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Brand new solar/inverter 4x4 setup need help

Bluegum

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Jun 25, 2021
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Hi everyone, Joel here. Just helping the old man setup his retirement 4x4 with a solar/inverter setup. He doesn't want to spend a great deal, around 3-$4000. So far we have narrowed it down to a 200-300w solar, dual agm 120amp batteries, 2000w inverter, dcdc charger 12-50. He want to run a microwave 1200w max output. 65 litre fridge freezer and a few leds. We have looked at kings all the way to redarc. We are thinking either enerdrive or kickass at this point. Anyone have any advice on these brands. Obviously kickass is a bit cheaper. Also is it worth getting one lithium as apposed to 2 agms? Cheers ?
 
If you have the extra money for the lithium setup and need to save space/weight, it is worth it. Otherwise AGM is good enough if you're not draining it everyday. The fridge won't use that much overnight.

I was charging a 50ah lifepo4 via a small inverter and 240v lifepo4 charger for a while. (Cheap dc-dc lifepo4 charging solution).

I currently have a 135ah agm, 20a dc-dc charger and 2000w inverter in the back of my 4x4, it runs my fridge and the occasional powertool.
 
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For 240Ah of battery, I'd say you need approximately double the amount of panels you are outlining.

Assume your typical panel facing directly at the sun will only produce about 85% of nameplate power. If the panels instead are only laying flat, rather than pointed at the sun, assume they are putting out 60-70%. Most lead-acid batteries like charging at about 1/8th C (0.125C)

So, (120Ah X 2 batteries X 0.125C X 13V charging)/0.85 = 458W
(120Ah X 2 batteries X 0.125C X 13V charging)/0.60 = 650W
 
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