[VACList] #2 Solar - Simple Solutions

[Terry Tyler <tylerbears@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

on 06/30/02 7:00 PM, tylerbears@airstream.net wrote:

> Hi Jill,
> 
> This is the first of three postings about solar panels and written during the
> Winter of 2000. If they are helpful to you - be my guest.
> 
> Terry 
> 
> ---------------------------
> 
> SIMPLE SOLAR SOLUTION
> 
> Originally, we began using solar power because of nostalgia for specific
> primitive campsites in the state park system. Our most memorable times were
> those early years in the 60s of tenting and tent trailering in NYS Parks when
> we used a Coleman lantern and stove. We didn't have any need for electrical
> power. Then, with our first travel trailer in 1965, we began using deep cycle
> marine batteries in the trailer and when they became discharged, connecting
> them to an auxilliary battery in our truck. This started our search for a
> better way to recharge the trailer batteries every day.
> 
> The best system occurred after we learned sunlight could be converted into
> battery power. As conservative users of electricity, we found one solar panel
> provided a generous flow of 12 volt power on sunny days. Unexpectedly, we
> learned on rainy days, it generated sufficient 12 volt power to replenish what
> was being used by the radio and lights. As our experience using sunlight to
> recharge RV batteries evolved, we learned the following:
> 
> A - WITH TWO PEOPLE, ONE DEEP CYCLE MARINE RV BATTERY, ONE 53 WATT SOLAR PANEL
> AND NO OTHER SOURCE OF POWER, WE HAD SUFFICIENT SOLAR POWER FOR:
> 
> 1 - use of CB radio on emergency standby 6 hours daily,
> 
> 2 - use of AM/FM radio during news and weather segments twice daily,
> 
> 3 - use of one fluorescent light turned on from dusk to bedtime,
> 
> 4 - use of water pump to wash selves and dishes, no showers and using
> campground toilets occasionally,
> 
> 5 - fully recharging one battery during daylight hours on either sunny or
> rainy days.
> 
> 6 - Use of a permanently mounted Solar Guard gauge showed incoming solar power
> equaled consumption on rainy days and was greater than consumption on sunny
> days.
> 
> 
> B - WITH TWO PEOPLE, TWO DEEP CYCLE MARINE RV BATTERIES, TWO 53 WATT SOLAR
> PANELS AND NO OTHER SOURCE OF POWER, WE HAD SUFFICIENT SOLAR POWER FOR:
> 
> 1 - use of CB radio on emergency standby 24 hours daily,
> 
> 2 - use of AM/FM radio and/or TV during news and weather segments three times
> daily,
> 
> 3 - use of 1 fluorescent light turned on from dusk to bedtime with minimal use
> of 2nd fluorescent light,
> 
> 4 - use of water pump to wash selves and dishes, to take two Navy showers
> daily and to flush RV toilet,
> 
> 5 - fully recharging two batteries during daylight hours on sunny days.
> 
> 6 - two hours use of inverter during peak sun to operate low amp items, i.e.
> computer, monitor & printer.
> 
> 7 - Use of a permanently mounted Solar Guard gauge showed incoming solar power
> equaled consumption on sunny days.
> 
> 
> C - WITH TWO PEOPLE, THREE DEEP CYCLE MARINE RV BATTERIES, THREE 53 WATT SOLAR
> PANELS AND NO OTHER SOURCE OF POWER, WE HAD SUFFICIENT SOLAR POWER FOR:
> 
> 1 - unrestricted use of the CB radio,
> 
> 2 - use of AM/FM radio, TV or video player two hours daily, plus limited use
> of cooling fans,
> 
> 3 - use of 2 fluorescent lights turned on from dusk to bedtime with minimal
> use of 3rd fluorescent light,
> 
> 4 - use of water pump to wash selves and dishes, to take two full showers
> daily and to flush RV toilet,
> 
> 5 - fully recharging three batteries during daylight hours on sunny days.
> 
> 6 - three hours use of inverter before and during peak sunlight to operate
> electronic equipment, i.e. the bread making machine, microwave, computer,
> monitor, printer, blender and electric drill.
> 
> 7 - Use of a permanently mounted Solar Guard gauge showed incoming solar power
> was greater than consumption on sunny days.
> 
> 
> D - WITH TWO PEOPLE, FOUR DEEP CYCLE MARINE RV BATTERIES, FOUR SOLAR PANELS
> (THREE 53 WATT AND ONE 75 WATT) AND NO OTHER SOURCE OF POWER, WE HAD
> SUFFICIENT SOLAR POWER FOR:
> 
> 1 - unrestricted use of the CB radio,
> 
> 2 - unrestricted use of the AM/FM radio, TV, video player and cooling fans
> daily,
> 
> 3 - use of 3 fluorescent lights turned on from dusk to bedtime with minimal
> use of 4th fluorescent light,
> 
> 4 - use of water pump to wash selves and dishes, to take two luxury showers
> daily and to flush RV toilet,
> 
> 5 - fully recharging four batteries during daylight hours on either sunny or
> rainy days.
> 
> 6 - four hours use of inverter before, during and after peak sunlight to
> operate electronic equipment, i.e. bread making machine, microwave, computer,
> monitor, printer, blender, electric drill and hair dryer.
> 
> 7 - Use of a permanently mounted Solar Guard gauge showed incoming solar power
> was greater than consumption on either sunny or rainy days.
> 
> 
> BOTTOM LINE -- Since using solar panels, abundant electricity has freed us
> from utility poles. Life is short and we want it to be great no matter where
> we are. With our simple solar solution, taking the road less traveled has
> become an even more exciting way of life, especially with a restored Vintage
> Airstream.