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Battery Charging ---------- > |
Alternative
Fixtures
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Easy Conservation and boosting methods
Remembering how it used to be...and realizing it wasn't actually bad!
Things your accountant (spousal unit) will want to know
Non Gi-hugey Trailer Links
Getting Juiced
I am sure you will all be totally stunned at my main choice of battery charging. (Insert sarcastic smiley face here!) You have three guesses and the first two don't count. No doubt, your guess is 12v Solar Panels.
Once your initial investment in you solar panels and charge controller is made, solar is a virtually free and endless source of 12v DC electrical energy. Even in overcast conditions, if you have sized your panels right, you should have no fear of getting enough juice into your battery to keep it charged daily. You may have "weaker" days than others, but my real life experience is that once my panels go out and get plugged in, I generally want for nothing when it comes to power for MY fixtures. Even in thunder and rain storms, and in the winter. In any condition or weather, I have never seen the array produce less than 14 volts.
Since I rarely use anything electrical during the day, the current draw is zip, and the juice gets into the battery for my evening use pretty much unmolested.
The longest I have run off the panels, with no other source of charge, is 12 days. It ended at 12, because I went home, not because my batteries were low. When I struck camp, I had 13.2 volts on the house battery. Full charge.
My System:
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Charging for the House Battery (Main source of battery power)
Charging for the aux batteries
Sometimes you will see me using 2 small 3.5 watt trickle charging panels with this aux system, bringing the whole thing to 22 watts. The little trickle chargers usually plug into the 12v outlets in the trailer on my house battery, and they stick to the inside of the window. They keep the battery topped off when parked. Car dealers love these things. They work great for just this purpose. I bring them out if I feel like it, but in reality, they bring very little to the party compared to the 15 watt panel. On overcast days, every little bit helps though. |
Now, what the heck am I talking about? Charge controllers? Main and Aux batteries? What is all this junk?
Briefly (Remember my non Geekazoid pledge?)
You need a charge controller for any system over 15 watts to prevent your battery from over charging. It regulates the voltage and current your battery "sees". Some panels, my main ones for example, can produce up to 22 volts in full sun. A controller is a needed device. It keeps your battery "seeing" 14.2 volts at the most.
Controllers also help keep the panels from sucking voltage back OUT of the battery at night. Most good solar panels have blocking diodes in them for this purpose too.
Controllers have no moving parts. You wire your panels to it, then you wire your battery to the regulated output side. Simple, if you can change your car battery, all the same technical skills are involved. PHD... Not required.
OK, Geek hat off (Though it was more like a visor)
House Battery System
With a 45 watt system, I can recharge daily and run my basics without fear. Lights are the thing that are used most often, but at night I can also run a small 12v flat panel TV, and a 12v DVD player, a small 12v powered speaker system AND charge my laptop. (yes, I have outdoor lights, and a radio. They are covered in the "Fun Toys" section) I have a water tank with an electric pump. I can do regular loads of dishes and general cleaning as well.
I also have them set up so I can plug in my smaller 15 watt panel in parallel with them to get 60 watts. This is handy during less than stellar weather conditions, or when the panels are partially shaded. (Shade will kill the panel output.. dead)
Auxiliary Battery System
I use a smaller amp hour and aux solar system that is independent of the house battery. It powers items I do not consider absolutely necessary, like my fantastic fan. It also gets used as a back up system for times when the house fails. I can plug small 12v lights into it, or any low draw item equipped with the correct plug.
These batteries are wired directly to standard 12v "ciggy" lighter sockets. There is no fuse panel, or permanently installed items wired to them.
I can get away with the smaller briefcase panel for charging them because they never have any high current draw items on them, so they do not deplete as fast as the house battery would. I have run my Endless Breeze fan for up to 3 days solid with them without a recharge.
Panel Positioning
In keeping with the non Geekazoid policy, I could tell you all about precision aiming, what angles to set the panels at based on what time of day and season of the year it is. But I won't.
In this case of potential extreme technical goo gah, the reality vs. the theory is ... "In the Ball Park" is all you need. You are charging an RV battery, not trying to keep the space shuttle in the night sky. Squeaking the last enth of a microvolt out of them is hardly worth the bother. For this application.
I have found that simply pointing them in the basic direction of the sun at about a 45 degree angle is more than adequate. I move mine throughout the day, because I can. But I don't set my watch and panic if the sun is a little to far over to the west at 2pm.. I simply adjust the panels if I happen to be near them to do so, or if I happen to think about it. Some people mount their panels on the roof of their rigs, never giving the option of repositioning and they do OK too. Either way seems good. Choose what suits you best!
The Walking Panel
As panels are relatively expensive, they will walk away if the wrong person has a hankering for them. Figure out how to lock them on a frame or other stationary and cumbersome item if you want them portable like mine. Mine get locked to my bumper with a kryptonite U lock through the frame. To be extra sure in an unfamiliar situation, I put them in the trailer when I can't watch them.
Yep, that reduces their exposure time. That's why I have back ups.
BACK UPS:
My car is wired with a charge line for the trailer. I always have the charge going while towing, but if I need a "quick" boost, I run the car while plugged into the pigtail for a short time. Now, this is not a real good way to charge, and it certainly uses your gas and may be tough on the car if done for hours on end, but I find it works in an emergency.
My gas generator. I have a 1000 watt Kippor brand smart and quiet generator. It gets used for battery charging in most cases, but is also capable of running a small cube heater in a cold emergency, or a small fridge. It will NOT run a microwave or AC. Since I have neither, my heart is not crushed.
It uses gas, and means I need to carry a gas can. It smells funky at times. It is a "super quiet" generator, but it still whirs when it runs. Certainly not dead silent. I haven't heard a genset that was yet. Not even a Honda.
Frankly, it has more running time on it from helping others whose batteries have died than it has charging my own. If I didn't need it at home, I would actually consider selling it. I just don't use it out in the wilds.
Plain old boring standard AC Charging
There IS a 110v power cord running from my trailer, and it gets plugged in when I have easy power available. (Remember, I am cheap, not stupid) Attached to it is a small car battery charger. 'Bout the size of a small paperback book, or a large pack of cigarettes. It is not a smart charger, I keep an eye on it, and have not boiled my battery.. yet. But since I am rarely plugged into 110, it is a small likelihood at best.
I have no converter. They are expensive and really make poor chargers. While plugged in, my 12v items run directly off my battery while it is constantly being charged. I just never saw the need for one. It adds weight and little benefit.. to me, anyway.
Don't get me wrong, if I have 110 available, I use it. I have 110v electrical outlets to run all kinds of 110v items. My cube heater will always get used over my propane one, and why not? I also like my incandescent lights, they are pleasant and soothing. My fridge runs well on 110. All these items have propane back ups, however.