Date:         Wed, 8 Apr 2009 14:38:01 -0700
Reply-To:     Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: solar panels
In-Reply-To:  <2914A2BBC1DE424598CC0B4AD541C792@RobertPC>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

RE: Solar Panels Need Sunlight

 I think I detect a little tongue in cheek in Bobs post but the point is
well taken, solar panels don't work without Sunlight.  Don't work at night
under any conditions.  On the other side of the solar coin is the fact that
many of us that have installed solar panel setups spend some amount of time
where the Sun actually shines through a clear sky, especially when traveling
outside our native territories.
Although I live in the moss covered Puget Sound region (Seattle area) I
travel to Eastern Washington, North Eastern Oregon, Arizona, California,
etc.  In those locations I frequently have to put up with days and days of
boring Sun from dawn to dusk.  And so, if parked for more than a couple of
days without shore power, the solar panels get deployed.
BTW, I also carry a Honda 1000 generator, just in case.  Kind of a 'belt and
suspenders' setup.  Although I have to say that a friend of mine probably
gets more use out of the generator, running her espresso machine, than I do.
But the combination keeps my Westy batteries topped off and I worry little
about how much electric I use for lighting, laptops, chargers, etc.