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ALACART Golf Refrigeration Unit Testing Observations
(ALACART Golf testing 2006)
Design/Operating Environment:
Initial Prototype based on an insulated wooded compartment with typical external-to-internal temperature differentials varying from 25 to 30 degrees Celsius. A solar roof canopy was added to the golf car to compensate for the power drawn by the refrigeration unit. The second functional prototype was constructed as an insulated, stainless steel cabinet with transparent lexan double-pane insulated front sliding doors.
Power Components/Measurements:
Although output power of the Solar Roof Canopy was not measured, Suncatcher Golf stated up to 90 Watts of continuous output is available when in full sunlight.
The refrigeration unit is a low power compressor type initially designed for mobile/marine applications. This unit was found to draw a maximum of 40 Watts cycling on/off with a typical duty cycle of 60%.
Installed on a Club Car 48 Volt golf car and left running continuously for around 20 days, the main battery voltage of the golf car remained approx. 50 Volts (measured with solar roof canopy temporarily disconnected). The Solar Roof typically applied around 52 to 57 Volts to the batteries when in bright sunlight.
Actual In-Field Testing:
In actual usage, the refrigeration unit will be shut down for 6 to 8 hours at night during its automatic defrosting cycle. This will also greatly reduce long-term power consumption.
An additional load of just over 50 Watts continuous draw was also applied together with the refrigeration unit and the Golf Car was tested on an 18-hold golf course for a total of 2 back-to-back golfing rounds over a 9-hour period. After this test, the Golf Car’s battery capacity was only reduced to approximately 60% of maximum.
The final stainless steel prototype was also tested for power consumption and exhibited almost identical power consumption rates.
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