Solar Power

[Ray]

Spirit, one thing to look at is how they attach to the trailer, does your trailer have enough room for 2 – 6 volts. They will take up a bigger foot print than your existing single 12 volt. You may have to make a modification to the storage tray.

A/H is Amp Hours, how much power the battery can store, and the more the better. But you have to weight that with price.

[Eddie & Aileen]

Hi Spirit, We went a diffrent way with (4)-group#31 12v. deep cycle batterys for a bank of 420ah. We use 120v power often because we live in our 5er full time. 6 volt batterys in series can be damaged with quick discharge that a inverter of 2000w. can do. I did leave room for (2)-6v. batterys (Trojan’s T105 6v. 225 Ah.). As for the solar panels size to fit your power usage and battery power storage. Try checking out bob’s info on this at http://handybobsolar.wordpress.com/. I’ve set mine up so I can add on when/if i wan’t to. Make sure the solar power wire from panel to batteries is not under sized (oversized is better).I found this info at Free Sun & Powers site- http://www.freesunpower.com/wire_calc.php The battery diffrence is the 220 has 20 more amp.houres than the 200.The bigger of the two is mostlikly hevery than the 200. Also I got some ideas from Northern Arozona wind & sun at  http://www.windsun.com/. Hope this helps.I’m learning as I go, so can you. Love the picture of your pup.

[Anonymous]

Hello Ray,

The batteries are kept in an external battery box, I think. I see a battery box on the hitch. For an extra? There is a compartment in the rear of the trailer but the key is missing (brother of deceased took the keys and lost them). I am thinking of drilling out the tiny tumbler so I can replace it and see what the 2’x2′ compartment door is for or if there is anything in it, such as set-up jacks.

The camper is no longer at my house, 1/2 hour away and the van radiator appears to have gotten worse so I have to wait and it is killing me. So much I want and need to do to it physically. I already loaded up with almost everything.

It was $20 more for the extra 20 Amp.  I am so lost but getting there. By the time I get back home I will be a wizz! And it is only because I have you all to help me, thank goodness.

[Anonymous]

Hello Eddie,

You sure gave me some homework. How long have you been living in your 5’vr? Let me know what you think about the info I shared. I can grab a true deep cycle 12 volt around $150. Someone has been using 10 true deep cycle 6 volt batteries to run their small home for 10 years and they have been having great success, Trojan’s. It states their story at the end of this info.

Here is the info I found and where I found it:
<h4 style=”text-align: center;”>True Deep Cycle Battery</h4>
<span style=”font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;”>These batteries are designed to provide a consistent 12 volt power for a longer period of time. They are definitely not designed to crank over an RV’s engine. They can be charged and discharged more often and last longer than either the Cranking or RV/Marine Batteries when it comes to powering the 12 volt accessories in an RV.</span>

<span style=”font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13.545454025268555px;”>Most RV Experts and RVers agree that 2 six volt </span>Deep Cycle Batteries <span style=”font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13.545454025268555px;”>hooked up in series will provide power for longer than 1 twelve volt Deep Cycle Battery. </span>

<span style=”font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13.545454025268555px;”><span style=”font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background-color: #eeeeee;”>Depending on the size and use of the RV some RVers have 4 Six Volt Deep Cycle Batteries hooked in parallel, that will theoretically provide this low level power for twice as long as 2 six Volt Deep Cycle Batteries hooked up in series. This is especially important if you are going to be doing a lot of boondocking (camping where electricity is not available).</span></span>

http://www.everything-about-rving.com/deep-cycle-batteries.html

[Eddie & Aileen]

Hi Spirit, We have been fulltiming for 5-years,somewhat forced/ but mostly because of our lifestyle. GC 6volt series is a good way to go for most set ups.We will inlarge our bank with 6v. series on later date (money dictates). GC 6volt batteries are verry good for 12volt equip. but not verry good for quick discharge on large inverters,thats wy I went to this setup. I’m not sure what your power usage/set-up is but the (2)-6v. setup your looking at will do you fine if you have room.

[Anonymous]

Hello Eddie,

I am not sure what I wish to do. I have been cleaning out and downsizing 2 homes, mostly donating since no one wishes to buy much today. I absolutely hate the area I live in. Can’t afford to buy a house in a different part of the state. So I may be a full-timer also. My trip to Washington and back will be a good experience and maybe give me a feel of which way to go. When I come back I have to go to D.C. and if I enjoyed myself enough then we, (since Kaiya doesn’t have any say in the matter), may head down to Tennessee before it becomes too cold and then I’ll shall see after that.

At this time I am 100% clueless to what my power usage will be and how I will wish to spend my days when we are not hiking and me playing with my camera.

Thanks for the help!

[Eddie & Aileen]

I understand the uncertainty of starting a new life of fulltiming,and it is not for all people. You will soon find out how much stuff you have,and soon after that you will find out how much stuff you really do not need.( this comes with time and many dumpsters down the road ) I would look at why you would become a full timer and what it will give to your life. We could never live any other way at this time in our lives,its a good way to find out just what your life is all about. Going fulltimer you find out how to orgnize stuff like never before,where water comes from,were power comes from,and where all that black-water stuff has to go.It both humbles and empowers you with your life.

As for the power usage,start with the number of 12volt appliances/lights ect. then check the amount you may use in watts in 120v with inverter. Start close to your size, then work up from there and put in room for improvement. Your solar panels could start from a single 100w set out in camp,or in PU truck bed like Cbreaze Ontheroad has.(just make sure to size the wire corectly)

And enjoy your self,happy freewheeling!

[Anonymous]

Hello Eddie,

I am a woodsie type of gal. I don’t mind being alone but can chatter up a storm just fine. When I backpack the only time I feel alone is at night and that bothers me, which is odd. I think it comes from the comfort of tv before going to sleep. I am looking for a sabbatical of sorts especially since my Sarcoidosis disease has decided to wake up. I refuse to live in doctor’s offices when nothing can be done.

I am sure I packed up stuff I don’t need and will donate. I don’t think I over did it though, except for my cooking spices.

I find out tomorrow night if my mechanic is going to total out my van. It all comes down to the radiator and how costly it will be to fix/replace. If so I am going to have to think of another way through this. I know where I can grab a 28′ RV but every tire needs replacing, $2,000. I don’t know what else it may need. Exhaust is being repaired. Getting a loan is not a wise option at this time. After planning this since November I’m near tears.

We have had up to 45mph gusts, rain with a cold front blowing in. Going to be a miserable 4 days, 2 rain.

You have been great. Hope you and Aileen have a great evening.

Spirit and Kaiya

[LolaandRush]

Been trying to find someone here in and around our area with knowledge of solar. Finally found a gentlman outside Charlottesville,VA. Which he’s only a little over two hrs. From us. They actually do a seminar on preppers with solar in it. He has 25 plus yrs experience and they sell all components. His name is Jeff Yago and there one website is dtisolar.com.

There’s a campground we have used at Gordonsville,VA and it’s only 25 mins from him. So we scheduled a seminar last sat in April and a weekend with BB and Sam(RV and truck). Hope to have a better understanding of what we need to install for our needs. I’m not wanting to install use portable solar. Stubborn but that’s what I want.

Just type in Jeff Yago on Google , it will pull him up.

[Anonymous]

Hello and Good Morning,

Ray has a lot of knowledge in this field and I just placed an order for my RV:
<h1 id=”itemTitle” class=”it-ttl”>200 Watt Solar Panel Starter Kit 200W 2pc 100W Watts Mono Off Grid 12V</h1>
I found it a bit cheaper on eBay than Amazon: http://www.ebay.com/itm/281061525755?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I will start with 2 panels for the summer but will have to upgrade to 4 for the winter and then I will decide next yr if I should have 6 since I am not sure if I will prefer colder and snowy winters or not and if so I will need the extra panels. I will also use brackets so I can swing my panels upwards during winter use when stationary. Ray has a lot of info on this site abt it. I know I can do most of the install myself but a 2nd hand with a little knowledge would be helpful.

Best of luck to you,

Spirit and Kaiya

The Wandering Nomadics

[Ray]

LolaandRush wrote:

Been trying to find someone here in and around our area with knowledge of solar. Finally found a gentlman outside Charlottesville,VA. Which he’s only a little over two hrs. From us. They actually do a seminar on preppers with solar in it. He has 25 plus yrs experience and they sell all components. His name is Jeff Yago and there one website is dtisolar.com. There’s a campground we have used at Gordonsville,VA and it’s only 25 mins from him. So we scheduled a seminar last sat in April and a weekend with BB and Sam(RV and truck). Hope to have a better understanding of what we need to install for our needs. I’m not wanting to install use portable solar. Stubborn but that’s what I want. Just type in Jeff Yago on Google , it will pull him up.

Sounds awesome, thanks for the link, let us know how it goes. Nothing like hearing it from an experienced person. I got to see Eddies wicked solar setup on a recent meetup and he explained the whole setup and how it works out for them. Learned a lot about the equipment he uses, the install and how it performs in the real world.

Our little 200watt system I recently installed did really well out there, The sun is getting higher and days longer. Neither of us fired a generator during the 4 days we boondocked together, and they run a lot of stuff.

I was able to go through his system it with him and we made a video detailing everything, will be posting it in the future.

[LolaandRush]

I can tell Eddie know what he is doing. Wow what a setup. I know what the object is but getting there can be confusing to me. All the fuses and things make me scratch my head. Hopefully after our visit later this months we will have a better grip on it.

[Richard]

Hi guys, Not sure if this will help , But most recently I ordered (2) separate solar kit’s from Amazon.com one came with (2) 175 watt panels control panel and power inverter 3000 watt 6000 watt max start up and the other one came with a wind generator 450 watt and (2) solar panels with control panel I combine the two systems into one unit and upgraded my battery bank from one battery to 4 . one of the control panels has a direct line for a 120 volt receptacle during day light hours and the wind generator is set up for night time use all and all I’m able to run everything off electric from battery’s except to cook that’s done on the gas cook top but could run an electric skillet if needed . Did the work my self it took me about a week to get all of it done but works great . I can even run the A.C. , TV , Refrigerator , water heater, and I have 2 computers … on it the AC has heat too. The whole system cost about 2000.00 and installed my self ….. I also switch my light system to led to conserve power they really are worth it … If your are interested in saving a lot of money on solar systems I suggest looking at Amazon.com they have all sorts of kits there for your choosing at a great deal savings …

[Author]

Posts