Solar Panels

[1985 PT40]

Are any of you using solar panels on your Birds? Since they suck
up a lot of juice, how practical is solar power ((elec. water heater
specifically)?

We will be spending the summer working in the Rocky
Mountains without electricity and do not want to be totally
dependent on the genset.

Any sugestions?

Trudy Lundgren
85 PT 40 -- The CatbirdSeat
currently in Deming,NM

[Mike Hohnstein]

You can't have enough panels. A great investment.
Mike Hohnstein
Germantown, WI
83FC35
----- Original Message -----
From: 1985 PT40
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, March 03, 2006 9:29 AM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Solar Panels


Are any of you using solar panels on your Birds? Since they suck
up a lot of juice, how practical is solar power ((elec. water heater
specifically)?

We will be spending the summer working in the Rocky
Mountains without electricity and do not want to be totally
dependent on the genset.

Any sugestions?

Trudy Lundgren
85 PT 40 -- The CatbirdSeat
currently in Deming,NM






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[Jack Bentley]

Hi Trudy,

I found the BB draws too much continuous power for solar panels to be very
useful. It would take a large bank of panels and you would always have to be
parked in the sun.

For my use an hour a day on the generator with a good 100 amp three stage
charging system (such as the Heart/Freedom) makes plenty of hot water and keeps
the batteries fairly well charged.

Good luck,

Jack
'87 FC35 "Traveller"
Franklin, NC




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Tom Warner]

I agree Jack I did a cost comparison on a large panel display with
the controllers and wiring and would have to use it for many many
years before I would have even broke even. I installed the Heart
2500 with the link 1000 to quickly replace the power removed from the
batteries from late afternoon thru the night. Start the generator up
when I get up in the morning and let it run for an hour after
breakfast. You can buy an awful lot of diesel fuel for what it costs
to buy solar panels. And the best thing is that you have to exercise
the generator weekly anyway so why not do it when its productive?

tom Warner
1982 FC35
Vernon Center,NY

At 11:45 AM 3/3/2006, you wrote:
>Hi Trudy,
>
> I found the BB draws too much continuous power for solar panels
> to be very useful. It would take a large bank of panels and you
> would always have to be parked in the sun.
>
> For my use an hour a day on the generator with a good 100 amp
> three stage charging system (such as the Heart/Freedom) makes
> plenty of hot water and keeps the batteries fairly well charged.
>
> Good luck,
>
> Jack
> '87 FC35 "Traveller"
> Franklin, NC
>
>
>
>
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
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[fwernlein]

Trudy, check files section for a solar install summary for an FC. My
goals were just to balance the "normal base current draw" designed
into the BB that drains the batteries down over 2+ days. Your stated
goal of running the H20 heater is not going to be practical in my
opinion due to the amp demand vs. supply capability of a roof mounted
solar system. Your talking about "living solar" and that is likely
not practical from even a multi-panel system mounted on the roof of an
RV. If you visit some solar internet sites, they can explain the
capability of solar systems and also the limitations.

The advice from the other members is exactly on target for your stated
electric needs...you would get the best results and value from your
present setup by running the gen-set. IMO...A solar system won't take
you there.

frank
85FC33
woodbridge, va....and colorado this summer! we hope!

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "1985 PT40" wrote:
>
> Are any of you using solar panels on your Birds? Since they suck
> up a lot of juice, how practical is solar power ((elec. water heater
> specifically)?
>
> We will be spending the summer working in the Rocky
> Mountains without electricity and do not want to be totally
> dependent on the genset.
>
> Any sugestions?
>
> Trudy Lundgren
> 85 PT 40 -- The CatbirdSeat
> currently in Deming,NM
>

[Henry Jay Hannigan]

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "1985 PT40" wrote:
>
> Are any of you using solar panels on your Birds? Since they suck
> up a lot of juice, how practical is solar power ((elec. water heater
> specifically)?
>
> We will be spending the summer working in the Rocky
> Mountains without electricity and do not want to be totally
> dependent on the genset.
>
> Any sugestions?
>
> Trudy Lundgren
> 85 PT 40 -- The CatbirdSeat
> currently in Deming,NM
>
TRUDY:
Economically, I would guess that solar panels are a long term payback
investment. With the genny out in the booneys, all u need to do is
crank up the genny for a bit to recharge your batteries. But on the
other hand, solar panels are nice to have in the boonis. Nice to play
the stereo all day for "free."
While I do not have solar panels on my BIRD yet, I have two panels on
my BRANDX motorhome in Australia and have enjoyed them for over five
years while in the "bush."

I have a 75 watt BP and a 64 watt "unisolar made in Michigan...I like
the unisolar as it works in the shade......If I could do it over, BOTH
would be unisolar 64 watts.
I bought a regulator here last year and carried it to my BIRD in Vegas
and will probably put a panel or two on my Bird one of these days.
Bottom line, the solar is more of a convienient option rather than an
economical short term benefit.LOL
Hank Hannigan
90SP36 (stored in Vegas for a few more month)

[Mike Hohnstein]

Silly me, I assumed that any one using solar panels would be adding a
significant house bank and an inverter/charger.
Any one thinking of dry camping with out such upgrades will be disappointed. My
slant on panels is to trickle the house bank and keep it up, one of my rigs has
8 golf cart 6vs. Three used panels keep them at 100% during down periods, only
good for 10 amp charge but it keeps them up with out being plugged in.
Dry camping requires 2 to 3 hours of gen set use daily if the AC isn't required.
Assuming the house bank has been upgraded. A minimum IMO would be 4 6v, I like
AGMs. Pricey but they don't leak. The key to dry camping is don't use any
electricity. Tents, camp fires come to mind.
Mike Hohnstein
Germantown, WI
83FC35
----- Original Message -----
From: fwernlein
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, March 03, 2006 3:38 PM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Solar Panels


Trudy, check files section for a solar install summary for an FC. My
goals were just to balance the "normal base current draw" designed
into the BB that drains the batteries down over 2+ days. Your stated
goal of running the H20 heater is not going to be practical in my
opinion due to the amp demand vs. supply capability of a roof mounted
solar system. Your talking about "living solar" and that is likely
not practical from even a multi-panel system mounted on the roof of an
RV. If you visit some solar internet sites, they can explain the
capability of solar systems and also the limitations.

The advice from the other members is exactly on target for your stated
electric needs...you would get the best results and value from your
present setup by running the gen-set. IMO...A solar system won't take
you there.

frank
85FC33
woodbridge, va....and colorado this summer! we hope!

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "1985 PT40" wrote:
>
> Are any of you using solar panels on your Birds? Since they suck
> up a lot of juice, how practical is solar power ((elec. water heater
> specifically)?
>
> We will be spending the summer working in the Rocky
> Mountains without electricity and do not want to be totally
> dependent on the genset.
>
> Any sugestions?
>
> Trudy Lundgren
> 85 PT 40 -- The CatbirdSeat
> currently in Deming,NM
>






SPONSORED LINKS Recreational vehicles Wanderlodge Automotive maintenance
Recreational vehicle dealer Used recreational vehicles Automotive
radiators


------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS

a.. Visit your group "WanderlodgeForum" on the web.

b.. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
WanderlodgeForum-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

c.. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.


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