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Politics : Rat's Nest - Chronicles of Collapse
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To: Wharf Rat who wrote (3654)2/14/2006 1:49:20 PM
From: Clappy  Read Replies (3) of 24210
 
Photovoltaics can create independence

It is funny you sent me this one today.

This weekend I decided that I'm going to build
a solar powered deep cycle battery charger to
test out.

This summer I will spend a week in Yellowstone
using my pop-up camper. The campgrounds in the
park (except one) do not have utility hook-ups.
To provide power for lighting, the water pump,
and the propane furnace, it will require me to
recharge the large 12 volt battery once a day.
For that I have a small, quiet generator. However
I decided to test out my idea for a solar powered
charger.

I calculated approximately what I think my total
amp-hours will be per day and sized it to a solar
cell that is close to that rating given 6 hours of
sun per day. With ideal conditions it should fully
charge the battery each day.

However, if I am in a shaded campsite or if the
weather is less than perfect I'll probably be stuck
using the generator for part of the day to recharge.

I'm buying a 65 watt panel now and perhaps another
in a month or two if I fee it is needed. If I get
130 watts of PV panels it should enable a full
recharge even if there isn't full sun.

In addition to the panels I am buying a charge
controller that will prevent me from over-charging
the battery.

I realize that I won't recoup my investment in gas
savings. But at least I won't be hearing the generator,
polluting Ma-Nature, and if all goes well, maybe there
will be a market for these on Ebay or something...

-Clapper
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