Here is a small solar system for camping & kayak

Here is a small system good for camping, boating,

emergencies, or supplementing a house.



Using parts easily available from your local stores, you

can make a small solar power generator for $250 to

$300. Great for power failures and life outside the power

grid. Power your computer, modem, VCR, TV, cameras,

lights, or DC appliances anywhere you go Use in cabins,

boats

1. Buy yourself a small solar panel. For about $100 you  
 
should be able to get one rated at 12 volts or better p

(look for 16 volts) at an RV or marine supplies store. OR

REAL GOODS or EBAY

2. Buy yourself a battery. Get any size deep cycle 12

volt lead/acid or gel battery. You need the deep cycle

battery for continuous use. The kind in your car is a

cranking battery--just for starting an engine. Look for

bargains, it should cost about $50-60.

3. Get a battery box to put it in for $10. (This is good for

covering up the exposed terminals in case there are

children about.

4. Buy a 12 volt DC meter. Radio Shack has them for

about $25.

4. Buy a DC input. I like the DOUBLE inlet model which

you can find at a car parts store in the cigarette lighter

parts section for about $10. This is enough to power DC

appliances, and there are many commercially available,

like fans, one-pint water boilers, lights, hair dryers, baby

bottle warmers.
 
5. But if you want to run AC appliances, you will have to

invest in an inverter. This will convert the stored DC

power in the battery into AC power for most of your

household appliances. I bought a 110-120 volt 400 watt

inverter made by MOTOR TREND for $50. More powerful

inverters are available by mail. Count up the number of

watts you'll be using (e.g., a small color television(=60

watts) with a VCR(=22 watts), you'll need 82 watts).

6.I FOUND A BATTERY BOX AT SPORT MART FOR 35 $

7.FOR THE DO IT YOU SELF TYPE OF PERSON THIS IS

HOW YOU CAN BUILD YOUR OWN BOX

8. Use a drill to attach the meter and DC input to the top

of the box

9. Use insulated # 10 wire to attach the meter to the

wing nut terminals on the battery. Connect the negative

(-) pole first. Only handle one wire at a time. Connect the

DC inlet to the battery in the same way. Connect the

solar panel to the battery in the same way.
 
10. Close the lid ( use a bungee cord to keep it tight).

Put the solar panel in the sun. It takes 5-8 hours to

charge a dead battery; 1-3 hours to top off a weak one.

It will run radios, fans, and small wattage lights all

night, or give you about 5 hours of continuous use at

115 volt AC,   This system may be added on to with

larger panels, inverters, and batteries
 
11.  A pop-up circuit breaker may be added between the

positive terminal and the volt meter. Some of you will

want an amp meter as well. The panels I recommend

have built-in bypass diodes, but I recommend charge

controllers for people who have panels without diodes.

Another option is a voltage regulator, which is not

necessary for a system this small, but a larger system

would require one.

Think about it if you are camping & kayak fishing like i was at mendo
in you have kids you must all way have you cell phone charge all the time  also your vhf so she can stay in touch with you  if the bees come back while you are trying 2 fish also if you run rechargeable battery in  you ff in you are camping for a week or more what do you do bring all the battery you think you may need for you ff your vhf and cell phone also for folk that camp with kids what better way 2 get your kids down at night then with a family movie i ran a 9 in tv with dvd player at mendo off my solar power system at night for at least 6 hour the best thing about this type of solar system is you can track the sun all day also you can blow up MolBasser bed at will

GOTBAITGOFISH

p.s. have pic but can not post them i have try & try


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Sweet!

Thanks for posting this.  I really liked that system (and so did my back on my comfy aerobed that you helped me inflate!).

I am going to look into this for sure.

MolBasser

If someone is thinking about using solar to recharge anything, great!  I like the idea.  I suggest that when you start to plan you system, do a search on "photovoltaic panels" and shop the various retailers that show up.  Real goods is WAY over priced on their solar stuff.  Problem is the general public doesn't know about the vast numbers of places that sell solar panels and only really hear of the most expensive places that carry poor selection.  Never buy a panel at an RV place.  They don't deal in solar, they deal in RV's.  
  I've used solar in the past (14amps coming in from 6 panels on my roof into 4, 6 vdc golf cart batteries, powering a 500W inverter)
Save some money and shop for panels.  A nice source of places that sell solar can be found in Home Power magazine.  Home Power was on line, and may still be.  (Haven't checked in on it for a few months now, shame on me)
  Good luck...
Troy

Thanks for the description of how to create a mini solar power site, Troy.

As regards the pictures, there is a description in General Talk, third item down, on the process of getting pictures onto the BBS.

Pat

home power is still online.

MolBasser

I'm just waiting for flexible solar cells on a plastic, corrosion resistant, substrate and I'll epoxy them onto my front hatch cover to power my FF.  A few years ago a co-worker and I had a trolling motor running off a 2x4' panel, so I think a FF off a couple square feet aught to work except for early in the AM.

All batteries are not created equal, even deep-cycle marine batteries aren't that good for deep cycling, they go bad.  Batteries from golf-carts and especially electric forklifts are made for long life with regular deep discharges.  Soon hybrid car batteries will be easilly available, and the lithium-ion version aught to be excellent for solar-electric applications.

Thanks for the description on how to. I've been looking on line and boy

 there is allot of panels to choose from. It seems it might be cheaper to by

a 60 or 80 watt panel than to piece them together. or maybe I just need  

to look harder. But I'm going to set up my pop up trailer.  and thanks for

showing me your toys.

Mike

yes miyak you are right it is easy er 2 do that & that's all you would really need i use the small ones because they were free the reason i say check
out real good is because if there is a problem with the panel you just bring it back if you buy on line you have 2 ship it back at cost out of you pocket are you buying from a good source on line how is they return handle
you have 2 take all these thing in with a grain of salt when buying on line so take you time in fine what you want also think about what you want 2 run from your battery
i just went out in got myself a pop up trailer & of course i will be putting solar on it i will let you know how i build the system on my pop up
i have build a lot of battery back up system using boat battery never had a prob em i have post pic in the pic forum

quote]i just went out in got myself a pop up trailer What kind did you get?

promethean,
I've never looked into solar pannels before but I did find these flexible pannels on the real goods website:

http://www.realgoods.com/renew/shop/product.cfm/dp/1000/sd/1006/ts/5410182

Maybe these will fit your bill, not sure how resistant they would be.

The Uni-solar brand is what I have for my house.  These panels are (compared to other panels) are almost indestructible.   You can literally drive over them and they won't break.  Try this on any polycrystalline panel and you'll have glass powder.  Only minor issue I have with them, is there panels are larger in size than comparably sized other panels.  
  They work in low light conditions also (cloudy)  You can read more about them after  a search.
   Have fun setting up your new trailer!

hi guy sorry i have not got back about the solar system i have been so busy with kids the high demand of the job plus the honey  do list   then i go out in get my self a another project a 1976 coleman camper   well miyak  one good thing about it it will be you will learn alot about solar for your camper i have some things in mine for the solar one good thing about working for a solar company is you know how 2 build solar i have start stripping the camper the roof
floor walls oh did i say every thing well this is the the deal 2 guys i work with will help one is great with electric work he will be wiring the hole thing   all the electric work in  this thing wow the inverter work also but we will pull all the wire run new add more plugs inside & out also redo the water add tv ant plugs inside & out  new skylight
also redo the heat   all the wood Will be done buy another coworker
who is great with wood in return they get 2 use the camper   great guys i thank it  will work out with time of use
will be posting pic of this project

just 2 let you guys know iam building this camper just for
kayak fishing & camping mendo put a spell on me
   
what the purpose of life if you don't enjoy it
peace love in soul 2 all