Solar panels or not? -lw5315us February 14, 2001, 09:01:56 am Yahoo Message Number: 2015"I think the issue here is how much power do you require to live "comfortably". If you need the satelite TV, microwave, etc, then solar isn't going to work."Actually, we do have an AC/DC TV and VCP that we use occasionally, with no problem. Although no satellite, my investigations indicate the draw on an inverter is low, and my hope is that by the time we retire, recognition of the large RVing market will put some AC/DC receivers on the market.Actually, our alternator was 45 Amps, which was barely enough to run the lights at night. We replaced it with a 63 Amp when the bearing seized, and after some misdirected efforts with aftermarket rebuilts, we now have a GM rebuilt at 85 Amps that seems to fit the bill. Now, the stock belt routing is so poor that I am still in the market for a belt that can hold a high enough tension to not slip for a couple years.I am curious as to the details of your 6V battery location and compartment. Eventually I would like to go this route, and get our second battery off the rear bumper - and for that matter, our first one out of the engine compartment!Steve
Solar panels or not? Reply #1 – February 14, 2001, 01:32:14 pm Yahoo Message Number: 2018As mentioned before, the solar panels are great for keeping the batteries fully charged when storing the motorhome.My 30' IB came standard with the solar option and I questioned it since most of my camping is at full hookup sites. But now that I have it I wouldn't want to be without. Althought I wish that I could use my LD every weekend, the truth is that I can't. With the solar panels I have no worry about the charge on the batteries.The solar panels also provide an equalization mode (I believe that's the correct term) that keeps prolongs the service life of the batteries.In fact, here in FL, the solar panels even charge the batteries when I have the Sunbrella cover on.
Solar panels or not? Reply #2 – February 14, 2001, 01:32:14 pm Yahoo Message Number: 2019As mentioned before, the solar panels are great for keeping the batteries fully charged when storing the motorhome.My 30' IB came standard with the solar option and I questioned it since most of my camping is at full hookup sites. But now that I have it I wouldn't want to be without. Althought I wish that I could use my LD every weekend, the truth is that I can't. With the solar panels I have no worry about the charge on the batteries.The solar panels also provide an equalization mode (I believe that's the correct term) that keeps prolongs the service life of the batteries.In fact, here in FL, the solar panels even charge the batteries when I have the Sunbrella cover on.
Solar panels or not? -lw5315us Reply #3 – February 15, 2001, 12:42:24 pm Yahoo Message Number: 2035Steve, I was refering to those campers that seem to require every appliance they have at home in their MH and use them a lot. Some, like myself use a MH as a comfortable way of traveling to interesting places to get out and explore. Others live inside their MH most or all of the day. The power requirement of a full timer is going to be much greater than what you or I would use. This kind of camper really need hook ups. Most people are not aware how long it takes to charge a battery using a generator. I'm puzzled why small 12V generators are not more popular. I have used 5HP engines turning 12V alternators for battery charging. Fast, cheap and more effective than using 110VAC units. Better still with a 3 stage regulator. My LD has a 150 amp alternator and the belt is a problem. I change the belt every 1-2 years. One battery is located under the hood, driver side( very hard to get a bigger battery in). the other battery is in a plywood box behind the front barrel chair(front lounge). The box is airtight, well attached and vented to the outside. The battery sits in a plastic tray and is tied down. Much of the electrical has been replace on the battery circuits. I used all marine grade parts. All connections used crimped and soldered lugs. The battery isolator has been replaced with HD relays (No voltage drop). It has worked very well with the original batteries lasting 8 years before replacement. I'm sure the solar panel has helped with this. Now a question. Do you live in the SF Valley? I think I have seen your LD at Morro Bay.(battery on rear bumper)
Solar panels or not? -lw5315us Reply #4 – February 15, 2001, 12:42:24 pm Yahoo Message Number: 2036Steve, I was refering to those campers that seem to require every appliance they have at home in their MH and use them a lot. Some, like myself use a MH as a comfortable way of traveling to interesting places to get out and explore. Others live inside their MH most or all of the day. The power requirement of a full timer is going to be much greater than what you or I would use. This kind of camper really need hook ups. Most people are not aware how long it takes to charge a battery using a generator. I'm puzzled why small 12V generators are not more popular. I have used 5HP engines turning 12V alternators for battery charging. Fast, cheap and more effective than using 110VAC units. Better still with a 3 stage regulator. My LD has a 150 amp alternator and the belt is a problem. I change the belt every 1-2 years. One battery is located under the hood, driver side( very hard to get a bigger battery in). the other battery is in a plywood box behind the front barrel chair(front lounge). The box is airtight, well attached and vented to the outside. The battery sits in a plastic tray and is tied down. Much of the electrical has been replace on the battery circuits. I used all marine grade parts. All connections used crimped and soldered lugs. The battery isolator has been replaced with HD relays (No voltage drop). It has worked very well with the original batteries lasting 8 years before replacement. I'm sure the solar panel has helped with this. Now a question. Do you live in the SF Valley? I think I have seen your LD at Morro Bay.(battery on rear bumper)
Solar panels or not? -lw5315us Reply #5 – February 15, 2001, 01:02:11 pm Yahoo Message Number: 2037I've posted some pictures of my cordless battery charger development prototype. Look here: [url=http://www.lazydazeowners.com/[url=http://personal.bellsouth.net/~johngd/files/rv/cordless_battery_charger/The design goal for this project is a portable charger that will charge my house batteries (2 Group 27 deep discharge) from a full discharge in about an hour. For our normal pattern of use, it will require no more than 1/2 hours' running per day. Even our Crazy Canucks should be able to tolerate this. Weight as photographed is 55 lbs. An aluminum frame is in the works. That should cut 10 lbs off the weight. I'm posting these pictures in case someone else might be interested in this project.We gave it its first field test this weekend. Headed off to the mountains near Tellico Plains, TN and dry camped high enough to get ourselves snowed in. At the end of the first day, I cranked this little puppy up in 15 degree weather (on the second pull) and charged away. Charge was finished in a little over 30 minutes. Second day, I crank the thing, the engine hits two or three strokes and *PING* - cratered. More specifically, the cam timing belt broke, bending the valves, etc. I found metal in the oil at the 5 hour oil change so I wasn't really terribly surprised. We'll see how well Northern Tools/Honda honors their warranty tomorrow.As the picture shows, I'm using the Cruising Equipment/Heart Interface InCharge smart alternator controller along with the 185 amp Cadillac alternator converted to external regulation. This regulator works with significant manual intervention. There is no temperature compensation so the absorption voltage must be manually set to the battery ambient. And it does not measure the charge current so the absorption cycle is terminated strictly by elapsed time. The better method is to terminate the absorption at something like 10% of the initial absorption charge rate. I'll continue to use the InCharge so I can dry camp in luxury while I design a controller from scratch to do it my way :-)As configured, this unit is quieter than my Onan AJ generator in my MH. (not ready to post sound numbers yet) The engine itself is almost silent with no valve train noise at all. It had a bit of rod knock but I suspect that to be part of the mfring defect that caused it to crater. I have left room in the frame for an additional external muffler which will quell the only major source of noise, the exhaust. Honda was so nice as to leave a couple of mounting holes on the muffler for a spark arrestor that I can use. What's really nice is that once the regulator transitions from bulk to absorption charging, the engine can be throttled down from its normal 3600 RPM speed to as little as 2200 and still maintain full output. This is MUCH less annoying than the 3600 RPM sound. John -- John De Armond [url=http://www.lazydazeowners.com/[url=http://personal.bellsouth.net/~johngd/ Cleveland, occupied TN
Solar panels or not? -lw5315us Reply #6 – February 15, 2001, 01:44:35 pm Yahoo Message Number: 2039Very cool. Just what I asked for. The sound proofing is a must for campground use. You might want to look into a commercially available motor mount. Heater hose will not last . Find a McMaster-Carr catalogue to start. You could also cover some of the sides with sheet aluminum with sound dampening foam glued inside. There are materials designed to withstand the heat. Just make sure the cooling systems are able to "breath" effectively. How many amps will it put out when charging a deep discharged battery? Is a 4HP motor large enouth to utilize an alternator this big? A good idea that might make you some money if Northern Tool doesn't copy it.
Solar panels or not? -lw5315us Reply #7 – February 15, 2001, 01:48:55 pm Yahoo Message Number: 2040"Now a question. Do you live in the SF Valley? I think I have seen your LD at Morro Bay.(battery on rear bumper)"That's us! Are you the kayaking couple who transitioned from a van to a LD? If so, we missed you this last New Years there. We were there with some non LD friends. He is a canoer and refuses to step into a kayak - so we went Canoeing this time.I was hoping you'd found a place to put BOTH batteries. Oh well, guess I'll stick with the 12V ones for now. I'd rather do that than lose storage somewhere. I'm impressed you were able to get a tall 6V under the hood! Must be even worse for checking the electrolyte.Steve
Solar panels or not? -lw5315us Reply #8 – February 15, 2001, 01:50:03 pm Yahoo Message Number: 2041Please note that I copied this post from rec.outdoors.rv-travel. I have exchanged emails with John about it but it isn't my project. Contact John deArmond(aka Neon John) at about the project.
Solar panels or not? -lw5315us Reply #9 – February 15, 2001, 02:02:13 pm Yahoo Message Number: 2042You remember our beautifull orange 83.We are still carting the kayaks all over the place. Went to BC last summer. We missed Morro Bay at New Years but did go Thankgiving. We will go again at the beginning of April. The front battery is VERY difficult to install or remove. If I had to do it again, I would build a box behind the barrel chair big enough for 2 golf cart batteries . It will work if constructed correctly. Yours is a front lounge?
Solar panels or not? -lw5315us Reply #10 – February 15, 2001, 02:02:13 pm Yahoo Message Number: 2043You remember our beautifull orange 83.We are still carting the kayaks all over the place. Went to BC last summer. We missed Morro Bay at New Years but did go Thankgiving. We will go again at the beginning of April. The front battery is VERY difficult to install or remove. If I had to do it again, I would build a box behind the barrel chair big enough for 2 golf cart batteries . It will work if constructed correctly. Yours is a front lounge?
Solar panels or not? -lw5315us Reply #11 – February 15, 2001, 05:02:56 pm Yahoo Message Number: 2048"Yours is a front lounge?"Yes it is - now I'll have to pull out the measuring tape to check dimensions!BTW, our travelcade club will be meeting there later in April, if you want to join us.Steve
Solar panels or not? -lw5315us Reply #12 – February 15, 2001, 05:23:00 pm Yahoo Message Number: 2049Two golf cart batteries(T105/6V) mounted end to end will fit behind the seat. I have a tray that sits on top of the battery box for storage, This modification does make the seat stick out more but is doesn't bother us. Mock up something and see how you feel about it. Behind the rear barrel chair, I mounted the toolbox in a frame that secures it. These are good places as long as you build safely. Details on request.
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