inexpensive long-term stay in Sonora?
I'm thinking of going to Mexico this winter rather than the US as I'm getting dangerously close to spending enough time in the US as to have to file income tax there. :E Going to Mexico is really i...
Forum Discussion
Pianotuna, I have a surge protector, plus my convertor that shuts down in case of spikes and brownouts. I also have a Xantrex battery monitor to check the state of charge of my batteries and amps going in or out as well as the solar array monitor to check for amps in. Its voltage metre is also right on par with what I read at the batteries, so it's good for measuring unusual voltage drops.
And, of course, I have a little handheld multimetre that can check voltage, resistance, polarity, etc. as well as a little plug in thing with lights that can tell me if a 120V outlet is wired correctly.
Oh, and a Kill-a-Watt metre to measure my 120V usage.
I think that's it...
People tend to buy solar that is much too small for their needs. I was at a Walmart recently where a guy was checking out the panels in the automotive department. The biggest capacity one was something like 20A. It should be criminal to sell that stuff and claim that it will let you camp off the grid! I spend about a half hour with the man while I was waiting on my oil change figuring out how much solar he needed and I also helped him size an inverter. The guy at the Walmart counter then asked me to help him pick out the right batteries for his rig and then purposely didn't charge me for the can of WD-40 I added to my order. :D
I knew what I needed at minimum for solar and had AM Solar in Oregon build and install my system so that it would be done right. Adding more panels is now a matter of ordering one from them, attaching it to the roof, and plugging it into the combiner box. My needs have increased since I started working 100% from home off the grid, so getting an expandable system was smart.
I also have a 1,000W pure sine wave inverter that can run just about anything I need including power tools. The only thing I've really gained from having the genny is being able to use the AC. Even though, I just run it for about an hour to cut the humidity on the odd really hot afternoon. The way my lot is situated and the RV is parked on it, you can barely hear the genny once you leave the immediate area, so I could run it longer, but I don't need to.
Another thing is that I've designed my life for needing minimal electricity. If it weren't for my power hog of a computer (17" MacBook Pro) I could get by on 40AH a day, and that includes running the furnace. But with the computer, I need about 70AH to be really comfortable and I only get that from the solar in optimal conditions, like when I was boondocking in Texas this past winter. So another panel will be great.
Rae
And, of course, I have a little handheld multimetre that can check voltage, resistance, polarity, etc. as well as a little plug in thing with lights that can tell me if a 120V outlet is wired correctly.
Oh, and a Kill-a-Watt metre to measure my 120V usage.
I think that's it...
People tend to buy solar that is much too small for their needs. I was at a Walmart recently where a guy was checking out the panels in the automotive department. The biggest capacity one was something like 20A. It should be criminal to sell that stuff and claim that it will let you camp off the grid! I spend about a half hour with the man while I was waiting on my oil change figuring out how much solar he needed and I also helped him size an inverter. The guy at the Walmart counter then asked me to help him pick out the right batteries for his rig and then purposely didn't charge me for the can of WD-40 I added to my order. :D
I knew what I needed at minimum for solar and had AM Solar in Oregon build and install my system so that it would be done right. Adding more panels is now a matter of ordering one from them, attaching it to the roof, and plugging it into the combiner box. My needs have increased since I started working 100% from home off the grid, so getting an expandable system was smart.
I also have a 1,000W pure sine wave inverter that can run just about anything I need including power tools. The only thing I've really gained from having the genny is being able to use the AC. Even though, I just run it for about an hour to cut the humidity on the odd really hot afternoon. The way my lot is situated and the RV is parked on it, you can barely hear the genny once you leave the immediate area, so I could run it longer, but I don't need to.
Another thing is that I've designed my life for needing minimal electricity. If it weren't for my power hog of a computer (17" MacBook Pro) I could get by on 40AH a day, and that includes running the furnace. But with the computer, I need about 70AH to be really comfortable and I only get that from the solar in optimal conditions, like when I was boondocking in Texas this past winter. So another panel will be great.
Rae
