Just to clarify, you plan to use the solar panel at night without the issue of an attached battery. What does this mean? I got a bit confused here. ;-)

On a side note, I saw the specs of that flexible Costco has been selling and it's very lame. Barely charges a phone so I simply left them alone.

However, Costco also has a rigid one for rooftops that should fit a four doors hard top perfectly and I've also thought about something like that. However, a roof rack would kill this idea so now I am considering using the hood since there's nothing there and the two holes for those rubber nipples would work fine. However, not sure they would be able to provide a full large battery charge.

As for the solar panels' technology, it varies a lot. Those solar cars probably use those more advanced and very expensive models.

 

Yep that is exactly who I sent emails out to this morning.

 

I plan to use power from the battery bank the solar panel charges mostly during night or low light conditions. This means the system needs to serve as a reserve capacity rather then just a pass through system. The solar panel really is only going to pretty much serve as a battery charger for when the jeep is not running. I also will have the separate battery bank switchable to charge off of my already upgraded alternator. The real major goal is to be able to run a built in fridge all the time without ever needing to start the jeep or put drain on my main batteries.

 

I wish you luck. You may want to look at a patent.

 

How is it your solar panels are going to help run your fridge AT NIGHT?

 

The solar panels charge a battery bank during the day. Then at night the fridge will use power stored in the batteries to run. The Engel cooling system parts I bought use very low energy combined with a heavily insulated box to keep things very cold. The whole system is built and designed to run on 12v DC power. Engel is the company that makes portable cooler/fridges for transporting organ donors.

 

He said that he's putting a battery bank in his jeep and will fill the bank with the energy from the panel and use the bank to keep lights and fridge running.

 

You should check out GoalZero products.

I use a lot of their products when camping and it helps power my ARB freezer/fridge.

 

Thanks for the nice site. Not really what I am looking for with this project but it looks like I might order one of the smaller kits from them for backpacking. They have some real nice small self contained systems. Thanks for the heads up!!!

 

If you're just looking to power a fridge and a few other things, a dual battery option may be easier...as a Phoenix resident I will tell you having a fridge for daily trips does not hurt. I'm not trying to discourage the solar idea, but I know most guys with fridges always keep them in their Jeep just run dual batteries and it will last them a few days pretty easy without running the engine. Also, a battery bank inside the Jeep can offer a safety hazard during a sudden stop if not secured to the Jeep and can take up some valuable room. Again, not trying to discourage the idea, just throwing in my 2 cents.