Introduction

Can a solar panel rated at 330 watts along with a 12V 100Ah battery and a 720 watts inverter power a fridge that consumes 95 watts and 0.96 amps? This article explores the feasibility of such a setup, providing detailed information about the components and their compatibility.

Understanding the Components

For the system to work effectively, we need to understand the role of each component:

Solar Panel (330 Watts): Converts sunlight into electrical energy. 12V 100Ah Battery: Stores energy generated during the day for use at night. 720 Watts Inverter: Converts DC power from the battery to AC power for devices that require it. Fridge (95 Watts): The device to be powered, consuming 95 watts or 0.96 amps.

System Feasibility

The 330 watts solar panel is capable of generating enough power to charge the 12V 100Ah battery during the day. The battery can then supply this energy to power the 95 watts fridge overnight, especially during periods of low solar generation.

The 720 watts inverter is adequate to handle the 95 watts fridge load. It converts the 12V DC from the battery to the 120V AC required by the fridge.

Starting Peak vs Running Current

It's important to note that fridge motors typically require a starting peak that is higher than their running current. For a 95 watts fridge, the starting peak can range from 5 to 7 times the running current. In most cases, the inverter used in these systems would be at its limits, but in some cases, it might be sufficient. However, it's crucial to ensure that the system can handle the starting peak demands.

Battery and Panel Considerations

Assuming an average refrigerator based on a 100 watt rating, it uses approximately 1 kWh per day. A 100Ah lead-acid battery at 12V can provide 12V x 100Ah 1200 Wh. In theory, this would be enough. However, in practice, a lead-acid battery can only use about half of its total capacity without suffering significant damage, which would shorten its lifespan. Lithium batteries can handle around 80 discharges and are more expensive but more durable.

Considering this, the usable capacity of the battery would be only 600 Wh, which is insufficient to run the fridge overnight. Therefore, the battery needs to be more than doubled or even tripled for a longer lifespan if you want the system to run continuously.

Solar Panel Performance

Solar panels typically generate about 6 hours of power a day, which is a rough guideline used by installers. This assumes good solar insolation and may vary based on location, time of year, and other factors. A single 330 watts solar panel can generate approximately 1980 Wh or around 2 kWh a day.

Given that the fridge requires 1 kWh per day, the solar panel setup should be sufficient for most cases. However, the further you are from the equator, the less effective solar panel generation will be.

Conclusion

The system proposed—using a 330 watts solar panel, a 12V 100Ah battery, and a 720 watts inverter—can technically power a 95 watts fridge. However, the battery needs to be more than doubled for reliable use, and the inverter should be able to handle the starting peak current. Proper management and sizing of the components are critical for a successful setup.