Re: [A/S] generator power

["Craig Eldridge" <craig_e@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I learned much from the www.rvsolarelectric.com website and even more from 
the booklet they send out.  They also have several other books available for 
purchase that address 12 volt electrical systems and even solar for cabins.

The question I have is how much time are you going to spend in your 
airstream?  Are we looking at weekends only or what?  My '77 Excella 500 
sits at a hunting site for a month to two months at a time with no 
electricity other than a 5 watt Pulse Tech Solargizer solar 
charger/maintainer.  I have 2 Delco Voyager batteries rated at 105 amp hr.  
I am a mizer and usually do not run more than one light fixture at a time 
nor more than one fan at a time.  I have never gone into the "fair" side of 
my batteries on the control panel.  If you are planning on staying 3-4 days 
at a time with heavy light and some waterpump usage then a 50-75 watt panel 
would be fine.  If you plan on using a microwave then you will need at least 
four 6 volt or several LARGE 12 volt batteries with a couple of 75-80 watt 
panels to help power an inverter for that microwave.

This year I bought a 20 watt solar panel and hooked it up on a Friday when I 
arrived to go turkey hunting each weekend.  I unplugged it when I left on 
Sunday.  I ran several lights during the evening and ran a fan for several 
hours during the afternoon while resting and all night each evening.  The 
control panel showed the needle in the "good" area when I left the first 
Sunday of May.  I want to add that the batteries are kept fully charged with 
a BatteryMinder while at the house so they are in top shape before taking 
the trailer out.