Ready to get my feet wet with Solar power
Thought I would post my idea here and let the experts tell me what I am missing. First off, I own 2ea RV's. 1 is a gooseneck horse trailer with living quarters and the other is a bumper pull prowler....
Forum Discussion
Thanks for the quick replies!!!
1) Inverter - I live close to a harbor freight. They had one listed (with coupon) for $129.99 (normally $199.99). This is a cen-tech brand. I'm sure most of the time I won't need that big a unit but at that price why mess around.
2) On Solar panels, I'm thinking 2 each. I have not priced them yet but Backwoods Solar has them up to 250 watt each. I am a little concerned about moving them around as they can get up to 50 some inches in length. I will probably transport them on the bed and then attach them to the top of the cart once I get to where I'm going.
3) I will be 57 years old this year. I like to ride horses. My wife will ride but it's not here passion like mine, hence the reason for 2 RV's. I also have harness horses so when I'm too old to climb into the saddle I'll crawl into my wagon or cart. We have discussed selling both and getting one with all the bells and whistles but my wife hates the bed over in the gooseneck. getting out is more difficult than getting in for her. Both of these are paid for and I am retired. My wife will work for a couple or 3 years more then she will retire and we plan on seeing the USA. I traveled for the company I retired for. I have traveled more outside the USA then inside it so now I just want to move from one horse camp to another and see the USA.
Everything I read about solar say's you need sunlight. Dah, Dah. Well, I like to set my RV in the shade and since most times boondocking I will not be able to run the generator on solar I don't want to park in the sun. Plus, with 2 RV's I need it more mobile. I have a truck with a bale bed which is used to handle large round bales of hay. With this I can load and unload heavy things and what I plan to use to load and unload this "solar cart".
4) 2oldman - I don't know if I understand your commment. I do plan on setting up a 24 volt system. basically, I with the cart will be the same a shore power. The panels (24 volt) will charge the 4ea T105 batteries through the controller and the inverter will run from the 4ea T105 batteries and I'll use just an extension cord to run to the RV. According to Backwoods Solar I could use a "true sinewave" inverter instead of a "modified wave" inverter and plug the generator into the sinewave inverter and continue to charge the batteries or run air conditioner which needs a lot of power.
5) As far as what our needs are when camping. Usually have a radio running, lights and fans, microwave, DVD player and monitor, computer, refrigerator-although it will run on propane as well. I like to dry camp so pumping water also.
6) Jimindenver - A lot of knowledge I have learned about solar is from "Handy Bob". http://handybobsolar.wordpress.com/
He pretty much laughs at people that have generators. I would love to be frugal enough to not need a generator but don't plan on getting rid of mine anytime soon. But one comment he say's is "keep the controller close to the batteries". I would encourage everyone to ready his blog. He has a lot of experience. Other thing he mentions is to use large enough wiring then go a little bigger. How did your last trip work with handling the panel?
Hopefully, I have answered most questions and I appreciate the input.
1) Inverter - I live close to a harbor freight. They had one listed (with coupon) for $129.99 (normally $199.99). This is a cen-tech brand. I'm sure most of the time I won't need that big a unit but at that price why mess around.
2) On Solar panels, I'm thinking 2 each. I have not priced them yet but Backwoods Solar has them up to 250 watt each. I am a little concerned about moving them around as they can get up to 50 some inches in length. I will probably transport them on the bed and then attach them to the top of the cart once I get to where I'm going.
3) I will be 57 years old this year. I like to ride horses. My wife will ride but it's not here passion like mine, hence the reason for 2 RV's. I also have harness horses so when I'm too old to climb into the saddle I'll crawl into my wagon or cart. We have discussed selling both and getting one with all the bells and whistles but my wife hates the bed over in the gooseneck. getting out is more difficult than getting in for her. Both of these are paid for and I am retired. My wife will work for a couple or 3 years more then she will retire and we plan on seeing the USA. I traveled for the company I retired for. I have traveled more outside the USA then inside it so now I just want to move from one horse camp to another and see the USA.
Everything I read about solar say's you need sunlight. Dah, Dah. Well, I like to set my RV in the shade and since most times boondocking I will not be able to run the generator on solar I don't want to park in the sun. Plus, with 2 RV's I need it more mobile. I have a truck with a bale bed which is used to handle large round bales of hay. With this I can load and unload heavy things and what I plan to use to load and unload this "solar cart".
4) 2oldman - I don't know if I understand your commment. I do plan on setting up a 24 volt system. basically, I with the cart will be the same a shore power. The panels (24 volt) will charge the 4ea T105 batteries through the controller and the inverter will run from the 4ea T105 batteries and I'll use just an extension cord to run to the RV. According to Backwoods Solar I could use a "true sinewave" inverter instead of a "modified wave" inverter and plug the generator into the sinewave inverter and continue to charge the batteries or run air conditioner which needs a lot of power.
5) As far as what our needs are when camping. Usually have a radio running, lights and fans, microwave, DVD player and monitor, computer, refrigerator-although it will run on propane as well. I like to dry camp so pumping water also.
6) Jimindenver - A lot of knowledge I have learned about solar is from "Handy Bob". http://handybobsolar.wordpress.com/
He pretty much laughs at people that have generators. I would love to be frugal enough to not need a generator but don't plan on getting rid of mine anytime soon. But one comment he say's is "keep the controller close to the batteries". I would encourage everyone to ready his blog. He has a lot of experience. Other thing he mentions is to use large enough wiring then go a little bigger. How did your last trip work with handling the panel?
Hopefully, I have answered most questions and I appreciate the input.
