Portable Solar Power Panels

Portable Solar Power Panels

Whilst researching fridges we came across these nifty solar cells in a suitcase! Good name too - Solar-Port as it very aptly describes them! We have seen quite a few motorhomers and tent campers using them. The big advantage of course is that you can aim them exactly at the sun. In our A'van for instance we have to get out there with our compass before setting up to make sure we get at least five hours of sun, as we do use a lot of power in the "bush"! These units are ideal for use with 12 volt motor driven fridges and it would appear that the regulator is built in. We were most impressed with the 10 year warranty offered. The info below is straight from Quirk's website.

SOLAR-PORT

Many AUTOFRIDGE users ask for a solution to the problem of battery recharging while stationary - without having to run a vehicle/boat engine. To provide power independence, the simple solution is SOLAR MODULES.

We offer these either as a single solar module or as a SOLAR-PORT*. The SOLAR-PORT* units comprise 2 solar modules, already wired together in a portable suitcase configuration. They are designed so that, once you have reached your camping destination, your vehicle can be parked in the shade and the SOLAR-PORT* is opened out and positioned away from your vehicle in the sun. There is a power outlet socket and plug in the back panel of the SOLAR-PORT*, and all that is necessary is to wire from the outlet plug to your storage battery.

The SOLAR-PORT* is available in 2 sizes :-

**SOLAR-PORT* Large: 2 x 50 watt solar modules in suitcase configuration. Output from these modules would be approximately 5.8 amps per hour of peak sunlight (for a location such as Sydney, the average daily output during summer months would be ~35 amps per day to a 12 Volt storage battery).

**SOLAR-PORT* Junior : 2 x 30 watt solar modules in suitcase configuration. This unit would provide an average daily output during Sydney summer months of ~20amps per day to a 12 Volt storage battery.

As the SOLAR-PORT* Junior matches the average daily power consumption of the AUTOFRIDGE when operated as a eutectic refrigeration system, your battery storage capacity is maintained for the operation of D.C. equipment or your refrigerator during bad weather.

Should your requirement be for a single solar module, then the output capacity of the module chosen (i.e. wattage) should be selected to suit your power needs. For example, the average daily output from a single BP160 (60watt) solar module would match the average daily power consumption of the AUTOFRIDGE eutectic refrigeration system. The single module would have to be wired, and to ensure maximum output during sunlight hours, it would have to be elevated to allow optimum exposure to direct sunlight.

*SOLAR-PORT* Patent No. 599269

QUIRK’S SOLAR-PORT* UNITS

Crystalline Silicon Modules in suitcase configuration – 10 year warranty

Model	Nominal Voltage	Wattage	Retail Price
SOLAR-PORT*SP12150	12	150 watts (2 x BP275F)	$1999.00
SOLAR-PORT*SP12100	12	100 watts (2 X BP250F)	$1599.00
SOLAR-PORT*SP1260	12	60 watts (2 x MSX30)	$984.50