in the Ram, finally got it. Left Anchorage, AK, ended up in Mesa, AZ. Only driver in town wearing insulated shirts. Now. . . don't need the heat. Guess I'll get back on rigging A/C. What the hey, the F350 made it to AK and is working it's way taking me back to the Ram. 7,000 miles round trip, all I had to do was replace one headlamp bulb. . . besides change oil & filter couple a times. Somethings leaking, not much though. A/C started blowing hot yesterday, natch. But the heater works good. God I miss my Ram.



Cheers,

Steve J.

 

[Dkevdog]

I have a singl 80 watt panel, and a fairly high end solar charge controller and a Trace RV-2012 inverter with the RC7, so I get to monitor all types of fun things. On the brightest of days here in always sunny So Cal, I can only get about 4. 5 amps out of my panel. This is on a custom mount a that allows pivot for optimum position (and yes it makes a big difference). There is NO WAY a 50 watt panel is going to power 2 fantastic fans and charge your batts.



I have four golf cart deep cycle batteries. If you have the room, they are far superior for Ah capacity and deep cycling. Solar panels don't come cheap, so you might be better off with a pair of golf cart batteries and a Generator. I use the solar panel more to keep things topped off, and to eliminate battery draw during the day (under normal average use). If I start running my Fantastic Fans (I Have three) it will not charge the batteries and will begin to use some reserve Ah. It really all depends on what type of camping you do and how long you plan to do it.



Kev

 

[Buffalo]

I have one 43 Watt solar panel, two Golfcart batteries, and one TurboMaxx fan (over the bed). I've had the fan (similar to the Fantastic Fan) reversed, blowing onto the bed, running all night long and it does not use much juice at all. I thought it would use more. By the way, it works great! Regarding the solar panel, I bought mine with the idea of having it keep the batteries topped-off while the trailer was in storage. It does do that. I'm retired, now, and use the trailer much more. I'm very stingy with the electricity (one light at a time) and it barely keeps up with demand. IMO, I would get the largest panel I could afford. I feel it is better to have too much power, than not enough. Keep in mind what others have said, not every day is a sunny day, also. Having a back-up generator is not a bad idea, also. If you have enough power-generating capability, you won't have to worry about turning on your lights, fans, radio, t. v. or what ever else you want to use. You will enjoy your travelling more. Hope this helps! Joe.

 

[Casey Balvert]

If you are running those fans on low speed 24 hours a day, they will consume close to 90 amp hours per day. That is the output that you might get from three 100 watt solar panels on a good day. Running one fan will probably do what you need to cool the interior of the RV. That means a couple of 75 watt panels. Run a single fan for 12 hours a day (during the hottest part) and you might have some left over to charge the batteries. It all depends on what else you have running. Running the stuff only when necessary is a more realistic approach to using solar.



I will be installing three 110 watt panels on my RV in a couple of weeks and will consider myself lucky to get 80 amp hours on an average sunny day.



Casey

 

[djbobo]

Does your fantastic vent have a thermastat? Put it on the lowest setting (1. 86 amps) with a opposite window cracked. Turn the stat up to point that it only runs during the day -- then , if your still worried about battery drainage, hook up a 50 watter directly to it and I bet it will run when you need it the most (when it's bright & sunny) without battery concerns.



Now I want a solar panel



dj

 

[klenger]

Here's a link to my RV solar webpage



http://www.klenger.net/arctic-fox/solar/index.html

 

[EricBu12]

heres my 3 panel setup.



I have the ICP Global panels. Aluminum frame ans tempered glass. I have 1, 100 watt and 2. 50 watt for a total of 200 watts. Mine are mounted flat and peak light would make 10 amps.



#ad




These panels are plug and play, Just connect together



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Here is the controller for it. It can handle up to 21 amps



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I use 2 Interstate workhorse 6vlt golf cart batteries. So far it has worked really well

 

[Ramtough]

You didn't say how long you wanted to be without power replenishment. Your fans are fine for 24 hours. Then you recharge with your vehicle as you dirve. If I'm not driving, I can get about 100ah in 4 hours from a $400 Coleman 1800 watt generator.