Off Grid Electricity - A Minimalist Approach

[OTRA15]

Another similar recent recent thread FYI:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f161...ng-198420.html

FYI/FWIW

[CarterKraft]

It's great to be aware of your usage but after my recent experience with solar there isn't really a need to conserve...

That sounds really wasteful but the truth is the power is available anytime the sun is out, and allot of it, up to 30 amps with a 400w array.

While your battery amp/hours don't change you can easily run anything you could want (sans A/C, coffee pot, high amp inverter loads) without breaking a sweat and as along as it's decently sunny the following day completely refill with power to spare again the next day.

I got a kick from identifying all the "high" amperage devices in my trailer. The vent-a-hood lamp was an example, it's not LED and drawed a hair over an amp, I never realized that.

[smithcreek]

Originally Posted by CarterKraft

It's great to be aware of your usage but after my recent experience with solar there isn't really a need to conserve...

Geography and campsite layout play a big role. Other than the nice view, the picture is a pretty typical state campsite in the northeast. If my wife or I was around to chase the sunspot with the solar suitcase we were able to get about an hour or two of charging in the morning and some weak late day sun as it set over Killington Peak in the distance.

Like most of the campsites we stay at, rooftop solar would have been useless here, so conserving electricity is not an option, it's a requirement. As long as we get a couple hours of charging every other day we have no problem going indefinitely.

[NWGetaways]

Originally Posted by CarterKraft

It's great to be aware of your usage but after my recent experience with solar there isn't really a need to conserve...

That sounds really wasteful but the truth is the power is available anytime the sun is out, and allot of it, up to 30 amps with a 400w array.

While your battery amp/hours don't change you can easily run anything you could want (sans A/C, coffee pot, high amp inverter loads) without breaking a sweat and as along as it's decently sunny the following day completely refill with power to spare again the next day.

I got a kick from identifying all the "high" amperage devices in my trailer. The vent-a-hood lamp was an example, it's not LED and drawed a hair over an amp, I never realized that.

This revived thread was written long before I got some solar panels installed. I now have 250 watts on the roof and totally agree with this post. Unless I was spending a week in the shade the batteries are almost always sitting at or near 100%!

[leedav]

On this topic, a question about 6v batteries. It seems that two SRM-24's will provide 160 AH. Assuming that it's not good to go below 50%, let's say 80 usable. T-105's claim 225 AH, so simple arithmetic says 112 usable. What is the catch, besides initial cost?

[NoResults]

I think the catch is the weight of the batteries. Your 23 should be ok my 27 not so much. Dave

[leedav]

Originally Posted by NoResults

I think the catch is the weight of the batteries. Your 23 should be ok my 27 not so much. Dave

Right. The plates must be bigger

[CarterKraft]

Originally Posted by leedav

On this topic, a question about 6v batteries. It seems that two SRM-24's will provide 160 AH. Assuming that it's not good to go below 50%, let's say 80 usable. T-105's claim 225 AH, so simple arithmetic says 112 usable. What is the catch, besides initial cost?

And I personally believe there is no harm in going to 80% DOC on those T-105's. You will lose some charge cycles but it's worth it VS the cost of lithium or the added weight of more batteries.
If you are doing a 80% cycle every day as a fulltimer that's probably setting you up for failure so more Ah capacity would be needed.

[CarterKraft]

Originally Posted by NWGetaways

This revived thread was written long before I got some solar panels installed. I now have 250 watts on the roof and totally agree with this post. Unless I was spending a week in the shade the batteries are almost always sitting at or near 100%!

My apologizes I didn't even notice the age of the thread that makes all the sense now


Still good info you provided and a useful thread.

[farafield]

Originally Posted by smithcreek

Geography and campsite layout play a big role. Other than the nice view, the picture is a pretty typical state campsite in the northeast. If my wife or I was around to chase the sunspot with the solar suitcase we were able to get about an hour or two of charging in the morning and some weak late day sun as it set over Killington Peak in the distance.

Like most of the campsites we stay at, rooftop solar would have been useless here, so conserving electricity is not an option, it's a requirement. As long as we get a couple hours of charging every other day we have no problem going indefinitely.

Can I ask what the campground is with that great view of Killington? Is it Gifford Woods? Thx!