How Much Solar Power Do You Need for a Camping Fridge?

. Therefore, you should ensure you have solar panels and batteries to power all your other appliances above the camping fridge’s consumption.

Here is a brief description of the terminologies used.

• Watts. This is the power that the solar panel produces. The total wattage can only be achieved when the panel is exposed to the ideal temperature and aligned perfectly with the sun.
• Amps. Amps refer to the electricity flowing from the solar panel through the cables.
• Amp-hour (Ah). This is the steady flow of amps per hour. For example, a fridge that draws 5 amps per hour utilizes more solar power than one that draws 2 amps per hour. When using a 100 amp/hour battery on a fridge consuming 2 amps per hour, the camping fridge will be powered for 50 hours.
• Volts. This is the pressure of electricity that the solar panel produces. Consider a water tank stored on high ground. A high voltage is similar to the force of water flowing from the tank. The higher the tank, the greater the pressure.

Solar Panel Output	Daily Output (5hrs Sun Exposure)	Battery Capacity	12v Fridge Daily Usage	Daily Runtime
50W Panel (80% efficiency).	200Wh	500Wh	420Wh (30 – 50 liters or 31 – 52 quarts)	38 – 45hrs
100W Panel (80% efficiency)	400Wh	1000Wh	420Wh (30 – 50 liters 31 – 52 quarts)	4 – 6 days
100W Panel (80% efficiency)	400Wh	500Wh	540Wh (50 – 70 liters or 52 – 73 quarts)	38 – 45hrs

How To Calculate Solar Power for a 12v Camping Fridge

12v camping fridges draw 1-5 amps per hour. To calculate how much solar power you need, you should know the duration you expect to run the refrigerator.

If your 12v camping fridge draws 2 amps per hour, you should calculate the watts it will need to sustain it.

Amps x volts = watts.

12 (volts) x 2 (amps) = 24 watts

So, you’ll need 24 watts per hour to run a 12v camping fridge.

If you intend to run the camping fridge for 5 hours, you’ll need 120 watts (24 x 5). Therefore, if the camping refrigerator is to run for 24 hours, you need a panel with high output and a battery to store the extra energy.

You need a solar panel with a minimum output of 120 watts. If you have other electrical appliances that need to be powered simultaneously, you need a higher output. A 150 watts solar panel with a 200-watt battery is an ideal option.

If camping in summer, you may get away with having a minimum solar panel output because it will receive sufficient sunlight. However, in spring, fall, or winter, you will need a solar panel with a higher output.

Fridge Capacity	Amps drawn per 24 hours	Watts drawn in 24 hours	Ideal Solar Panel Size (in watts)
30 – 50 Liters (31 – 52 quarts)	35Ah	420	500
50 – 70 liters (52 – 73 quarts)	45Ah	540	600
80 liters (83 quarts)	65Ah	780	800

12v Camping fridges and solar power needs for every 24 hours.

The solar power you need will vary, depending on the fridge settings, how long you run it, and how full it is. A fuller fridge uses more energy to cool the items inside.

This video shows what you need and how to power a 12v camping fridge.

Ways To Get Solar Energy to Your Camping Fridge

Solar panels are the avenue through which you can get solar power to your camping fridge. However, there are multiple ways to get the solar energy you need for your fridge and other appliances.

Foldable Solar Panels

Foldable solar panels are lightweight, and portable, do not require a lot of storage space and can be moved around to face the sun. They are perfect for short camping trips. However, they are not ideal for long-term campers.

Foldable panels produce 100 – 150 watts, while the standard panels produce 250 – 365 watts. Their output is relatively low. You cannot charge your camping fridge for long if its power demand exceeds the solar panel’s absorption.

This ACOPOWER 120W Portable Solar Panel (available on Amazon.com) is excellent for RV Camping. It is compatible with most of the solar generators in the market and has a high conversion efficiency of up to 25%. Additionally, it has a nice portable handle design, with three 40 watts solar panels folded in a suitcase.

RV Kit Solar Panels

These solar panels are ideal for long-term campers, especially if you use an RV. You can fix the solar panels on your RV’s roof so that you get constant solar power. The downside is the RV solar kit is quite pricey. However, it is worth it if you camp often. Investing in solar equipment might also give you the motivation to go camping.

This WEIZE 100 Watt 12V Solar Panel Kit (available on Amazon.com) is a high-efficiency solar kit that you can use on your RV, boat, or camper. It has high-performance monocrystalline solar cells with up to 21% efficiency, it’s durable, versatile, and installation ready. Also, it has various accessories, including extension cables, battery tray cables, and screws.

Conclusion

Choosing the right solar panel for a camping fridge is a challenge, even for seasoned campers. Several factors affect the output, including the weather, how often you open or close the refrigerator, and how long you need to run the camping fridge.

The ideal situation is to have a higher output solar panel than what the fridge needs. This way, you can store the extra energy in batteries to ensure your fridge keeps running even when the solar panel is not charging.