adding a solar panel

[Water Lily]

I'd like to add a solar panel to the other 2 on my '99 Altair. I lived on it last summer and found I would like more juice while running the fridge full-time. Will another panel make a difference? Has anyone added one to the factory-installed panels? Anything tricky I should know? Is there any chance of overcharging?
Also, someone told me the original panels do not charge if partially in shadow but the newer generation do not have the problem. Anyone know if that's true?
Thanks,
Tim

[Aquila 32/31]

Fitting a third panel has potential to increase your charging capacity by 50%. However, the boom will now always partially block one or other of the panels, so you'll actually get less than that. If you have the Siemens panels then partial shadow will reduce the output, and the same will apply to a new one. The existing solar panel regulator that you already (should) have will prevent any overcharging.

Now we've made the icebox more efficient, two panels keep the temperature at 33-34ºF 24/7 in Florida without a problem.

[Cat Tales]

What did you do to increase your refrigerators efficiency or insulation? I installed a 12 volt fan by connecting it to the compressor. The fan draws 0.12 amps, but helps maintain the temperature, (just like a home refrigerator), especially with repeated open & closes of the door.

Chris

[Kokomo]

Where did you install the second fan? In front of the coils?

[Aquila 32/31]

What did you do to increase your refrigerators efficiency or insulation? I installed a 12 volt fan by connecting it to the compressor. The fan draws 0.12 amps, but helps maintain the temperature, (just like a home refrigerator), especially with repeated open & closes of the door.
Chris

The 32 uses an 'icebox' type fridge, whereas your 36 has an 'upright' style. The main problem with the 32 is that the evaporator is at the bottom of the interior, with a shelf above it that divides the interior into two halves (an upper and a lower). The bottom half gets icy cold while the top half is barely cool.

I installed a 12v computer muffin fan on a short duct over the evaporator to draw air up from the bottom section, which then hits the underside of the lid and cascades over the upper half before returning to the bottom again. The thermostat can now be set a little under halfway to keep the whole interior just above freezing. Previously, it would have to be at the max just to keep the top cool, and then everything in the bottom would be frozen solid. Ice cubes are still made in the moulds that slip inside the evaporator core, and the fan picks up it's power at the compressor so that it's on all the time that fridge breaker is on.

While the above would probably help in any fridge, the second problem with the 32 doesn't affect the 36. The lid to the icebox just rests under its own weight to close, while the 36 has a positive lock which compresses the gasket. I fitted a flush handle/lock to our icebox lid so that you have to push down slightly for it to engage, thereby compressing the gasket and making a functional seal.


Hope this helps. I'm going to repost it under a fresh title as we've drifted from the original topic a little.