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Solar power for deer camp trailer.
#5629288
03/02/15 02:31 AM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,666
John Humbert
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Ok, who's attempted it, who's been succesful, all info appreciated.
What I am trying to determine if it is possible, with aux batteries of course, is it possible to run a typical trailer off solar panels?
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Re: Solar power for deer camp trailer.
[Re: John Humbert]
#5629301
03/02/15 02:34 AM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
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Obie Juan Kenobi
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Think it would be cheaper to use propane/butane for heating, refrigerator, stove, lighting, generator(if needed), etc. and you would get more consistent power/heat.
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?
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Re: Solar power for deer camp trailer.
[Re: John Humbert]
#5629318
03/02/15 02:40 AM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 21,271
SniperRAB
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I agree, I would assume between battery cost it would be easier to get a good generator.
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Re: Solar power for deer camp trailer.
[Re: John Humbert]
#5629332
03/02/15 02:45 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,319
Deans
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If you will be just running lights then solar will get you by. If you are wanting to run a/c, fridge etc then you will be better off with a generator.
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” ISAIAH 41:10
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Re: Solar power for deer camp trailer.
[Re: John Humbert]
#5629343
03/02/15 02:50 AM
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 5,043
jetdad
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I've looked at wind and solar for a small residential application. Neither is cost effective yet. Are you without any power at all? As STX says propane or butane are the most economical. I can't deal with the noise of a generator.
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Re: Solar power for deer camp trailer.
[Re: John Humbert]
#5629390
03/02/15 03:09 AM
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 110,804
dogcatcher
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We ran lights off of a solar panel and one deep cycle battery. The rest was propane for heat and an RV fridge. It worked okay, but it is a lot better now that we have electricity.
Combat Infantryman, the ultimate hunter where the prey shoots back. _____________"Illegitimus non carborundum est"_______________
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Re: Solar power for deer camp trailer.
[Re: John Humbert]
#5629513
03/02/15 04:06 AM
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 8,367
Dave Davidson
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Generators always seem to run out of fuel during he middle of the night.
Without a sense of urgency, nothing ever happens.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley, Rancher Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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Re: Solar power for deer camp trailer.
[Re: John Humbert]
#5629644
03/02/15 06:22 AM
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,013
thewrap
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For anything 12v you would be fine with solar, so your lights, furnace, water pump things like that will work. Depending on what batteries you are going to run you can install an inverter and be able to run some 120v fixtures it would just depend on how many amps they are gonna draw. Cost wise you are probably better off getting a generator, but it can be done with solar.
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Re: Solar power for deer camp trailer.
[Re: John Humbert]
#5629904
03/02/15 02:22 PM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,666
John Humbert
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Yes, yes - I know of other options. I'm looking at a place where there is no electric hookups. Running a generator 24/7 isn't going to work since I won't always be there - and they would be noisy when I am there.
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Re: Solar power for deer camp trailer.
[Re: John Humbert]
#5629913
03/02/15 02:24 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,592
redchevy
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Yes, yes - I know of other options. I'm looking at a place where there is no electric hookups. Running a generator 24/7 isn't going to work since I won't always be there - and they would be noisy when I am there. What do you need power for when your not there? They make very quiet generators.
It's hell eatin em live
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Re: Solar power for deer camp trailer.
[Re: redchevy]
#5630046
03/02/15 03:31 PM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 878
therock
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Sure need to know what you will want to be running full time and what to run when you are there.
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Re: Solar power for deer camp trailer.
[Re: John Humbert]
#5630353
03/02/15 06:18 PM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,666
John Humbert
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Well, I would like to be able to keep the fridge/freezer running so I don't have to clear stuff out. When I am there, would like to be able to run lights, sat TV/Internet. Ideally, would like to have the router running so I can use web-based security cams.
I realize that I might not be able to do everything I want - and will have to adjust plans accordingly. I am just exploring solar possibilities.
Also, I have a small place on the coast - with LOTS of unused roof space. Would like to explore possibilties of using solar there as well, to reduce or eliminate power costs.
I am seeing down the road, with some of the new Obama executive orders - that power/internet is fixing to get very expensive. We may see an increase of 30%-40% in rural areas in the next two years.
My GUESS is that solar is going to be larger pain than it is worth - but I want to know real numbers and have real information rather than guessing.
Don't want to be a position a couple of years from now saying "Dang, wish I would have done solar back in 2015".
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Re: Solar power for deer camp trailer.
[Re: John Humbert]
#5630366
03/02/15 06:28 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,612
BOBO the Clown
kind of a big deal
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kind of a big deal
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A lot of the overland guys do it.
They use solar and goal zero products.
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Re: Solar power for deer camp trailer.
[Re: John Humbert]
#5633675
03/04/15 03:21 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,453
dfwroadkill
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All of what you want to do can be done. Cost effective, no. But it can be done. I guess it is relative though.
It depends on how many quality panels and how much storage you are willing to purchase.
Before I had electricty, I was running everything off of solar except the A/C. The A/C uses a lot of power and it is a killer on start up. This was just a project thing I did to improve the quality of deer camp life at the time. I am not a generator fan either. Can't stand the noise of even the quiet ones at night, but I'll take it over being hot. Little things matter, like watching a football game without hearing a generator in the background. Man, I was living then.
The biggest issue you listed is running the freezer 24/7 while you are not there. That will take some juice.
There is tons of info on the net on how to design and build your own setup.
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Re: Solar power for deer camp trailer.
[Re: John Humbert]
#5634064
03/04/15 07:22 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 545
DustyWyoming
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You can do what you want, the big thing and expense is batteries, I had several solar set ups for some work locations, we used a small panel and a single deep cycle cell battery for each window A/C unit, it would only run the unit for a few hours in the evening but it was enough to cool the room off.
We also had 6 deep cycle batteries in a bank hooked to a inverter that plugged directly into a regular outlet to run the lights fridge and such, the fridge was left running all the time while people were there using the place but everything else was only on at night.
When the location was not being used all power was shut down. This seemed to work well for a place that was used infrequent. I doubt this was the best way of doing things but it worked.
I agree with the people that posted before on info, there are plenty of solar companies and info on web that can tell the requirements that you will need for what you want to run, then you can figure out where to get everything and how you want to install it to keep it in budget or do it in stages.
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Re: Solar power for deer camp trailer.
[Re: John Humbert]
#5635921
03/05/15 05:37 PM
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 446
Brother Phil
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Bird Dog
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I am new to this also. I bought a 45 watt solar kit from Harbor Freight for about $150.00. I also bought two 70 amp hour batteries and a 750 watt power inverter. I have not used this stuff yet. I have a friend that has an off-grid cabin. He has a propane tank for the fridge, stove, and a heater. Solar for the rest. No air conditioning. He said this works great for him. I don't really know much about this. There are some great videos on You Tube.
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Re: Solar power for deer camp trailer.
[Re: John Humbert]
#5636205
03/05/15 07:48 PM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,833
sparrish8
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I have a system on my cabin in montell and im very new to it but theres solar panels and these arent very big maybe 2 @2'x2' and it runs to an old truck tool box with 3 car batterys in it and some switchs to turn on the system and different channels. All our lights in the place run off this and the 12v water pump. Our heat is propane and if you want AC or fridge you need a generator. Now if you invested some more $ and bought some serious solar panels and industrial batterys im sure you could do more. I have property in Colorado and some people up there run their entire home (and i mean 3000 sq' homes) on solar but their whole roof is covered in panels.
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