Most people are now opting for sustainable living to help conserve the environment. That’s why they use of solar panels is increasingly becoming popular. But can you use a 100-watt solar panel to run a refrigerator?
A 100-Watt panel is a portable, affordable solar panel that will save your back in times of need when you’re out camping or when there’s a power outage. The 100-watt solar panels are smaller in size and can only work with some equipment of a certain watt. If you have a fridge that runs below the 100-watt mark, then this solar panel will power it.
This article will help you understand if 100-Watt Solar Panel can run any refrigerator. It will also explain the watts that can power the fridge and additional equipment that the solar panel needs to run it.
Will Your 100-Watt Solar Run a Refrigerator?
Refrigerators need a continuous power supply to enable them to work effectively and keep your food cool. However, achieving this with a 100-watt solar panel may not be possible, especially with a more than 100 watts refrigerator.
So, unless you have a fridge with lower watts than the solar panel, it will not help you. But you can add other elements like batteries, inverter, and charge controller for your 100-watt solar panel to run a fridge.
How Do You Know If The 100-Watt Solar Can Run Your Refrigerator?
The simplest way to know this is by checking the wattage label of the refrigerator. If it’s more than 100 watts, then your solar will be of little. Note that some fridges don’t have the wattage label. Instead, they’ve got amperage and voltage listing. But you can get the wattage by multiplying the two (amps and volts).
How Many Watts Does a Refrigerator Require to Run?
The smallest refrigerators have at least a 65 watts rating. An average modern refrigerator has between 80 and 300 watts. However, the fridge will require 5amps energy per hour to run. This means in a day, your refrigerator will consume around 120 (5 by 24) amps a day.
You should understand that the 100-watt solar panel will not be able to meet this demand. Furthermore, it won’t provide continuous supply to the fridge even if its rating is below the solar panel’s wattage. This is because the panel will have to be in direct sunlight to generate enough power.
How Much Watt Does A 100-Watt Solar Panel Produce?
On average, a 100-watt solar panel will produce 400 watt-hours per day (sunny day). This is equal to 5 amps every hour. To run the refrigerator, which consumes about 5-amps per hour, the solar panel will have to produce 1000 watts. This is close to impossible, and you’ll need around 200amp backup batteries.
The hours the batteries will serve you depending on the type you opt for. For example, lead batteries will last longer than lithium-ion batteries.
If your fridge has a freezer, it will need about 2000 watt-hours per day. So, the 100-watt solar panel will not meet this high wattage demand by your refrigerator. It can only enable it to run for some time before going off.
What Additional Equipment Do I Need to Run a Refrigerator with A 100-Watt Solar?
Batteries
Your 100-watt solar will require batteries to enable the refrigerator to operate all through. This is because the most the solar panel can power the fridge in a day is 6 hours. So, in the remaining hours, your fridge will not get power from the solar panel. The batteries will also come in handy on a cloudy day or at night when there’s no sunlight for your solar panel.
Remember, both the refrigerator and solar panel can’t store the energy they’re not using. For this reason, you need a way to tap the power before it all gets lost. And this is where the batteries will also save your back. With the battery, whether there’s less sunlight or not, your refrigerator will run.
The only disadvantage of using a solar panel connected to a battery is that it will require you to recharge it. This means that your 100-watt solar panel wouldn’t be able to receive an additional charge if the battery is dead. Eventually, your fridge will go off.
An inverter
Additionally, you will require to use an inverter with your batteries to enable the refrigerator to run with a 100-watt solar panel for hours. This is if you’ve got a 110V and not a 12V/24V refrigerator. The inverter will help convert the batteries’ direct current (DC) to AC (Alternating current).
However, you have to choose a suitable inverter for your fridge. That is one with 15 times the wattage of your refrigerator to enable it to operate smoothly without hitches.
As you know, a fridge requires a lot of energy to start operating when it’s turned off and as it cools. But the inverter will draw this power which will force you to include a battery in the mix.
Charge Controller
A charge controller will help facilitate a smooth supply of energy from the solar panel to the battery. It also prevents constant power fluctuation from damaging your batteries which can result in additional expenses. It regulates current and voltage, charges batteries, and ensures there’s enough power output.
What Can You Use A 100-Watt Solar Panel For?
A 100-watt solar panel will help you operate various home appliances, including a low-watt rating refrigerator. But for the high watts rating fridge, you will require a suitable charge controller and battery.
You can also use it to charge a 5Wh smartphone, 60Wh laptop, 6Wh wi-fi router, and a 35Wh ceiling fan. If you’ve LEDs (10Wh) or lamps and lights of 14Wh, this solar panel can help you too.
Will A 100-Watt Solar Panel Run A 12V Refrigerator?
Yes. You can use your 100-watt solar panel to run a 12V fridge. However, it will drain the power faster, making it not function for long. To enable it to operate for long, though, you can connect it with 110Ah batteries. Then you’ll have to regularly charge your batteries to keep up with high power demands by the fridge. But this requires a refrigerator that’s made for solar panel use only.
FAQS
How many 100-watt solar panels can I use to run a refrigerator without challenges?
The number of 100-watt solar panels you can use to run your refrigerator depends on the wattage of the fridge. If the watts rating of your refrigerator is high, then you’ll use more of these solar panels.
How long will your 100-watt solar panel run a refrigerator that’s connected to batteries ?
If you connect your solar panel with batteries, expect it to prolong the operational hours of your refrigerator. But this will largely depend on the type of batteries you opt for. Some batteries can store charge for a long while others will drain their energy faster. So, choose your batteries wisely.
Which kind of batteries do I need to connect to my 100-watt Solar Panel for the fridge to run?
If you want your refrigerator to operate for long, opt for deep cycle batteries. This kind of battery will produce a similar amount of energy that your fridge would get from electricity, enabling it to run for 24 hours without a hitch.
Bottom Line
A 100-watt solar panel can run a refrigerator. But this is after connecting it with batteries, inverter, and charge controller. However, when left to operate as the stand-alone power source, the solar panels won’t help keep your food safe and cool.
