Calling all solar geeks and nerds

stevegriffith22 · Since 14 May 2006 434 Posts Obsessed

School me! I want to know........(regarding travel trailers)

Cost, ease of installation, power storage, portability, names, brands, where to buy, blah blah blah blah.

I want to know the skinny. Hook me up. Planing on getting a old, small trailer. Want to be able to run the stereo, microwave, small fridge ect. And then transfer it over to a newer larger bigger newer trailer later.

Hook me up. I don't know a thing about them. Would love some opinions.

sg

SalmonSlayer · Since 27 Nov 2005 648 Posts Addicted **CGKA Member**

Here is a DYI option

http://www.earth4energy.com/page/windpower.php

kitezilla · Since 22 Jun 2006 453 Posts gorge Obsessed

Wow! Microwave oven and refrigerator. You will be ready for the big time if you can pull off that hat trick. You are talking about living off the grid...creating large amounts of electricity. Your normal RVer with a couple of 50 Watt panels on the roof is pretty happy to have a light to read by at night, and a fan and a water pump.

The problem is that any appliance that heats up something like a coil or element, really pulls down a lot of electricity, so you will need a lot of 50 or 75 Watt panels at maybe $250 to $400. each...and room on the roof to put them...plus a bunch of 6 Volt golf cart batteries at about 60 pounds each. Consider that a lot of trailers are close to being overweight, right out of the show room, without filling up the water, propane, grey water and black water tanks, or loading up about a ton of other necesities. You may become a real hazard on the road, and the cops have the right to send you to the scale, if they catch you rocking down the road.

I could go on and on, since I love "off the grid" stuff, but unless you are the kind of guy that likes to tinker with somewhat dangerous stuff...climbing up on slippery roofs in wind storms to rescue something that got loose, in the middle of the night with a flashlight in your mouth, with no safety net...pouring water into the holes in batteries, and avoiding the acid splash back into your eyes...electric shocks from bad grounding...working with ammeters and other testers, in tiny dark places...constantly studying electronics...discovering stuff like "don't buy crap from Radio Shack"...dealing with corroded wires...hydrogen gas explosions from improperly vented battery compartments and sparks...

With solar stuff, you need to be good with math and planning ahead. Start by inspecting all the stuff you think you will want to power and write down the stuff on the labels, which you will find placed in the most awkward possible place on the piece of equipment...write down the Voltage, Amperage and most important the Wattage.

You will have to do a lot of calculations, and unless you like being a "life student" and enjoy that kind of stuff, forget about a major solar power system. You will have to do all the repairs and system analysis yourself (or with your campground buddies)... because you will go broke paying someone to fix all the problems.

So much for the sales job...how did I ever miss out on a job as a solar panel salesman?

Get some copies of "Trailer Life", and go online to begin your education...no one can teach you everything you will need to know in less that 2 months...You must become a MacGuyver, should you choose to accept this assignment.

Other than that, it shouldn't be too hard to acomplish what you want with a small travel trailer, and a bunch of money.

mackconsult · Since 13 Jul 2010 30 Posts Vancouver, WA

Biggest draw back to solar is the batteries you have to carry for the amp/hr load you are discussing. You would be better off doing propane on these appliances, and save a light solar installation for lights.

kitezilla · Since 22 Jun 2006 453 Posts gorge Obsessed

stevegriffith22 · Since 14 May 2006 434 Posts Obsessed

And............I don't know crap about this solar thing.

Copy sounds like propane to run most every thing and then a bit of solar is realisic, but expensive?

windpig · Since 28 Aug 2008 282 Posts Obsessed

Another option is wind. I know some people down at the Delta that have little wind mills that give them some serious juice. From what they have told me, far more than solar. I think the combo of the two would get a good amount of power. I don't think either option is "cheap" however.

mackconsult · Since 13 Jul 2010 30 Posts Vancouver, WA

What do think the batteries would cost you for the solar?????????

Search craigslist there are tons of stoves/fridges/heaters that run on propane. The are used in lots of rv's.

mackconsult · Since 13 Jul 2010 30 Posts Vancouver, WA

Even with wind generators you will need batteries for the amp/hr devices that you would want to run.

Sorry guys but I think like an "engineer".

Bettyboarder · Sun Jan 30, 11 5:53 pm

You can do it. There are tons of write ups on this stuff.

Colby's been living off the grid for like two years in his motorhome full time. I think he has like 4 or 5 panels on his roof. He can run blender, microwave, lights ect.

We run an electric fridge and lights (no microwave) in our ambulance off 1 of these 85 watt panel.

Here's a little info and some pictures of ours.
http://www.ambulancerv.com/?page_id=72

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Here's a good kit to get you started:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002WHQL2U/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B002OSAB32&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1YPXSK8DYWZB8Z8N6KCC

We are using that to run a fridge in our ambulance, we have two large marine deep cycle batteries ... with the sun out we can keep everything going for a couple days without firing up the engine. The fridge is a high efficiency 2.5amp fridge from Engel

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=engel+fridge&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=17262770914158139839&ei=rBhGTaSQB5K-sAOR57TKCg&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=image&resnum=6&ved=0CEgQ8gIwBQ#

If have a trailer you still might want to have a generator if the sun isn't out.

Also on those wind turbines they can generate a shitload of power when the wind is cranking but they are expensive and pretty noisy from what I have seen.

Here's another thread we had awhile back on the subject:
http://www.nwkite.com/forums/t-19186.html

And more on the ambulance:
http://www.nwkite.com/forums/t-19218.html

Also know that for appliances you are going to need a pretty massive inverter. But its definitely do-able like Nic says Colby never plugs in, he does fire his rig up everyday though which probably helps keep the batteries topped off. A little harder with a trailer.

Oh yeah and if you want good deals on batteries PM TWIN-FIN here on nwkite.

TWIN-FIN · Since 24 May 2006 805 Posts Portland, OR Hot Monkey

First of all......Im the battery guy.
Remember, if you need any kind size type style chemistry of battery I have it.
All wind junkies, friends and family get commercial pricing ' Very Happy

'

I just so happens that I have approximatly 40 SLIGHTLY USED DEEP CYCLE 140Ah rated for 20hr, AGM BATTERIES. The are the same foot print and a group 31 but 3" taller. I got them from a remote telephone switching station that was decommishioned. THESE THINGS ROCK! They weigh a buck 25 each, and will power everything you asked for except heat, micro, ref. your talking some juice bro! These deep cycle (solar power) storage batteries. New the batteries sell for $325each, but I will let you have them for $75 ea and I will give you a 1yr warranty and teach you how to keep it ALIVE AND WELL so you dont have to buy new batteries every year!.......That worth $300 buck right their.

If you want to know about RV needs check out http://www.altestore.com/store/Solar-Panels/c541/

I you want to know anything about batteries call me at 503-720-0160. There is a lot to know and life is way too short to type it all out.

See you at the Solider event......I will be the one KILLEN IT!

pdxmonkeyboy · Tue Feb 01, 11 1:03 pm

Bump for Jeff the battery guy.

I love my car battery I got from him (well, as much as you can LOVE a battery) I mean, it works great and he gave me a smokin deal.

I think he even fondled me but that was when he had just opened the interstate battery branch so it was a limited time offer.

Stetson05 · Since 06 Sep 2010 26 Posts

I got this link from somebody who posted this on here before

http://handybobsolar.wordpress.com/category/uncategorized/

interesting blog for this. It might keep you from spending a lot on an unreliable setup. Good luck!

cosmodog · Since 06 Oct 2005 204 Posts Stoked

I have had luck with this setup:
1 80 watt panel
2 deep cycle bats
1 charge controller
Bats also charge when the van is running
With a full charge, I can run my lights, laptop and fridge for 10+ days in Baja.
Its an efficient, DC only, Norcold fridge.

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

apctjb · Since 19 Aug 2007 438 Posts Obsessed

Great online resource, catalog and place to buy www.aeesolar.com