[VACList] #3 Solar - More Choices

[Terry Tyler <tylerbears@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

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

> Hi Jill,
> 
> When we started getting serious about solar panels, I began keeping a journal
> and would jot down notes periodically. Here's a summary of salient points from
> several years of notes.
> 
> Terry
> 
> mailto:tylerbears@airstream.net
> 
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> When solar battery charging came of age, we were delighted and began
> installing panels on all our Airstreams. Our goal was to have the choice of
> planning our travels on the basis of where we wanted to go, not on the basis
> of where there was an RV park with electric power.  We wanted to dramatically
> expand our freedom to be comfortable wherever we parked our traveling homes.
> Prior to buying solar panels, we asked Noel and Barbara Kirkby (RV Solar
> Electric) many questions. Their answers were most revealing.
> 
> Q - Is it easy to add solar to an RV? A - Yes, RVs are a ready-made 12 volt DC
> system. Just install the solar panel or panels and connect the wires according
> to the do-it-yourself directions written in our "RV POWERPAC" installation
> package.
> 
> Q - Is our RV already wired for solar battery charging? A - Yes, every
> self-contained RV has one or more 12 volt batteries, 12 volt lights and 12
> volt wiring. Simply connect the existing 12 volt system at the RV battery
> location with special wire provided in our "RV POWERPAC" and solar battery
> charging begins immediately.
> 
> Q - Is there a danger of overcharging the batteries? A - Our "Battery Guard &
> Test Module" automatically monitors, controls charge and prevents battery
> overcharging by cutting back the charge rate when it senses the batteries are
> full. It allows owners to adjust the setpoints for level of fill.
> 
> Q - Where can I get it installed? A - Any RV or automotive service center can
> follow detailed directions we provide. We recommend you read our installation
> manual first, then decide if you feel you can do-it-yourself as many other
> folks have done.
> 
> After having these and other questions answered by Noel, we wondered what our
> RVing friends thought about answers they received. The opportunity came at the
> Escapees RV Club's Eastern Escapade Rally in Harrisonburg, VA. We visited with
> Noel, Barbara and their son Steve, went to their three seminars, listened to
> actual examples and read all their literature. It didn't take long to realize
> the Kirkbys were providing an unusually insightful educational service to
> every RVer in the audience.
> 
> Whether RVers were just learning about or were highly experienced at using
> solar power, Noel listened to each question before offering suggestions. His
> answers were clear and understandable. He encouraged follow-up queries and
> invited everyone to think about his answers before deciding what to do. At all
> times, his attitude was professional. We later learned he had more than 40
> years experience using solar energy in hundreds of practical ways.
> 
> We purchased our solar equipment from Noel Kirkby. It operates as he said it
> would. Our only complaint is we should have done it sooner. With a modest
> investment in solar panels and related materials that provide a controlled
> charge to our deep cycle marine batteries, plus a 1300 watt inverter to run
> all 120 volt appliances, our electrical needs are easily met. What we got was
> far more than solar equipment and worth far more than the money we spent. We
> are now living a delightfully adventuresome lifestyle. We are routinely
> exploring more of the great treasures on this continent than would have been
> possible without a simple, effective way to recharge our batteries every
> single day.
> 
> The solar panels function on sunny, cloudy or rainy days; thereby enabling us
> to operate all our 12 volt equipment every day of the year regardless of where
> our Airstream is parked. Like most solar enthusiasts, we keep track of usage
> so there's enough power for what we want to do before the next sunrise.
> 
> Our 1300 watt inverter provides clean, surge free 120 volt power to operate
> the computer, monitor, printer, microwave, electric drill, breadmaker, vacuum
> cleaner and rechargeable tools. With planning and common sense, like turning
> on only one 120 volt appliance at a time, our 12 volt batteries provide power
> to the inverter for all our daily electrical needs. We are not tied to utility
> poles with their fluctuating power and unpredictable brownouts. We are never
> without sufficient electrical power to satisfy our daily needs. All of our
> circuit boards (computer, printer, refrigerator, bread making machine) can be
> protected from power surges by operating them off our inverter with just the
> flick of a switch (to bypass utility company power during electrical storms or
> persistent brown outs).
> 
> While planning our Fall/Winter/Spring travels for 1995 with our traveling
> buddies Ed and Mary Wellington (also seasoned boondockers and solar
> enthusiasts), we decided to challenge our assumptions and put the solar
> equipment to the test. We chose an area of the Arizona desert we'd never
> explored and stayed on vacant government land and primitive parking sites
> around Ajo and Why, Arizona. The panels generated more power than we used.
> 
> A month later, the four of us explored Puerto Penasco in Mexico south of
> Lukesville, AZ before crossing Mexico's Gran Desierto and staying at family
> run primitive campsites around San Felipe. Solar power was still abundant.
> 
> We then crossed the state of Baja California North to Ensenada and leisurely
> drove the 1,000 mile Baja Peninsula highway south to Cabo San Lucas. During
> those months, we found safe places to park our Airstreams at the water's edge
> on exquisite beaches, all without electrical hookups. At Santispac Beach on
> Bahia Concepcion, Ed's electric drill helped make needed repairs to our truck.
> At a remote area on beautiful El Coyote Beach, Mary's microwave made delicious
> desserts. The aroma of fresh bread baked by our 120 volt bread machine in our
> own Airstream told us "home is where we park it."
> 
> After returning to the Yuma Escapees Park and parting with the Wellingtons, we
> traveled by ourselves to Guadalajara for Springtime weather during the
> remainder of Winter. Our assumptions had met the challenge. Our hopes for
> electrical independence had been resoundingly confirmed.
> 
> It is now Winter 2000 and we're in Florida where power spikes and brown outs
> are common. We use the inverter to run our computer and bread maker even
> though connected to a utility pole. The circuit boards in these appliances
> have strong aversions to power interruptions and the electrical surge that
> follows.
> 
> We thank Noel and Barbara Kirkby for enabling us to achieve true electrical
> independence, for answering all our questions and encouraging us to take and
> explore the roads less traveled. They are true pioneers of solar power usage.
> Serious RVers wishing to learn more should contact RV Solar Electric.
> 
> Noel's free annual newsletter "Solar Electric Update" is available by calling
> RV Solar Electric at 1-800-999-8520. His web site can be viewed at
> http://www.rvsolarelectric.com and the Kirkby's book "RVers Guide to Solar"
> and their solar planning booklet "Solar Electric Systems" provide guidance to
> what is a simple solar solution for electrical independence.
> 
> For us, the use of solar technology has made RVing much more enjoyable whether
> with our smaller Vintage Airstreams while caravanning or our larger more
> modern Airstreams while full timing. This simple technology has given us far
> more choices.