A warning from the Brits.

[mikesim]

I found an interesting article about the transition to wind and solar in the UK. It was written by a British engineer who has a great deal of experience in the power generation field.

Britain’s green energy disaster should be an awful warning to Americans (msn.com)

Mike

 

[ARKNT]

I could see when looking at this stuff much there will be more questions than answers.

Arknt

 

[Coyote Chris]

Local solar seems to work very well for my friends that have it. I would like to see a report on the cradle to grave efficientcy of a wind turbine, right to the point of burying the blades. Solar pannels just keep getting better. A friend just brought a new travel trailer whose entire top is cells. They produce 380 watts that feed a lith ion battery . He brought it to Quigley and never had to run a generator.

 

[basketcase]

I have one solar panel on my small travel trailer. It basically powers the trickle charger that feeds to the 12v battery, as to run the 12v refrigerator and the (propane) furnace.

When we first got it I didn't quite have my head around the various pieces of the system (battery, inverter, and converter) so we would turn on the 12v fridge and marvel at how it cooled. Then I began to delve into the complexity of it because of the 30 amp hookup and how that interfaces with the 12v system when hooked up to shore power.

When hooked up to shore power, camping is all systems go and we never run out of hot water. When travelling it is nice because we can pull over at a rest area and have our own food and a restroom ready at hand. Boondocking, however, would require some creative power management to prevent over-draining the battery.

The big challenge I'm running into is the maintenance side. Basic electricity is not all that complicated by comparison, but add in the power routing and computerized aspects of integrating solar into a system and it gets complicated very quickly. The average person will be forced to call on a specialist anytime something goes wrong.

So the Brits are correct: solar is not the be all to end all, but it has it's uses for supplementing power needs for various applications.

 

[Coyote Chris]

I have one solar panel on my small travel trailer. It basically powers the trickle charger that feeds to the 12v battery, as to run the 12v refrigerator and the (propane) furnace.

When we first got it I didn't quite have my head around the various pieces of the system (battery, inverter, and converter) so we would turn on the 12v fridge and marvel at how it cooled. Then I began to delve into the complexity of it because of the 30 amp hookup and how that interfaces with the 12v system when hooked up to shore power.

When hooked up to shore power, camping is all systems go and we never run out of hot water. When travelling it is nice because we can pull over at a rest area and have our own food and a restroom ready at hand. Boondocking, however, would require some creative power management to prevent over-draining the battery.

The big challenge I'm running into is the maintenance side. Basic electricity is not all that complicated by comparison, but add in the power routing and computerized aspects of integrating solar into a system and it gets complicated very quickly. The average person will be forced to call on a specialist anytime something goes wrong.

So the Brits are correct: solar is not the be all to end all, but it has it's uses for supplementing power needs for various applications.

I agree but talking with an engineer who works/worked on a small solar home, tbings are moving fast. I am not smart like she is , but you can take the 30 amps from an RV roof and feed a big lithium battery and run an inverter OR interconnect the cells with synchronized micro inverters that are highly efficient or a combo there of. The next gen solar pannels and batteries will change the world.

 

[RedLdr1]

IMNSHO RV solar is currently grossly over complex and priced at the moment. I also have a basic solar system on our trailer. Nothing fancy just a Go Power system that keeps the battery charged in storage and keep our propane refrigerator working going down the road. To get to the level I could boon dock with full capabilities I'd need a bigger trailer with more roof space for panels. The 1,000 Watt inverter Forest River supplies is too small, for most appliances, and a very inefficient power pig to put it mildly. If I went "whole hog" the required batteries and associated electronics, would overload the recommended tongue weight of my trailer and also cost me significant storage space. I've seen some nice setups but the cost and size is currently not cost effective for my needs. Fortunately my F-150 has the 7.2Kw Pro Power so I carry a generator where ever we go.

Our trailer is a 2022 Forest River R-Pod RP-192.

 

[karl]

I95 is still closed due to the tanker of gasoline. I-95 collapse in Philadelphia: Closed roads, detours, SEPTA changes after bridge fire (inquirer.com)