Panels don't run things

2oldman wrote:
What is your response to people who ask you "what will your solar panels run?" (run, as in power, operate)

It keeps my beer cold!

HTH;
John

4x4van wrote:
So since RV solar and S&B solar are really different animals in terms of what/how they do their job, it is a fair question for someone unfamiliar with either (or both) to ask.

So how do you answer them?

Wow, some really "Get off my lawn!" type of people here using solar, glad I'm not camped next to some of you. Residential solar does in fact "run" things in the house, through an inverter; and few homeowners have storage for their solar. So since RV solar and S&B solar are really different animals in terms of what/how they do their job, it is a fair question for someone unfamiliar with either (or both) to ask.

At least a few of you (DrewE, BFL13...) gave answers that make me believe I would enjoy camping near them...but others; not so much. I don't think I could reach up that far (to your high horses).:R

Naio wrote:
I try to figure out what people are really asking, when they ask weird questions :-)

Really. You have to filter that as to what answer will be meaningful. What I often find is that they ask a question, but they really just want to talk, and you listen.

I've been asked to see my electrical system (since it's a bit unusual), but after a minute or so the person becomes bored and uninterested, doesn't ask any questions, and we start talking about his stuff. Then I become bored and uninterested.

I suppose another aspect to the question is that people are used to seeing solar panels that only run one thing -- for example those little solar garden lights, or a solar-powered calculator. Maybe they see a big solar panel and they think you are running one huge item with it.

So maybe the battery answer is a good one. Maybe they don't know that you could use them to charge your RV's full battery system.

I try to figure out what people are really asking, when they ask weird questions :-)

2oldman wrote:

2012Coleman wrote:
Sounds like a cranky answer to me - same as someone referring to a hot water heater.

I don't know which answer is cranky, but what do YOU say to people who ask this?

This from a recent conversation when my MIL was telling me that their "hot water heater" was on its last legs and then needed a new one, and what kind did I like? I simply stated AO Smith.

Why not explain to people that ask that question what the purpose of getting solar panels was for you?

If I had solar panels on my RV and someone asked me that question, my response would be, "I have solar panels so I can keep my batteries charged so I can camp without shore power for an extended period of time. Most of the items in my RV run off the batteries, so by keeping them charged with the solar panels, I can live comfortably longer without full hookups."

-Michael

I think people ask these questions because they have the impression that alternative energy is pretty much useless. They probably think you need a giant solar panel to charge your phone.

The massive subsidies for oil and gas in the US give people the impression that nothing else is very worthwhile. I think it is a good deed in the world, to let people know otherwise.

2oldman wrote:

2012Coleman wrote:
Sounds like a cranky answer to me - same as someone referring to a hot water heater.

I don't know which answer is cranky, but what do YOU say to people who ask this?

I say the storage tank is full of hot water that gets heated all the time, over and over.

2012Coleman wrote:
Sounds like a cranky answer to me -.

I don't know which answer is cranky, but what do YOU say to people who ask what solar panels run?