Solar Energy Reviews

Half his life ago, when my wife and I first got on the RV life taste for distance, we decided early on that solar energy has to be the way forward. Despite of rapid advances in solar technology – even at the time – many travelers were surprised when they learned of our RV was "solar energy".

Of course, that little house on wheels was getting on in years and was not yet a general belief among motorhomers caravans and solar power was "too expensive" and "too technical". But whatever their reasons, I'm here to tell you that solar-charged 12 volt battery power was then, and remains worthy of serious consideration – regardless of size or age of its travel platform.

In fact, even the most basic system – Like ours, it was then – not only provides an important impetus for self-sufficiency, but also saves enough money to recoup their investment in less than three months. Even today.

For example, a 30-watt, self-regulating solar panels cost about $ 280 to $ 350 here in Australia. If you then maintenance by a factor of no-show, deep cycle batteries for at least 75 ampere-hour – to be installed in the RV – perhaps $ 180, plus appropriate wiring, salable one battery box, plastic (vented to the outside), and various hardware for, say, $ 50 more, their total expenditure should not be well over $ 600.

After that, every night to use his power on board in a "no hook-ups camping, you stand for save between $ 15 and $ 25 in tourist park fees. Sometimes more. In these figures, the set-up pays for itself perhaps 30 nights or less!

Is true that normally sufficient power available from the standard battery of your vehicle towing on one or two nights, but the vehicle does not move for two or three days, the engine almost certainly need a race for an hour or more to "complete" for the battery charge. And with a single set of batteries of companies, provided There is a risk of over-use of energy, resulting in a flat battery!

On the other hand, if you prefer the security during the night and the company of a tourist park, a place without motor – the Nice, quiet places in the back – saves maybe $ 3 – $ 8 per night. This means that your investment may still be back in the bank within six months.

No matter how you look at solar energy was – and is – the way ahead. It's clean, efficient, quiet, and requires almost no maintenance. And once the initial outlay has been covered, the basic energy requirements thereafter are free.

However, there is a downside. (Is not there always?) A series of fixed solar panels – on the RV roof, for example – should receive the long rays of the sun and strong to adequately replenish battery charge. Parked too long in the shadow, or suffering through a long stretch of rain fills the heavens, you can call out a single cell – energy supply in two or three days, even with the judicious use. For that reason, some travelers have additional portable solar panel that can be constantly repositioned to sunbathe, most the direct rays for as long as possible.

However, in the four years that we had to go well traveled little I had very few problems. (But have always been "conventional" backup in the form of a small petrol generator, and our car has always been prepared dual battery Sharing the energy needs of the campsite.)

And as for the complicated technology? Well, if a techno-slouch like me can have all the installed system and running in less than two hours, nobody can! What we did was: (1) mount the solar panel directly to the RV roof (with carefully applied sealant in and around the screw holes), then (2) run the wiring down panel in the truck (through the corner of every season of the hatch) in a closet. Being a self-regulation a solar panel, a controller was needed between the panel and the battery, so that the cables are attached directly to the battery. The battery is in a sturdy tray storage of plastic with a tight-fitting lid, which also sealed with silicone. Two pieces of tubing of 6 mm plastic box ventilation to the outside through the caravan floor (inside the cabinet). Battery terminals were equipped with heavy duty extension straps that went through the side of the box to abroad to facilitate the normal connection via clamps, a portable 12-volt outlet, or sometimes a low-capacity inverter. All holes in the floor and the box batteries were completely sealed (both sides) with silicone sealant.

For maintenance, all that is needed is an occasional wipe down the solar panel, and an overview of cabling and stamps from time to time. I also put a multimeter on the terminals of the battery from time to time to see what the follow-up. (For Of course, this reading is accurate only after the battery "rested" for half an hour or so, ie without charge in or out.)

OK, we've learned more about solar energy, since then, so we did some things differently the second time. But these differences were essentially because our full-time travel needed now more than twice the power, with enough in reserve. So are scattered completely gizmos and gadgets. But when I think that the small drag, "that" anywhere "caravan with their most basic set, DIY solar energy in motion, yet get to feel warm and fuzzy. (Self-sufficiency in the Bush you will!)

With our money, solar energy and recreational vehicles are one for the other is impossible to imagine a wandering life, with none.

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