Re: Solar Panels Reply #25 – April 14, 2008, 07:11:44 pm Yahoo Message Number: 91468"We have one 85 watt panel... On overcast days, or when we are camped in the trees, we use more electricity than the solar panel can replace. But we also don't stay in one place more than a few days, so we know the batteries will recharge when we hit the road." Al, you obviously know your lifestyle and have reached a satisfactory solution. But as fuel prices rise, most RVers are traveling less often, driving shorter distances, and staying longer in one place. For the increasing number of folks who, unlike you, don't want to (or can't afford to!) move every few days, the strategy of operating at a net electricity loss day after day, while expecting to make it up on the road, is becoming less and less practical. In addition, as Larry Wade pointed out, the factory-supplied voltage gauge is seriously inaccurate as a measure of battery charge state (in fact, any voltage gauge is!), so unless you have a Link-10-type battery monitor, it's very difficult to know just how low your batteries are after a few days in the deep woods under cloudy skies. Since letting the house batteries drop to 50% or less repeatedly is a recipe for short lifespans, it pays to fully recharge them on a daily basis, rather than let them go downhill for days at a time.Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: Solar Panels Reply #26 – April 14, 2008, 07:15:59 pm Yahoo Message Number: 91470Quote I have noticed that many replies to the solar panel thread are concerned with fully recharging the house batteries every day with the solar panels. < jpw shortens Al's note. My contribution confirms his because for both of us, his conclusion holds ->QuoteOn overcast days, or when we are camped in the trees, we use more electricity than the solar panel can replace. But we also don't stay in one place more than a few days, so we know the batteries will recharge when we hit the road. When I was making the same decision as Linnea, I estimated like this:Following reposts from 2001 - numbers not guaranteed ;-) I've been happy with my LD-installed single a/o 2001.So here's the power balance facts as I know them, in rough numbers. Capacity of the coach batteries is slightly in excess of 200 amp-hours at 12 volts. Say 2500 watt-hours. As rule of thumb, I only want to discharge the batt's 50% before recharging. Standard 12-volt (13 inch) **2001** television draws 4 amps; satellite receiver about 0.4 amps, but at 110 volts. Total entertainment about 80 watts. Couple hours a day is about all the entertainment I can use, so I spent 160 watt-hours per day to chase away boredom. Other electrical service is roughly same usage per day (say 6 amps of light and 3 amps of furnace at 12 volts for 2 hours per day) total 200 more watt-hours per day. After three days at this rate - which is fairly profligate of power - the house batt's need a charge, so it's time to run the engine.Enter the solar panel: rated at 85 watts in full sun, it generates enough in 3 or 4 hours of sunshine to recover what I used the night before. If the sun only half-shines, I still break even. And if four days go by with no effective sunshine, it's time for me to start the truck and go someplace else! Make no mistake - your mileage *will* vary, and so will mine. But in my estimate, the LD options provide generous electricity without having to guard every erg.John
Re: Solar Panels Reply #27 – April 14, 2008, 08:01:36 pm Yahoo Message Number: 91474Hi Lorna, What made the Progressive Dynamic more advantageous than the 22B? Tks, Dennis
Re: Solar Panels Reply #28 – April 14, 2008, 09:07:27 pm Yahoo Message Number: 91478"What made the Progressive Dynamic more advantageous than the [HPV]22B?"I'm not Lorna, but I think I can answer that. It's an apples-and-oranges issue. The Heliotrope HPV-22B is a solar charge controller that regulates how DC from your solar panels charges your house batteries.The Progressive Dynamics unit that Lorna referred to is a converter/charger that regulates how 120VAC (from shore power or your generator) charges your house batteries. It replaces the Parallax 6345 or 7345 converter supplied by the factory. The advantages are that the PD converter can charge the batteries MUCH faster than the stock Parallax converter; and because it's a three-stage charger, it does so much more safely (for the batteries) and efficiently.Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: Solar Panels Reply #29 – April 14, 2008, 10:28:33 pm Yahoo Message Number: 91482I'd like to thank all of you for your extremely helpful information and opinions. I've decided on two factory-installed panels. The only negatives seem to be that they do not adjust and the possibility of running down the batteries during prolonged dry camping on overcast days. You've all convinced me a couple hundred watts is all I need.After combing through LD's option list, it looks like I'll also get the battery disconnect switch, Bilstein shocks and backup camera. And the "hardwood" dash.Andy, I actually own Farrow and Stoetzer's book, which along with about 20 other books on RVing is on my nightstand. All twice-read and earmarked with sticky notes. Well, this is becoming addictive. Time to get off the computer and on to discarding a lifetime of detritus. Thanks again everybody. I really appreciate the help.Linnea
Re: Solar Panels Reply #30 – April 15, 2008, 12:05:10 am Yahoo Message Number: 91490"I actually own Farrow and Stoetzer's book..." By the way, they owned a Lazy Daze before moving to larger rigs! One of our members now owns their former LD, and I've heard through the grapevine that Lou and Judy still miss its high quality. :-)"...along with about 20 other books on RVing... All twice-read and earmarked with sticky notes."Good for you! Lazy Daze attracts intelligent buyers who do their homework... that's probably why this group comes up with so many great ideas. :-)Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: Solar Panels Reply #31 – April 15, 2008, 10:38:48 am Yahoo Message Number: 91504QuoteI've decided on two factory-installed panels. The only negatives seem to be that they do not adjust and the possibility of running down the batteries during prolonged dry camping on overcast days. Remember, if you order new, or buy a recent model used LD, you'll also have a generator which can be run during those overcast days. I'm not sure when the generator became standard equipment in the LD, but there's a file on the Group's main page called "Changes Throughout the Year" (or something to that effect) that probably has that information.Linda Hylton http://map.datastormusers.com/user1.cfm?user=1167 http://earl-linda.blogspot.com/
Re: Solar Panels Reply #32 – April 15, 2008, 01:01:57 pm Yahoo Message Number: 91508On Apr 14, 2008, at 6:07 PM, Andy Baird wrote: Quote"What made the Progressive Dynamic more advantageous than the [HPV] 22B?"I'm not Lorna, but I think I can answer that. It's an apples-and-oranges issue. Thanks for clarifying Andy. You even helped me understand the PD converter a little better!!!Lorna Temecula
Re: Solar Panels Reply #33 – April 15, 2008, 04:41:15 pm Yahoo Message Number: 91516--- In lifewithalazydazerv@yahoogroups.com, linnea2009 <no_reply@...> wrote:<<I actually own Farrow and Stoetzer's book,>>And I own their former Lazy Daze! Ciao Baby has had famous owners!Tessa in TX'92 MB - Ciao Baby!
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