Date:         Fri, 26 May 2000 12:04:43 -0500
Reply-To:     Chris Smith <chris.smith@AQUILA.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Chris Smith <chris.smith@AQUILA.COM>
Subject:      Re: batteries, power, wiring,...
Comments: To: Donna Cassano <pokeswagon@BLAZENET.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <392E95F3.D86BB0C4@blazenet.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

At 11:19 AM 5/26/00 -0400, Donna Cassano wrote:
>How about solar panels mounted in the luggage rack? Has anyone tried or
>dreamt of doing this?
>
>If this is a crazy question, just consider that it's Friday.  : ~ )


I've done it (sorta).  The best solution was to mount the panels on a board
with a pair of legs.  That way the van could be parked in the shade and the
panels can be parked in the sun.  Just remember that it takes a large
amount of panel surface area to equal even the load of a cd player (about 6
square feet using standard cheapie panels)

Be sure to isolate each panel from the common buss using a diode, and also
be sure to run the array into a solar charge controller (not a shunt!) that
is rated for the max array output..

Chris Smith