Date:         Thu, 8 May 2008 07:17:33 -0700
Reply-To:     Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
Subject:      Solar Power:  A couple of ideas
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252"

  We've used solar almost exclusively for extended camping.  For years of
extended winter Baja beach trips we had just a small single panel (about
16X32") that plugged directly into the coach battery system of our Alaskan
camper.  Given our fairly frequent trips to town to resupply  that simple
direct controller-less power supply usually kept up with our lighting, water
pump, fridge fan and heater fan needs.
  Recently we began camping with a travel trailer and the vanagon, leaving
the trailer in place for long periods.  We bought another larger solar
panel, one with a charge controller thingy bonded right onto the back of the
panel.  This panel (it is stored for the summer down in the travel trailer,
so I can't give specifics) is about 3.5' square.  It supplied us with very
adequate power all winter (in the southwest desert)   We had a single deep
cycle trailer battery from Pep Boys in the trailer.  Our electrical needs
were the water pump, radio and lights, the forced air heater and the
autolight refridge. I sometimes use an inverter to charge up cordless tool
batteries and the laptop(s)  Only during rare extended cloudy periods did we
ever get low on power.

  The smaller panel has about 16' of extension/lamp cord with a two prong
marine plug.  The other end of this plug is in the side of the van near the
other Westy-type portals on the drivers side.  West Marine makes a neat
little stainless and brass plug with an attach rubber cap.  I coil up the
cord in the recessed back of the panel for travel.
    The larger panel is made to be 'self-enclosing'.  It has a light plywood
"case" to protect and to stand the panel like a sidewalk signboard for
collecting the rays.  Mine is 1/4" ply sides with 3/4" pine around the
perimeter.  You build a case just slightly larger then the perimeter of the
panel.  You attach the two halves of the case together with a piano hinge
and  opposite that hinge, you attach the case to the panel with another
piano hinge.   If you "unfold" the whole deal, it would lay flat, in three
panels...the solar panel attached to the 'case" then the other half of the
case attached.  I coil the cord into the back of the panel (it is recessed
with the charge-controller bonded onto the back)  and fold up the whole case
for storage and travel.  It has a latch system and a handy carrying handle.
When 'deployed'  it's easy to unlatch the 'case' and open it, making it into
like a sidewalk signboard triangle..one side of the case on the ground, one
side away from the sun and the solar panel facing the sun.  Very handy and
keeps the panel protected during travel or storage.
  Anyone who still  'camps' with a noisy smelly cantankerous generator for
electrical power is being a 'poor citizen'.   It is pretty selfish to assume
that others won't hear your generator when you are all out in a quiet remote
area.  Solar power is quiet and almost eminence free (you have to wipe off
the panel sometimes).
  Don Hanson