Date:         Sun, 17 Jun 2007 08:23:18 -0700
Reply-To:     Michael Elliott <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Michael Elliott <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Solar panels for your Vanagon
Comments: To: RAlanen@AOL.COM
In-Reply-To:  <ccf.10746672.33a67459@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Frank Condelli typed:

>
> Mike,  thanks for this GOOD advice.  This is information I had not previously
>  thought about.  Where are you storing the 40' extension and how much space
> is taking up ?  AND, why 40' why not 50' or 100' ?
>

Hi Frank. 40', well, gee, I wish I had a rational answer. This is one of
those things that was probably a good idea at the time. I actually have
two cords, one 10', and one 30'. The thinking at the time was that this
would provide a choice of length depending on how far Mr Sun was shining
from the van. There are Powerpole connectors on both ends of both cords
so I can connect 'em as I wish, Powerpoles being what they call unsexed
or hermaphroditic connectors, i.e., they don't have males or females,
you can connect 'em however you wish as long as the red (+, in my setup)
plugs into the red, and the black (common) plugs into the black. Anyhoo,
while I usually find I use both cords for a full 40' run, I'm grateful
that it can be taken apart into two smaller cords for stowing because
the 6-gauge stuff is heavy. I coil the two cords up separately like fire
hose, then put them both into a Trader Joe's canvas shopping bag, and
pitch the whole deal under the rear bench seat.

The 6-gauge wire I use is similar to westmarine.com's p/n 290882, but
there's no way that it could actually be that wire, at more than $8 a
foot! Still, it looks just like it.

--
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
KG6RCR