SOLAR POWER

Whole house solar power is possible, but has several disadvantages: 1) It is very costly; and 2) It is fixed in place. One excellent alternative is to go solar with an RV solar installation. The economies of scale result in a substantial savings over whole house systems, and if forced to evacuate it is ready to go with you.

Going solar with an RV installation can provide full time electric power for many uses: lights, pumping water, radio and television reception, powering a computer, etc, all in 12 volt standard RV equipment. or in 110 volts through the inverter already present in the RV.

By connecting a large inverter to the RV "house" battery, 110 volt power is available...just make sure the extension cords are not too long to avoid line loss, or have too much draw for the inverter and/or battery. A 1000 watt inverter will provide sufficient 110 volt power for most small appliances for a limited amount of time, then the solar panel can recharge the battery. Remember, amps times volts equals watts, so a 9 amp motor at 110 volts will draw 990 watts, or about the maximum sustained use for a 1000 watt inverter.

As an example, let us assume you have a source of potable water (rain water in a barrel, whatever), and desire to transfer it to the house. A portable sump pump may be used, as they usually are only 1/4 horsepower, an "O" ring for connecting them to a rope, and a 3/4" garden hose male fitting for pumping the water out. A hose may be connected to a sump pump, which is connected to an inverter, lowered into the barrel, and water pumped into the RV's water storage tank. A standard drinking RV hose may be connected from the RV's water drain hose bib and to an external hose bib on the house (a double female connecter is required). Open both valves, turn on the RV's "on demand" water pump, and water will flow under pressure throughout the home, sinks will fill, toilets will flush...all the comforts of home even when the electricity goes out.

Perhaps the safest way to go solar for an RV is to purchase the entire kit: cables, connections, controls, mounting hardware, rugged solar panel (s), all designed and sized to work together. The photo above shows the "Solar Traveler" 64 watt RV kit from Real Goods (1-800-762-7325), priced at $629.00. If needed or desired, this kit may be expanded by 32 watts ($299.00), or 64 watts ($499.00). (These prices and availability are several years old.)

BACK