Re: [A/S] Re: solar installation

["Terry Tyler" <tylerbears@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

John, not only will the panels not lift off, they don't break when hail stones come pounding down on
them. And just for good measure, they supply power to his batteries only on days when daylight
occurs. (:-) And, this winter, when there is a foot of snow on the panels, his solar gauge inside
his trailer will register input every single day. All Winter long and next Spring, his batteries
will be fully charged - ready to go. He's going to get seven years of life from his batteries
starting this year.

Seriously (all joshing aside), after 15 years of using solar panels under all conditions imaginable
with an Airstream (and I used to be a Doubting Thomas), I've come to appreciate them as the single
most trouble free, maintenance free, and profoundly practical product, for day to day use - of any
appliance in or on any of our Airstreams.

On several occasions, including 2000 miles down the Baja and back, we have gone months without
utility pole connections and never once were without abundant daily electrical power in our
Airstream. 

This year, we're using our '77 31' Excella 500 (3 panels & 3 batteries) and expect to again park on
BLM land in Arizona with full use of our satellite dish receiver, TV, VCR, Mac laptop, printer,
fluorescent lights, water pump and charger for batteries to our cordless appliances.  The only
source of electrical power will be sunlight on our solar panels. And guess what? That means no surge
protectors necessary for any of our electronic devices nor any brown-outs (like in Florida). 

Of the millions of RVs on BLM land each winter, the vast majority of us have solar panels. We are on
our way there, right now. But first, we'll be attending the annual eastern convention of Escapees RV
Club members and Full Time RVers at the Escapade in Goshen, Indiana for a week, starting on 9/10/00.

Every brand of RV, plus other Vintage Airstreamers will be there. To learn more about it, go to:
http://escapees.com/website/index2.htm >>>>for general information.
http://www.escapees.com/website/fall/  >>>>for specific information about the Escapade.

PS - Go to http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Cabana/4868/ for two articles about the jist of what
we've learned from using solar. Scroll down past the Amazon.com advertising and you'll find them. 

Terry
SKP #7972
WBCCI #6477
'63 Flying Cloud 22'
'67 Safari 22'