Solar Versus Generator

Mental note to self.....Get big fat long leads for remote location of panels (in sunny spot that is) that wont lose to much to volt drop!!!

Thanks Michelle

Pete

I have a honda eu10 Inverter generator and is quiet and yes it does need fuel BUT SO DOES YOUR SOLAR PANELS. IS there a palce with all sunny days.
My Eu10 Charges a battery and runs a 80l trailblaza fridge at freezer settings for 1o\0.5hrs on 2.2L of fuel.
Why not take both
John

Willem,

Only my second post and already atarget of your cynicism, I like it!!

You noticed the intentional taking the proverbial out of myself....we are going to be a very large target for the seasond traveller on the first legs of our trip.........." Look at those tossers with all the new gear. Do you think they know how to use it all? Oh oh,look at the arguement he just started with the Managing Director"....he he he

Willem, you sure seem to know your stuff....what do you truly believe to be the best option for a single source of backup power?

Peter,

A bit of tongue in cheek stuff.

I am however amazed that in these modern times we are so reliant on the very best that technology can dish up so as to be able to take all the comforts of urban living with us when we travel through the open spaces to get away from it all. Our argument is usually that SWMBO wants this and requires that and so we go out and buy those particular items. I spent a number of years on the road and commenced by carting too much gear around including a generator. The gennie was used primarily to run machinery for craft work and the fridge. I looked at buying solar panels but in the end they were beyond my financial means and it meant more gear to carry. I have settled in one place again now and try to get 3 or 4 camping trips in every year. I try to keep my camping as simple as possible but do have a fridge and all the modern toys such as GPS, Laptop,inverter, dual batterries, winch and so on.

After the first few days of camping, when we have devoured most of the contents of the fridge I turn the fridge off at night as there is no point in running it all of the time. I am one of the few 4x4 campers who do not require copious amounts of beer to keep my sanity and take none with me hence less refrigeration worries. I have a plastic bush shower but more likely than not I just have wash out of a bucket. For extended trips I carry more gear in the trailer for repairs such as soldering iron, battery drill, welding rods and mask, trolley jack, bullbag, nuts bolts screws etc plus extra fuel filters, sparkplugs and so on.

You will find that you will need a(or more) large solar panel to run whatever you need to run. Cost may come in to it but it is better to spend the right money to begin with and to get the best system for your requirements. Personally I detest running a gennie in the bush and always tend to camp away from others for that reason. If you are worried about back-up power for whatever reason then buy a small 350cc genset for peace of mind.

Enjoy the bush before they bulldoze it all.

Cheers,

Willem

Always going somewhere

Klaus

Can you let me know the anticpiated charge time of the deep cycle you run with the DC only Generator and if possible what you have found to be the most reliable brand of genny and battery?

Thanks Pete

Wim

Say I fully charge the deep cell before I leave mains power.....I run a 39 litre Engel for 12 hours on freeze on two overnight stops while on the road. I then hit the bush camp and first thing I set up is the solar panels (assume in late afternnon with two hours sunlight remaining) and hook up the fridge.....I then camp in the same spot for X days running the fridge from the deep cell only, with it being charged by the panels (all as per your set up). NO other accesories to be run off the deep cell

I can do the math though, how long would you expect in real life conditions to have enough power to run the engel on freeze, in the shade and in a transit bag without looking to top up the battery with a second charging source?

Also, how do you pack your solar cells for transport over tough terrain and 100's of kilometres of corrugations?

check out these web sites

http://www.airaus.com:8082/airaus/category.jsp?categoryID=91

and post 6259 is interesting.

Peter.. have a look at the Christie Gen. Set. They only charge 12v but do so very quickly. I have one and it puts out about 60amp/hour so my 2x 105amp deep cycly only have to be topped up for one hour every two days, not like the Hondaeu10 that has to run for hours to acheive the same result. I also have 2 x 80w panels and obviously don'tn have any power problems. Remember, without power the other half very quickly lose their sense of humour.Jack at sleep

Nobby....What panels do you run.....how do you have them packed for travel....I am going to do a google for a Christie Gen set..

Cheers Pete

Peter, I have the honda EDX (EXD?) 400, DC only generator. It puts out 30 Amp or 15 Amp at a lower noise setting. At the lower setting it sounds like a sewing machine. I sometimes run it on my boat on the fore deck, from inside the cabin - only 2 meters away - I know its running but it does not disturb conversation nor is annoying while having a nap.
I believe these are no longer on the market. the genny is fully regulated and by watching the Ampmeter drop back one can see when the battery is getting full.
Running the fridge in freeze mode will churn up heaps of battery juice unless you have a fridge with eutectic holding plates (Autofridge is one brand) Engels are more enconomical, powerwise, in refigerate mode.

You could also check out 'Wattagen' for DC only generators, do a google on these as well. Their smallest model (which a friend recently got) looks a bit too tiny, I would prefer the next size up.
Try to listen to the genny before you buy it. Some use just simple mufflers and no intake sound dampening.
Solar panels could be mounted securely on trailer tops or roof racks for travel, They are far too large and cumbersome to pack away inside the car. You need to wipe the dust off the panels for optimum efficiency.
Klaus

Peter,
Am sorry to read that you will have to pack and take the generator and fuel for it with you on your holiday, and then LEAVE THEM with the National Parks Officer in West Australia and Northern Territory, some areas refuse generators due to fire risk up north and then there is always the realy nice small area where there is someone already parked and you arrive with your generator and are 'advised' that they don't want you there ruining their holiday with the noise, tis amazing how quickly a generator stops working with some sugar poured into the tank during the dark of the night.

As was stated in the first few posts "you can't use generator's in National Parks" in either of those states.... and the vast ammount of National Parks will amaze you, seems like a total waste of time and money if you can't use a product that you have paid good money for in the first place, however tis your money......

My own choice is .......
Solar power, 2 x Deep cycle Gell batteries, isolated from the vehicle battery by a quality battery isolator.

Mount the Solar panel on the roof of your vehicle with a quality, easily removable, roof rack. With this combination you don't require a regulator, assuming that the fridge is permanently connected to the system the panel is replacing the power during the day, if you camp in a shady spot for a few days simply unclip the roof rack and place it back in the sun again with a long lead and a chain firmly attached at both ends, as panels tend to walk.

I have been touring Ozz since 1997 and using this system without power hassles.

Note:
I have not specified brand names as every man & his dog has a better one than I have, ask them.
If you require more detailed info ... size's, methods, pictures etc, just ask.

John,
sorry you are so angry about the generator subject....

I aggree that people who use generators in the proxcimity of other campers enjoying the tranquility of the bush are inconciderate and the hassle.

I was not referring to you personally in my post, because as you stated "you stay away from other campers" which I actually find is a bit of a pity that you can't camp and interreact with-in the general camping community only because you use a generator and you are 'nice' enough to respect other peoples desires to have a holiday in the solitude of the bush without the noise of a generator, so you stay away from them.

As for your desire to see my solar panel turned into dust, it won't happen, it has been down some rough roads in the Kimberley's including the Gibb River Road and still gives me 5+ a/h to recharge the duel 3 x battery system, which, thankfully is more than my fridge uses.

John,

I aggree that 'people' who use generators in the proxcimity of other campers who are enjoying the tranquility of the bush are inconciderate.

I was not referring to you personally in my post, because as you stated "you stay away from other campers" - which I actually find is a bit of a pity, that you can't camp with-in the general camping community only because you use a generator, and you are nice enough to respect other peoples desires to have a holiday in the solitude of the bush without the noise of your generator, so you stay away from them.

As for your desire to see my 80wt solar panel turned into dust, it won't happen, it has been down some rough roads in the Kimberley's including the Gibb River Road and still gives me 5+ a/h to recharge the duel 3 x battery system, which, thankfully is more than my fridge uses.