[VAC] #1 RV Solar Electric

[Terry Tyler <tylerbears@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Jill,

No photos, but everything you ever wanted to know and see is available from:

http://www.rvsolarelectric.com

If you'd like a free solar planner and annual catalog from Noel Kirkby at RV
Solar Electric in Tucson, now is the time to call him (800.999.8520).  He
can provide you with prices on his various solar packages.

You might also have your credit card handy and order his book: "RVer's Guide
to Solar Battery Charging" (less than $20). It's packed with common sense
information, plus there are pictures showing the special "feet" he created
for supporting solar panels on Airstreams.

His written instructions are very clear. If I had questions during the
installation, I'd call him on my cell phone while laying on top of my
Airstream with solar panels beside me and tools in hand.

If you're in Tucson and want the job done for you, keep in mind that if you
make an appointment first thing Monday morning when he opens and if you
arrive Sunday afternoon, there's a lot behind the adjacent building where
boondocking is doable.

> what all can you run off of your system?
> 
Jill, mostly I run my electronic equipment, lights (fluorescent), a fan now
and then, plus the charging units for my appliances with their own
batteries.

> i would like to run a computer (printer, & occasionally a scanner), i usually
> boil my coffee water but sometimes use a plug in percolator, not a huge
> hair-dryer/curling iron user (but occasionally), occasional tv & vcr use,
> occasional microwave (but i wouldn't die without it), stereo, blender. gosh
> it's hard to remember all the electric appliances!
> 
From your above list, I wouldn't use solar power to operate any piece of
equipment whose sole purpose was to generate heat (percolator, hair-dryer,
microwave).  Appliances that do their job by heat are power hungry and will
gobble your 12 volt supply like there was no tomorrow.

Another gobbler of power is the 12 volt blower on your propane furnace.
That's another reason to have a Catalytic Heater which doesn't use any 12
volt or 120 volt power.

While you are at it, exchange the 20 # propane bottles for 30#ers (perhaps
at Oasis RV in Tucson). These are all opinions and suggestions, even though
some may sound a bit bossy.

A two panel solar system should operate your computer, scanner, run your
television, stereo, vcr, satellite receiver (but not all of them at the same
time on the same day). Likewise, it will the recharge cell phone battery,
the Palm Pilot battery, the Makita drill battery and the electric shaver
battery, but not all of them on the same day.

A two panel system will operate a blender if used briefly on a sunny day.

Each of these appliances (in the last three sentences) will require that you
have an "INverter" (as opposed to a CONverter) if you want to operate them
off your batteries (notice I said batteries not battery).  The inverter
changes 12 volt to 120 volt, while the converter changes 120 volts to 12
volts.

> most of oregon does not get a ton of sun but i like to look at the big picture
> which includes those months of the year that DO bring sun, and i will be
> likely going out of state for graduate school.. maybe california.. (but maybe
> somewhere just as sunless as oregon). i do not expect to be able to run all of
> my *luxury needs* off of solar full time and i'm not opposed to downsizing my
> habits, either.
> 
On the Airstreams we don't use during the winter, the solar panels keep our
batteries fully charged even when they're under 3' of snow. I have been
inside them during cloudy/snowy days and have seen the red light on my
"battery guard module" showing that charging is occurring (not much, but a
definable input).

On the Airstream we use during the winter (in the south), the red light
shows charging is occurring when parked under a light bulb in a garage (when
Airstream repairs are being made).

Why do I mention that? For us, if there is daylight during 365 days a year,
then our panels are charging our batteries every day all year long.

If a day occurs when there is absolutely no daylight and it's nightime
during the day, then we're in a bind (and so is everyone else on the
planet).

Thus and therefore - the more panels and batteries, the more power is
available for use. On sunny days, we have margaritas from the blender and
clean the carpet with our high powered vacuum. On shady days, we use the
fluorescent lights and skip the margaritas. It's as simple as that.  If you
are into having gauges detail your use of solar power, they'll tell you the
same thing (only more accurately).

I'll send three more emails to you on the topic of solar power. They are
handouts I've distributed in previous years when making presentation to
groups who are just becoming interested in solar panels.

I'll bet you didn't know you'd be getting more homework when you asked those
questions. That's the way it goes. The more you live, the more you learn.

Terry

mailto:tylerbears@airstream.net