Re: [A/S] solar installation

[Jim Dunmyer <jdunmyer@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Bill,
 Those panels will put out 4 amps/each in very bright sunlight, when
oriented at a direct right angle to the sun. In actual practice, mounted
as you see in the pics, I'll see a maximum of about 6 amps, but 4 or 5
is more common. The Avion has a pair of Group 24 "RV/Deep Cycle"
batteries under the front couch; they use special vent caps that have a
nipple on them that a hose assembly is connected to, going through the
floor to under the trailer. I figure them at about 140 AH total, maybe a
bit less; they're rated at 85 AH/each, but those type of batteries do
maybe 80% of their rating. Figuring on using about 50% of their
capacity, we can easily go 2-4 days w/o ANY charging.

So far, our e-Meter has reported about 20-25 AH of usage in a typical
evening, less if we don't spend much time in the trailer, more if we
have to run the furnace. Although the controller isn't the best, it does
seem to do the job, and I see no reason to EVER plug in to shore power
unless we need to run the A/C. This Summer, we've only camped at one
place where that was possible anyway, even where we have had power
available, it was clearly labled "No A/C", as it wasn't of sufficient
capacity.

We're quite frugal with our power consumption, as our main lights are
flourescents or small incandescents, and the TV draws only ONE amp. (5"
color model) The most usage came when we were at the Buckley, MI engine
show with 41 a degree night when we ran the furnace quite a bit. The
e-Meter showed us 'down' 40+ AH from 'full' in the morning. However, we
should be able to generate about that much on a sunny day.

                                                      <<Jim>>