Hi Folks. I've just started a bit of research on solar panels. I will be in Alaska this year...camping in Denali at Tek...looks to be beautiful surroundings, but no facilities. I will be there for 5 days. I do not want to use a generator.
I am wondering what the experience has been with solar panels. Certainly planning to decrease my power consumption (no microwave, TV or any other non-essential), even with that, my battery will not last the whole 5 days. The GoPower! solar kits look promising...but is any of this stuff as good as the adverts?
The "freedom" you're looking for has a price! Two, actually; the first is $$$, the second is proper setup and care of the entire system.
Suggest you Google and read, "The 12 Volt Side of Life." A visit to rvsolarelectric.com, or any other other sites, will let you give you all the background you need, and download the worksheet and figure out YOUR needs........YEAH! Of course they work! Just depends on your needs, pocketbook, and whether you set the system up for your needs........been using mine for 13 years now without any limitations or complaints----BASED ON MY NEEDS, and cared for properly!
FWIW: My investment payback for panels, batteries, controller, and breakers works out to an annual cost of less than $100!
Just do YOUR homework----if you aren't gonna' bother to KNOW the system, set it up correctly, and CARE FOR YOUR BATTERIES, you won't be happy with it!
Food for thought....
J
I think you at least need to check out the Honda EU1000 generator before you decide generators are bad. The problem with solar is that its terribly expensive and unreliable. Five cloudy days in Alaska and you wont have any power. The sun also sits low in the sky and you will have to keep moving the panel around or have several panels to get a decent charge on the batteries. The Honda EU1000 if new is pretty quiet and it uses very little fuel. Solar is used by winter snowbirds who have one or two panels typically or full time RVers who have three to six panels and are off the grid. The cost for Solar $1000-$4000. A slightly used Honda 1000 could be $500. There are obviously some cheap generators in the $150 range or less but the noise might be an issue. If you really want to go cheap and your power needs are small then upgrade your batteries and run two golf cart 6-volt. You can discharge them pretty deep and the will probably go five days.
I agree with what I think the previous posts say - that solar is not the way to go. You will need to spend around $1,000 for a solar system that might work if you get enough sun. A Honda EU1000 will be less expensive and will work even under trees and in the rain.
A good battery power system has three components: batteries, charger, and a source of power to run the charger. The part that is often overlooked is the battery charger. To recharge in the shortest time and best efficiency it should be a 3-stage charger with enough capacity to deliver an initial charge current that is 20% of your battery capacity. That means for a 200 amp-hour battery set it should produce 40 amps. A good converter/ charger like the Progressive Dynamics 9145 with optional Charge Wizard will do that. The inexpensive converters that manufacturers give you will not.
Using a Gr29 battery we can easily go 5 days. Interior lighting is LED and furnace is only turned on in the morning to take off the chill. That being said, we went with the Honda 2000i because DW likes to bake in the micro/convection oven when boondocking.
kathygibson.....keep one thing in mind when doing your research......no matter how you charge, having reasonably good batteries to begin with, and knowing the condition of your batteries, is the key to long life.....most RV OEM battery monitors are not nearly accurate enough to do that....
Even though I'm very happy with my solar setup---my panels are not permanently mounted, and can easily be set up in the sun----but, there is also a learning curve----if this is one-time need, I'd go the genny route....Proper sizing of solar panels and batteries for your needs should take into account where you're gonna' operate---cloud cover does matter---my batteries and panels are sized correctly, and I can go about two weeks before I NEED sun....but that's MY NEED!
I agree with your not caring for running a genny....and carrying enough fuel to get off the beaten path for an extended stay can be an issue for some, as well....but, you can siphon additional fuel from the TV quite easily if you need to.....
I think the obvious question with your plans is, do you need ANY other charging system PERMANENTLY? If not, I'd look at the possibility of borrowing or renting a reasonably quiet genset....you want to enjoy your stay in AK---not fool with charging batteries! You might even bite the bullet and buy that H-EU1000 for the trip----and sell it when you return if you don't want/need it any longer......I doubt you'd lose much on the deal.......certainly nowhere near the cost of moving up to solar.....
J
you can get a suitcase quiet generator for one trip use for about $99...
add to you battery bank another couple of hundred dollars, and be done with it. no need to worry about the sun that may be in short supply...
everyone is going to push the Honda, they are one of the best, but do you need the best money can buy... based on what I read, I doubt it...
Love my mass produced, entry level, built by Lazy American Workers, Hornet
Thanks everyone for the knowledgeable advice. I will check out both options....I am worried about the amount of rain in Alaska on average that time of year...all that money and still no power would be a real bummer.
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