tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post3594417297921603793..comments2024-03-11T03:11:57.221-04:00Comments on R Sanity RV Adventures: Solar, Or Not?Paul and Marti Dahlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332654035718777839noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-34588810454043785022012-04-20T19:13:16.177-04:002012-04-20T19:13:16.177-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.sbohttp://www.sbobet365.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-52593057572024495932012-04-20T18:28:09.354-04:002012-04-20T18:28:09.354-04:00I'm a self-professed 50A FHU princess. So, we&...I'm a self-professed 50A FHU princess. So, we've haven't even considered going solar. But, I can definitely see how it could appeal to some. <br /><br />The big money question we're considering is installing MCD shades. Now, for me, that's a no brainer! ;-)<br /><br />Different strokes for different folks!Paul and Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07236102580496167796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-53166655076047764242012-04-20T12:07:04.786-04:002012-04-20T12:07:04.786-04:00Anabelle is precious!!! She is so cute....we don&#...Anabelle is precious!!! She is so cute....we don't boon dock enough to warrant solar..so the generator works fine for us...Elainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13697546364119777641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-41008866338992495692012-04-20T11:04:32.651-04:002012-04-20T11:04:32.651-04:00I was just going to say but JB kinda said it alrea...I was just going to say but JB kinda said it already lol. We love to boondock. Hate RV parks so it was a very good investment for us. It works great and I don't even know that I don't have hookups. I really depends what your preference to tr is. its not for everybody<br /><br />We are also not full timers so that makes a difference as well I think.<br /><br />That Anabelle is just so stinking preciousBrenda Brownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-81420039363474761572012-04-20T10:28:55.760-04:002012-04-20T10:28:55.760-04:00Great topic Paul.
Like JB I would like to boondoc...Great topic Paul.<br /><br />Like JB I would like to boondock half or more of my time on the road. Like Syl and Nancy, I like it QUIET and don't care for generators. SO I'd love to have solar. Finances and weight may not permit a big set up. Looks like I'd better talk to JB to find out the facts.<br /><br />We've boondocked as much as 2 weeks and would love to have stayed where we were muchy<br />longer but were afraid we were damaging our batteries. The generator won't charge that last little bit no matter how long you run it. For that you need solar. And I hate the generator noise. I love natural places and don't want to hear engines. <br /><br />We have a small solar unit for that trickle charging purpose but haven't had a chance to try it out with the change in our plans. Still hoping "maybe next year". I do agree with Kevin that to boondock you really have to be willing to change your lifestyle and use much less water and electricity. Not a problem for me.Sherryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00328866430156879312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-13731360282465358032012-04-20T09:35:18.743-04:002012-04-20T09:35:18.743-04:00Good analysis Paul, we have the system you describ...Good analysis Paul, we have the system you describe and it is purely a convenience, never thought it would pay itself off, unless you consider sitting outside enjoying the outdoors without the hum of a generator payback. We do, but then we boondocked more than half of our time on the road.JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09016073653349776611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-21881974089989364412012-04-20T09:22:21.509-04:002012-04-20T09:22:21.509-04:00Good post and good comments too. It would be nice...Good post and good comments too. It would be nice to have a quiet way to keep the batteries charged but it sure is a lot of money. Our generator will suit us fine for quite a while.<br />SylGin and Sylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11849882478471352086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-41169014555927872532012-04-20T08:45:25.738-04:002012-04-20T08:45:25.738-04:00Solar is only worth it if you are willing to chang...Solar is only worth it if you are willing to change your lifestyle. <br /><br />To install that much capacity means you still want to live your life as though you are plugged in, and dry camping for extended periods of time isn't about that. It's about conservation, something most Americans (and Canadians) aren't willing to consider.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.travelwithkevinandruth.com" rel="nofollow">www.travelwithkevinandruth.com</a>Kevin Readhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05795747155781311686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-75296725867785593392012-04-20T08:31:14.675-04:002012-04-20T08:31:14.675-04:00Before we started fulltiming, we thought we may ne...Before we started fulltiming, we thought we may need/want solar, but now we realize it isn't something we need...at least not while we're in the east.Karen and Alhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15284661066870109259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-36266883456110769852012-04-20T08:26:48.919-04:002012-04-20T08:26:48.919-04:00I don't think it is about the cost. It is a l...I don't think it is about the cost. It is a lifestyle choice. Some folks really want to be "off the grid". We are not those folks :)Catherine, Jo Beth and Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06889362286725037937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-17011378791133562072012-04-20T08:10:46.075-04:002012-04-20T08:10:46.075-04:00We've talked about solar... been living in th...We've talked about solar... been living in this rig for 11+ years now... haven't found the need. We can boondock a week with no problem... but still have to go somewhere to dump and get water. Weight is a big factor as well... solar panels, extra batteries... all add weight and we're probably at our limit now. We have a 27' Lazy Daze... no slides, gasoline powered... and the generator (which has only about 200 hours on it all these years later) and batteries and propane fridge work for us. And isn't that what it's all about? Whatever works for you...The Odd Essayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17168404014947652773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-50679456651785383782012-04-20T07:01:45.644-04:002012-04-20T07:01:45.644-04:00We thought about it too, but the extra cost vs the...We thought about it too, but the extra cost vs the usefulness doesn't make sense to us now. Rather save up the money for emergencies at this point.owensontheroadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12076915620668491771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-804728788522139742012-04-20T06:53:08.957-04:002012-04-20T06:53:08.957-04:00Thanks for your analysis. We've been debating...Thanks for your analysis. We've been debating the same thing. For now, the decision is to stick to the generator if we need it and see what our travel style will be before we go ahead and plunk down a serious chunk of change.Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08333995679958103393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-31038172809946093352012-04-20T05:34:32.181-04:002012-04-20T05:34:32.181-04:00We have discussed solar options and as with you, i...We have discussed solar options and as with you, it is not in the plan right now. We will be east of the Mississippi most times, so not so many boondocking opportunities. Your generator analysis was very helpful!! But it would be nice to be able to dry camp without the the noise of the generator, but not for $4000;o))) You know the more time we spend out here in natural areas, the more noise really bothers us. Even the air conditioner and heater, though necessary, tend to annoy us;o( Thanks for good post!Nancy and Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12923426994795610528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-8416420694297231602012-04-20T01:30:52.486-04:002012-04-20T01:30:52.486-04:00If there's no practical reason to go with sola...If there's no practical reason to go with solar, then that's that. Mind you, practicality is a relative term. <br />Those who have taken the leap figure it has to do with the peacefulness of the whole experience. I wouldn't know. <br />I only dry camped at the race track with the cronies, and we'd run the generator a couple hours in the morning to charge things up (house batteries, cameras,phones) and to make toast. Those toasters like 110. Gotta have toast!<br />And that was it. Probably used maybe a couple bucks worth of gas?<br /><br />Loved the little sunshine...Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03523653271715366168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-60106227676165748512012-04-20T00:39:30.169-04:002012-04-20T00:39:30.169-04:00interesting thoughts on the 'haves and have no...interesting thoughts on the 'haves and have nots of solar power'!..$4000 is a ton of money that is for sure..good to weigh all the options before taking the plunge!Sue and Doughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11436889944386917688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-71240028271925454642012-04-20T00:19:30.097-04:002012-04-20T00:19:30.097-04:00"Plugging the electrical cord into the ground..."Plugging the electrical cord into the ground doesn’t work very well, for some strange reason, there is no juice available there. ;c)"<br /><br />Maybe if you had the right ground wire...Donna Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06161069942110860372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-18504595872295130202012-04-19T23:53:30.522-04:002012-04-19T23:53:30.522-04:00Put us on the side of not having solar because of ...Put us on the side of not having solar because of the cost and our lifestyle. It really would be nice to have but definitely not a necessity for us. And with your little sunshine, you don't need anything else.Jim and Sandiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16108729200561576870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-28374797548302558502012-04-19T23:29:04.968-04:002012-04-19T23:29:04.968-04:00We, too, have determined that we can't justify...We, too, have determined that we can't justify the cost of going solar. We are off the grid so infrequently that it just doesn't make financial sense.Gail Houlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04514395566282599562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-73237298348295367082012-04-19T23:06:40.820-04:002012-04-19T23:06:40.820-04:00Paul, the look on Annabelle's face leads me to...Paul, the look on Annabelle's face leads me to believe that she just read what you wrote above.John Hedgeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07775467781360772348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-87252083745739172262012-04-19T23:02:34.484-04:002012-04-19T23:02:34.484-04:00I love the pictures of your little sunshine. She ...I love the pictures of your little sunshine. She sure is getting to be a cutie.<br /><br />We've had the same solar debate over the last 3 years trying to justify the cost. Every time we debated we've not been able to justify the cost for our usage either. We do usually end up upgrading something to make boondocking easier. <br /><br />We've come to the conclusion it's not really the cost. There's just something about it. We don't have it yet. We do have a Honda 2000 that we run instead of our on-board generator. That little workhorse can get by on less than a gallon a day. We don't feel the need to upgrade the inverter. Most folks we know have an inverter less than the 3000k. If we needed the air conditioner, we could always turn on the generator or get of out that hot place.<br /><br />We have added a trimetric and we have added 6 six-volt batteries. We're thinking we may add the controller. Heck, we may even add the solar panels. Who knows what we might do. We certainly don't. Will solar pay for itself? Probably not for us. We'll just have to see. We are thinking .... maybe.Wanderin'https://www.blogger.com/profile/18099094689836499939noreply@blogger.com