Wednesday, Aug 06, 2008 at 07:50
Ozwasp, your statement that solar is too ineffective is a big rash (what I really mean is wrong). As Mainey says, only cheap / badly set up systems are ineffective.
We don't currently have solar, but soon will as, like you, we are currently in the process of getting a van. We have travelled for 4 to 6 moths a year for the last 3 years in a CT.
From our experience, observation and many long, detailed conversations with long term vanners:
- for independant
camping, you need both solar and a gennie / 3 stage charger
- most people rarely use their A/C on the gennie, but it can be handy when the temp outside gets into the high 30s / 40s.
- Many long term vanners with good solar systems can go for months without running their gennie
-As
well as not being able to use a gennie in NPs, to regularly rely on one for
bush camping near other people is asking for trouble. They can generate al lot of heat at times (and I don't mean from the gennie motor / exhaust)
We already have a 2KVA generator and will have the van set up with at least 3 x 130W solar panels and 3 x 100 to 120 AH AGM batteries. You could get away with a smaller system if you have a gas fridge - we won't.
Although a good solar system is not cheap, nor is fuel to run the gennie. You pay for the solar system once, but fuel is on the never never plan the cost never, never stops.
My view anyway.
Norm C
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