Terry,
I second your opinion on using Solar.
We decided to put a high efficiency 12V fridge in our Argosy, as the
standard "RV" gas absorption fridges didn't fit. In order to keep the 12V
running for the fridge while driving & boondocking, we went with solar.
You can see details on how I sized and installed the system here:
http://www.pfredd.com/airstream/projects.htm
Dave
> Hi Guys,
>
> Here's a second short note from Site @1 Rollins Pond CG - NYS DEC -
> July 2007.
>
> A passing camper asked me how do we keep our batteries charged?
> Simple answer: Solar panels
>
> We're here for a week of no-hookups RVing with our 1989 32'
> Airstream. Our two deep cycle marine batteries are fully charged each
> and every day, rain or shine, clouds or sun.
>
> Since the day we bought these batteries they have been fully charged
> every single day. Our Airstreams are rarely connected to a utility
> pole for electricity.
>
> The small batteries in our electronic toys, i.e. Macintosh laptop,
> Verizon telephone, screw driver, walkie talkie radios, Makita drill,
> flashlight and Kodak digital camera are recharged as needed from our
> two deep cycle marine batteries through a Inverter (1300W).
>
> This inverter also enables us to operate small 110 volt appliances
> for short periods of time, i.e. vacuum cleaner, grinder for coffee
> beans, blender for Margaritas.
>
> All our 12 volt appliances, i.e. water pump, fluorescent lights,
> fantastic fan, leveling jack, am/fm and CB radios are operated by the
> two deep cycle marine batteries.
>
> A digital Solar Guard meter (located inside a cabinet on the wall)
> shows the status of charge in our two batteries.
>
> The camper asked if this was standard equipment on Airstreams.
> Answer: No.
>
> I told him how I had experimented with four different combinations of
> deep cycle marine batteries and solar panels in four previous
> Airstreams. This time I opted for the bigger 75 watt solar panels (4)
> on the roof of our Airstream.
>
> These panels are laid almost flat on the roof (slightly higher at the
> roof's center). I don't tip up the panels manually to catch the ideal
> angle for sunlight nor do I park north/south for maximum solar benefit.
>
> The panels just lay there quietly and do their job superbly. No
> special accommodations are made when hail storms are forecast. The
> only maintenance I do is with a spray bottle of window cleaner once a
> month or more.
>
> If the camper had wanted to know more, I would have told him:
>
> Inside the Airstream, the six factory installed incandescent lights
> alongside the vanity mirror in the bathroom were using too much 12
> volt power so I replaced them with two 18" fluorescent lamps. There
> are 5 remaining incandescent lamps in our Airstream, i.e. the outside
> spotlight, a light in each cargo compartment, a bathroom shower stall
> ceiling light and an outside step light. Each of those lamps is used
> so seldom that I haven't replaced them with fluorescent lamps.
>
> The interior eye level "outside step tell-tale light" (LED built-in
> above the door) is our most economical lamp and is obvious whenever
> the outside step lamp is on.
>
> There is one and only one 24/7/365 electric draw in the entire
> Airstream. It's the permanently active carbon dioxide alarm that
> consumes a miniscule amount of 12 volt power.
>
> With the Inverter, we use a 110 volt grinder each morning for coffee
> beans, a 110 volt vacuum cleaner for the carpet (occasionally) and
> the built-in charger for two gel batteries in Sandie's electric wheel
> chair once a week.
>
> The four solar panels have been exceptionally responsive to
> recharging our two deep cycle marine batteries. Each day by dusk,
> they are fully re-charged at 13.99 volts (the solar guard kicks in at
> 14.00 volts to avoid overcharging the batteries) and ready for
> another day of satisfying our electrical needs.
>
> We began using solar panels in the 1980s and started staying at
> boondock locations without electric hookups. Recently, we have cut
> back to being part time full timers, part time Snowbirds and part
> time restorers of hurricane and water damaged homes. We're especially
> thankful for our freedom from an electric outlet for power.
>
> How many years do we expect our solar panels to last? Simple answer:
> I don't know.
>
> Do we worry about our catalytic heater consuming breathable oxygen in
> our Airstream when we don't use 12 volt power for our propane
> furnace? Simple Answer: No.
>
> Several generations of feline friends have enjoyed our catalytic
> heaters while they slept on the floor soaking up the CAT's radiant
> heat. Ventilation has never been an issue for us nor our cats. In 50
> years of traveling with cats and dogs, all lived to ripe old ages and
> all slept in front of a catalytic heater hundreds of nights. Cracking
> a roof vent and window does the trick for us.
>
> Our other trailer (1967 22' Airstream Safari) has had three small
> solar panels on the roof for more than 20 years. Those panels were
> purchased "used" from Atlantic Richfield Oil Company after they used
> them an unknown number of years. How long will they last? It's been
> more than 30 years so far - and they're still going strong.
>
> This week, our son and DIL are using the '67 22' here at Rollins
> Pond. The two deep cycle marine batteries in that Airstream are fully
> charged each and every day. Our son is using the 1300 Watt inverter
> to recharge his PDA, cell phones and an iPod.
>
> A propane lamp was added to our '67 22' recently (for light and heat
> redundancy). Although the batteries provide 12 volt power for lights
> at night, the propane lamp provides a softer light and also takes the
> chill off in the morning (50+ degrees). The 6500 BTU catalytic heater
> in the '67 22' has been on vacation all this week.
>
> This is the first time our son asked to go "boondock camping" with us
> at a NYS DEC CG for a week - AND - he asked to use some of our
> "toys" (1975 Mercury, 1967 Airstream, 1976 Sunfish, 1965 Michi Craft
> Canoe). He even found a 1971 Ocean Kayak Classic Scupper which I
> "fetched" and we have that with us, too.
>
> I hadn't realized how much he enjoyed camping at Rollins Pond when he
> and his sister were younger. Now, he wants his wife and children to
> have a similar experience. So far, it looks as though this is a fun
> and memorable experience for them. He and his family will fly back to
> New Orleans later next week.
>
> Back to the subject line. The two deep cycle marine batteries in our
> two trailers have done their jobs flawlessly and recharged everything
> we threw at them - all week long. That's not too shabby if I do say
> so myself.
>
> More later,
>
> Terry