Jim,
Looks like I should consider a larger solar panel array for real world
output and consumption. I just finished replacing the kitchen light with a
Thinlight 12v flourescent in our coach. I really like their low power
consumption but worry about changing too much from the "1973 look". I have
flourescent lights for everything except the beam type reading lights. I
really would like to retain them and it would be so nice if a suitable led
system would use a similar mount so they could be retained. I would really
love to have a Honda 1K generator but they are very pricey. If you or
anyone has researched this I am sure alot of folks would be appreciative.
Thanks for the tip on the charger/convertor. I am all ears...err..eyes on
the water solution. Bear in mind that most camping will be done out West.
We have land in Oregon and plan to retire there in a couple years. Thanks!
..........Brian.........
1973 Safari
at 09:57 AM 4/20/01 -0400, you wrote:
>Brian,
> Nearly all of the "solar" sites have an AH chart similar to the one you
>found at RVSolar. Pick one and go with it.
>
>Before charting your usage, you need to actually measure the consumption
>of your various appliances and lights, then estimate how many hours/day
>each will operate. Your DVM, set on the 10-amp scale will work fine to
>measure the draw, just be very careful to run only one device at a time.
>Simply disconnect one of your main battery leads and connect the meter
>in series, then turn on each light, the pump, the furnace, your small
>inverter (both loaded and unloaded), etc., ONE AT A TIME, and record the
>number. Round to the nearest .1 amp, closer than that is not necessary.
>This will require no more than 30 minutes of your time, believe it or
>not, and you'll be WAY ahead of the folks who are guessing, discussing,
>rehashing, and so on.
>
>Put your numbers in your chart, just as shown in the examples on the Web
>sites.
>
>Now, put the AH output from your solar panel(s) in the chart. A 100-amp
>panel will have a peak output of slightly more than 5 amps, and you can
>expect to see that much for a maximum of 4 hours per day, plus half that
>for another 4 hours. That's a total of 30 AH/day. Although that's my
>estimate, it's actually pretty close to personal experience. Note that
>we're assuming sunny days, it'll be next to nothing on a dreary day.
>
>If you're exceeding 30 AH/day in usage, your battery has to make up the
>difference. But, let's put that into the chart also. Your 3 batteries
>will give you about 250 AH max, or 125 AH if you try to never draw them
>below 50% charge. Let's say that you're using 60 AH/day, giving you a 30
>AH/day deficit. You can still operate for 4 days before running your
>battery bank lower than is prudent, twice as long as without the solar
>panel. You might well look at your camping lifestyle and figure out that
>4 or 5 days is the maximum time you will spend away from shore power and
>realize that you're all set. Of course, an eMeter or equivilant will
>help you track usage and give you a real-time readout on the state of
>your batteries.
>
>You might consider adding a good 3-stage charger/converter to your
>setup, especially if you plan on being out for a long time and using
>your generator to charge the batteries. A regular converter will charge
>the batteries so slowly as to be almost useless in this situation, but a
>3-stage charger can put a very useful amount of juice into them in 4 or
>5 hours of run-time. The small 1000-watt Hondas with the inverters are
>very quiet and very fuel-efficient and should do the job nicely.
>
>We use about 30 AH/day, being wastrels next to Sherry, but frugal
>compared to many others. Our 2, 75-watt panels can easily provide that
>amount of power and more. The eMeter has proven out the system, showing
>the batteries as "full" by shortly after noon most days. The one thing
>that could hurt us is if we had to run the furnace very much and the
>days were dreary. The furnace draws over 4 amps and runs quite a bit, so
>it really contributes to the AH consumption. Our TV is tiny, but draws
>only 1 amp. The 9" TV that I'd kinda like to have draws 4 amps, so would
>add at least 9 AH/day to our usage if we watch it for 3 hours/day.
>That's nearly 1/3 more total than at present!
>
>It sounds to me like you're all set in the power department. If you're
>interested, I'll tell you about my solution for the water problem. :-)
>
> <<Jim>>
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