Solar Install, Worth it?

[dznf0g]

One too many zeros? $10/watt, installed sounds about right. Raw panels are as low as <$2/watt - $3/watt. (some have minimum purchase numbers)

[dznf0g]

My portable unit was $4.38/watt, with controller and case. Albeit, not the highest quality controller.

[KJRitchie]

Solar doesn't get complicated until you add the inverter because you want to run microwaves, hair dryers, hot plates, large TVs, DVD player, margarita machine. Then you have to think about more battery capacity and the solar panels to support them. If you want to get by on just lights, a fantasic fan and a little propane furnace then a portable panel should work fine.

Most 23 to 28" LED TVs pull around 45 watts so a small portable inverter plugged into the TV 12v socket will work.

Kelvin

[kscherzi]

Solar Install, Worth it?

Yes, if you mostly camp without hookups, and for longer than three days.

1. Batteries always at 100% charge in storage yard, so always ready to go camping.
2. Freedom to have nearly unlimited power knowing (if camped in a sunny spot) batteries will recharge again tomorrow.
3. Solar does a great job recharging batteries while driving.
4. One less thing to worry about. Water, and gray/black tanks are issues enough.

[Ray Eklund]

Yep... it is $10 a watt. Quote from a dealer was $1500 for 150 watts. Sorry. Misplacing a ZERO can also affect what you will owe in Income Taxes, too.

Look at it this way... everyone thought they got a heck of a good deal after figuring that one out. Thanks. Probably the first mistake for the year, or third.

[chaseav]

Originally Posted by kscherzi

Solar Install, Worth it?

Yes, if you mostly camp without hookups, and for longer than three days.

1. Batteries always at 100% charge in storage yard, so always ready to go camping.
2. Freedom to have nearly unlimited power knowing (if camped in a sunny spot) batteries will recharge again tomorrow.
3. Solar does a great job recharging batteries while driving.
4. One less thing to worry about. Water, and gray/black tanks are issues enough.

Yep, these are REALLY good reasons.

My game plan is going to be to wait till the end of the first year of ownership to see how we really use it. Leaning towards "why the heck not" and "bah, it's just money!"

[AnnArborBob]

Originally Posted by chaseav

Yep, these are REALLY good reasons.

My game plan is going to be to wait till the end of the first year of ownership to see how we really use it. Leaning towards "why the heck not" and "bah, it's just money!"

That's a good strategy with all your "good upgrade ideas!" Like in war, few plans survive first contact.

[sailorii]

There are many parallels between Airstreaming and sailing. Most sailboats under 40' do not have generators installed because of space constraints.

After many years of sailing, my conclusion was that solar the worst, i.e. expensive and inefficient. Wind generation was a little better(especially if you were anchored in open, wind swept anchorages). The best supplement to the propulsion engine's electrical generation was the small Honda generators. And, of course, boaters would always have better, more consistent exposure to the sun.

A tiny, solar set up just to maintain batteries might make sense. IMHO, solar for our Airstreams just does not make economic or practical sense.

[rmkrum]

We have an AM Solar aftermarket setup on ours, and it is wonderful for charging batteries on the road, keeping fans running when we leave the dogs in a parking lot in cool weather, and properly charging batteries when stored. IMHO the AS prewire and 50-some watt factory solar is pointless. Ours is about 150 watts and will keep our fans running in the desert heat for days. I don't really want to carry a generator...


Sent from my pocket Internet using Airstream Forums

[chaseav]

Originally Posted by sailorii

There are many parallels between Airstreaming and sailing.

It was a CLOSE decision to buy the Airstream instead of a sailboat. I currently enjoy a 10ft Sunfish on the small lake I live on that surprisingly satisfies my need to sail... mostly because there is only room for myself and a cigar on board. But also because it's 30 ft from my house.

[Len n Jeanne]

No solar panels on Bambi the Second.... yet. I am wondering if some of you can say more about the roof mount vs. portable panels. Do those of you with portable panels lock them when you're off-site (as we do with our generator)? Can you normally move them enough to make them functional in a wooded campsite? Any issues with breakage when traveling on bumpy roads?

Since we don't run or even bring most electrical appliances anyway, we've been able to nurse our batteries along for several days. We also travel with a battery tester and a battery recharger. The kicker for battery use does seem to be the fridge and furnace fans. However, we freeze blue gel cold pacs at night, then put them in the fridge with the food, picnic-cooler style, during the day, then refreeze them again at night. This system has worked really well, and during the day when we're out and about, we can save batteries by simply turning off the main switch. We keep the furnace at a low temp at night when we have to use it.

We just bought a pocket-size solar panel kit from REI, suitable for recharging cell phones and e-readers. (Kinda cute!) We have a portable inverter for recharging the laptop in the truck.

[sparkymark]

This is a 405 watt lay out on an Eddie Bauer 25', totally worth it, check out AM Solar-they are awesome...


Ford F-350 crew cab 4X4 diesel, 25' Jack Bauer edition AS

[kscherzi]

Originally Posted by Len n Jeanne

No solar panels on Bambi the Second.... yet. I am wondering if some of you can say more about the roof mount vs. portable panels.

It's true that roof mount can't always get the ideal sun coverage. Yet even in terrible conditions like heavy tree coverage I always got some amount of power. On my prior SOB I had portable panels. Problem is one must attend the panels during max solar time, roughly 10 am to 2pm to keep moving them to stay out of the shade. Pretty much wrecks the day. I can last about 3 days in solar darkness with fixed panels. After that I move to a sunny campsite.

[BAB]

...here's part of a 600W AM Solar package I installed on my new Classic this week. I can't imagine not having a solar system. Nothing neater than using the sun to charge batteries, especially if you want to go off the grid, and having the option has worked well for me. Yes, I do haul a 3000W generator for A/C, but flexibility with two ways (other than a campground) to charge batteries....well, for me that's what 'Streaming is all about.

[BAB]

..oops, forgot to attach photo.

[chaseav]

Anyone with a system installed know the weight it adds? No clue what one of these panels weighs but I bet it's not light!

[kscherzi]

14.5 lbs per 100 watt panel. I have four. Let's assume the entire 400 watt kit adds 100lbs including wire overall to the trailer.

[morgandc]

Put as many solar panels as you can fit on the roof.... it will be too much in the summer and not enough in the late fall/spring. If you want to go crazy, put in an inverter to run everything but the Air Conditioner. We love it

Also, upgrade your fantastic fans to the the ones that you can set the temp on and will auto close if it rains. The speed on the fan will vary as needed and it keeps the noise down. You can swap in the upgrade kit from inside, the only roof work is the rain sensor.

[Beach Bum]

Weight varies with the size and type of panels. We have 135W panels they are about 20lb each not a big deal. We also have an AM solar set up; 540W w/ 4 6V 300amp batteries. The batteries are 90lb each.

I get around 30 - 35 amp/hrs midday: clear day, no shade , panels not tilted. Get a total of 30+ amps in the bank on a really crappy day. YMMV

This spring will be in AZ and UT for 17 consecutive days with no hookups . We plan to move to the next location every 3-4 days dumping and refilling the tanks as we go. Don't think we will have problem. If we run amuck we can always hit a commercial CG for a night to charge up if we need to.

[chaseav]

Okay, so they ARE light! I'm running out of reasons not to do this.