Solar Powered Generator??

Question

I'm looking to but this solar powered generator for emergency and outdoor use. Here is the product.

http://www.solarhome.org/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=537

It says it can run a refrigerator. My question is for how long? Say the refrigerator uses 1000 watts how long will it can it run on the battery for this generator? What about something smaller like an appliance that uses 300 watts, how long will the battery here last? I want to know what this is capable of before I decide to buy it.

Here are some of the specs for it:

Powers AC products up to 1500 watts

Easy to monitor, dual-outlet, AC panel

Built-in 1500 watt inverter with protection features

60 amp-hour battery

Rated Power: 40 watts

Rated Current @ Pmax: 2.31 amps

Nominal voltage: 12 volts

Rated voltage @ Pmax: 17.3 Volts

Answer 1

my advise would be to learn survival basics without electricity (or any fuel) and do not depend on a solar powered anything.

instead of spending the money on a solar powered generator, spend the money on solar panels instead.  Learn to dehydrate and can perishable foods.

Answer 2

The battery has a nominal 720 WH of capacity; after the inverter, this will probably yield more like 600-650 WH.

How long a refrigerator will run on that depends on the fridge.  I'd estimate a day with the PV panel helping.  If you want to be sure, get yourself a Kill-A-Watt or equivalent and measure the daily consumption of the fridge you want to run.

The connectors and such aren't shown.  You may  be able to add a bigger battery, more PV capacity or both just by wiring them in; this would let you run a fridge for several days.  The 1500 W inverter would probably be able to run more or less continuously.

Last, this is a fairly expensive system:  about $22 per rated PV watt (more per delivered watt).  You're paying a lot for the convenience of the built-in cart.  If you don't mind a little construction, you could bolt an inverter and a battery box to a hardware-store dolly and get a unit built to your own specs for much cheaper.

Answer 3

What you need to look at is the ampage of the appliance you want to power.  This generator will power a 1 amp appliance for 60 hours, and a 2 amp one for 30, and so on.  That is what you have to look at.

Answer 4

This system would be useless, to try to run a normal refrigerator.  I would be surprised if it can start a 1000 watt refrigerator.  If it could start it, it would run it about 20 minutes a day under ideal conditions.  That is, no clouds, 12 hours of direct sunlight per day.