Non Gi-hugey Trailer Links
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You can't be broke. You still have checks. The biggest dollar investment you will make in a similar system to mine is in the solar charging items. My entire system, both house and auxiliary, along with the controllers, was priced at $700 or so. I didn't keep the receipts. It was too painful. Initial investment in solar is very expensive per watt in comparison with other methods, such as a generator. Figure an average retail of 10 dollars per watt. With a 45 watt panel, that's $450 bucks. Add the charge controller. An average cheapy is around 70 Bucks. That's 520 bones for a stinking 45 watts. At home, that won't even light a light bulb. My 1000 watt generator price was $500. So, you see, in comparison, watt for dollar, solar doesn't seem that great a deal. But it is. After the initial investment, I incur no further COSTS. They are virtually maintenance free, they require no fueling, and they will last longer than I will be around this mortal place. Unless a truck runs over them, or a bear eats them, they will never require any repair, other than maybe reattaching wires. I can't damage them by hooking them up wrong, because I installed them so it would be impossible for me to do so. They also do not COST me a choice of location based on appropriateness of use. I have been in dry campgrounds that do not allow the use of generators, or at least some limit the time of day they can be used, but my panels have never been banned. Anywhere. COSTS of a genset are in refueling, oil, tune ups, cleaning, routine maintenance and repair, if needed. It is an engine, and engines eventually wear out. Most all the alternative items I listed were priced at under $300 total. In most cases, such as the lighting, the purchase price was actually less than what you would expect to pay for a standard fixture. No individual item or set was priced at over 20 bucks. Except in heating and cooling appliances. LED domes, all 4.. $20. The cold cathodes, $15 for the set of 2, El wire, $9 for the 6 foot string, 194 LED bulbs, $3 each. Hand water pump at sink, $20. Portable water pump and bottle, under $10. The single most expensive appliance was the Wave 3 heater at $150, but only because I got it from a friends husband who is an RV supply distributor. Normally, they are around $250. The Endless Breeze fan was $80. Coleman Cat heater, another $60. Everything else is standard household items that can be had at any dime store, or Wal Mart. The most expensive individual common item among these would have to be my sleeping bags at $35 each. I don't consider the house battery, because I would have it anyway. Same goes with the fridge and other standard appliances. Cooking utensils are also in this category. Same with auto wiring. The Aux batteries can be had for $30 each. "Fun" Toys. The cranky radio, $40, speaker set, $20. LED Dynamo crank flashlights, under $25 for the set. TV was $80 off eBay, DVD player, $90 from one of the faceless national electronics stores. Computer and internet. I had that anyway too. Would have them, trailer or no. Once again, I don't consider this price. Lets see, I don't have my calculator out. It looks like the entire *essential* system ran me under $1000. (I am not including the genset, it is not essential, nor are the Fun Toys) And most all the items will run virtually, forever. No more investment needed. I do not suffer with wanting anything. I have all the same stuff the big boys do, essential or frivolous, and in reality, have less work to do than them at set up and strike time. I'd say my value per watt... priceless. |