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Date:         Tue, 6 Aug 2002 15:33:42 -0500
Reply-To:     Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Solar panels and curtains
Comments: To: mtblackburn@QWEST.NET
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Totally weird tools category. When we attended formula races we used a standard alternator coupled to a Weed Eater engine to charge batteries, it charges at whatever your portable alternator regulator is, normally 15 amps. This resolved the problem of *no electricity* in the pit areas. Think its different now, the electric in the pit area I mean.

Stan

On Tue, 6 Aug 2002 14:15:03 -0600 Michael Blackbun <mtblackburn@QWEST.NET> writes: > I have set up solar panels on a couple vans now. You mentioned > setting up a > solar panel instead of getting a second battery. This really won't > solve > your problem and it is probably cheaper to get a dual battery setup > with a > charging relay to your alternator. > > The reason people put in second batteries is to have a deep cycle > battery > they can discharge, without fear of not being able to start the van. > If you > had just a solar panel charging the starting battery and you > discharged it > all the way, it would still take some time to recharge it... This > could > potentially leave you stranded for some time until the battery > recharged. > Also, with a standard battery if you fully discharge it several > times it is > generally trashed and won't take a charge again. > > One advantage of dual battery with a solar panel is there is no need > for a > battery isolator or relay. The solar panel batteries can be > totally > independant of the vehicle charging system. But, a solar panel can > be quite > expensive an 80 watt panel and charge controller cost around $600. > The > other route is much cheaper...a relay is only around $20 from > BusDepot, or > an isolator is something like $80 from surepower. > > I got my setup from RVSolar in Bend, OR. I am using two trojan > T-105 > batteries. They have a kit available for the Vanagon, so I decided > to go > with them and have a little support after the sale for a van > application. > There web site is http://www.rvsolar.com/vanagon.htm. If I were to > do it > again I would probably just buy the parts myself individually. The > "kit" > wasn't really made just for the vanagon and I had to do a > considerable > amount of customizing and the instructions they provided where for > an RV. I > ended up just making up the installation. It was nice to have all > the > components pre-sized for each other. > > Michael Blackburn > > 1990 Syncro Adventurewagen > > > > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On > Behalf Of > peter hargreave > Sent: Tuesday, August 06, 2002 1:07 PM > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > Subject: Solar panels and curtains > > > > Wondering whether anybody has setup a solar panel on there westy > instead > of hooking up a second battery - If so where did you get it - how > much was > it - difficult to install? > > Also I am wanting to install a curtain behind the front two seat > to use > instead of the front window button-up. Does anyone know where I > could find > one or do I need to build it myself. > > Thanks for the help, > > Peter Hargreave > > Long time admirer, first time owner - '85 Westy > > > > > > > >From: James B Robinson > > >Reply-To: James B Robinson > >To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > >Subject: Re: Revisiting the Catalytic Converter... > >Date: Tue, 6 Aug 2002 11:44:59 -0700 > > > >Your point here being that only the perfect may speak? Or perhaps > that if > >one cannot do everything one should do nothing? Or maybe you're > saying > that > >if you do some damage you may as well do a lot? > > > >Maybe you just feel defensive because you ripped all of that > enviro crap > >out of -your- Vanagon. > > > >Oh, and if I find somebody taking a dump in my back yard I don't > really > have > >to ask myself anything before I ask them to knock it off. > > > >On Tue, Aug 06, 2002 at 08:33:00AM -0700, kevin obrien wrote: > > > I didn't say I didn't want to preserve it....I was > > > implying that a person should ask himself/herself if > > > they are doing everything possible to limit the use of > > > our enviro-damaging Vans BEFORE they post a message > > > suggesting the measures another member should take. > > > > > > We love our Vanagons...but they are NOT the perfect > > > vehicle for enjoying the natural world...or preserving > > > it....catalytic converter or none. I think our feet > > > do alot less impact.... > > > > > > Kevin > > > >-- > >[ Jim Robinson -- System Administrator -- ratwerks.com ] > >I am a boomer. My generation looked nuclear annihilation > >in the eye and said "No thanks, I'd rather drive a BMW." > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- --- > -- > Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: Click Here >

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