Re: [A/S] Re: solar installation

[Jim Dunmyer <jdunmyer@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hunter,
 You'll get no argument from me! One of the first things we did was
figure out how to make coffee on the gas stove. Our TV is really tiny,
only 5", so draws just 1 amp at 12VDC. We've looked at 9" TVs, but those
will push it to 3+ amps. Even at that, we should have enough power to
run it as much as we want.

You don't mean that you want to run your fridge on 120VAC through your
inverter, do you? Or, 12VDC if you have a "3-way"? That isn't practical,
as that mode of operation uses a heating element that really sucks the
juice. Your fridge is newer and no doubt requires a good solid 12VDC to
keep the electronics running, and a solar system will provide that.

Although I've not had my solar installation long enough to experience it
personally, I'm looking forward to Terry Tyler's "5-7 years of battery
life". The worst thing you can do to a lead-acid battery is to leave it
in a partially-discharged state, even for just a few days. The solar
system assures that my batteries are always topped up, so they should
last for a long time. Because I'm not charging them with a standard
converter, they're not being cooked dry, either. It appears as though
they'll need watering 2 or 3 times/year.

                                     <<Jim>>