RE: [A/S] Electric

["David & Bret" <dtbw_1999@xxxxxxxxx>]

Kathy,
Unless you never use your electric lights, water pump, furnace, water
heater (if you have a newer 16'), those flexible panels are not your
answer.  They are truly designed to keep a battery topped off (ie offset
the natural self discharge of a lead acid battery), provided that
battery is NOT being used to power anything else.  On a 16' Bambi, you
have precious little roof space and that limits your ability to place
solar panels on the roof. On our 19' Bambi I was able to squeeze two 55W
panels onto the roof...one between the front roof vent and the A/C and
another, partially cantilevered behind the rear roof vent.  When
combined with a MPPT solar panel controller, I have a pretty viable
solar capability, but it does require monitoring usage (which I do with
a Tri-Metric Battery Usage Monitor).  A MPPT controller is a necessity
if you want to always get the maximum power from a solar array.  Also,
you basically get what you pay for in solar, so a bargain basement price
is usually NO bargain in the long run.  I spent about $1000 on my solar
equipment and I did all the installation.  What you might do is have a
TriMetric system installed (unit is about $150) and then you can
actually monitor and understand how much power you typically use.  Then
you will be better able to understand if solar is viable for your uses.
The TriMetric is a great addition regardless as it REALLY gives you
accurate battery usage and condition data in terms that are easily
understood. 

On the generator issue, the Honda EU2000 is a FANTASTIC little unit.  It
is small, lightweight, produces pure 60sinewave power (ie safe for your
computer), and is virtually silent.  Now you can't run the air
conditioning with one of these, BUT you can gang 2 of them together
(something that you can't do with normal generators), and have 4000watt
capability that WILL run your A/C.  Also, 2 EU2000 are less weight than
a single EU3500, and you get to choose whether to run 1 or both.  These
little beauties cost under $1000 each (at least the last time I
checked).  They run about 6 hours on a tank of gas.  

So, if you have to choose one or the other, probably the generator will
be the most practical.  If you can swing both, then do so as that gives
you the maximum flexibility.

BTW, those flexible trickle panel ratings are somewhat bogus.  That is
the "perfect" condition, open circuit voltage, rating.  These units do
NOT have any type of charge controlling circuitry.  More realistically,
you could expect 15-20W of realized capacity (ie 1-2 amps) which is
considered a trickle charge.  At these levels, there is no need for a
controller as the solar panel can not output sufficient power to
overcharge the battery, but without a controller, you can't get the
maximum power output of the panel.

Hope this was not TMI (too much info).
david