Any Greenies in the audience?
 

Being from VT, you might think that I would be a Greenie, but not so much. However, I would like to run a computer at the races, possibly a weather station and MAYBE a pager system. My trailer is not that large, and I really don't have room for a generator (no motor home), so I was wondering if the above could be powered with solar panels, either portable, or perhaps mounted to the roof of the trailer. If so, would this be cost effective? Could the battery already on board the trailer serve as the reserve capacity? We generally race during the daylight, anyway, and not when its raining, so I wouldn't think there would be much need for a lot of reserve. Anyone know about this stuff?

Thanks,

Greg

Re: Any Greenies in the audience?
 

Greg,

This may not be what you had in mind but this is what we use as backup power at the track. It will power the laptop, weather station and battery charger for the car.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Schumacher...erter/15140200

Sean

Re: Any Greenies in the audience?
 

A portable generator like a Honda 1000 or 2000 is much better, + a battery with a 5-10 amp charger and a small inverter. Run the generator and it powers the computer and weather station and battery charger. Shut the generator off and use the inverter that is connected to your battery. Saves gas...generator does not have to run all day...and you can still use it to charge your race car battery.

Solar needs a lot of surface area for any kind of decent output and is DC I believe so you still would need an inverter and they use a fair amount of current so you'd need a lot of solar panel area and some sun !

I have a generator in my trailer but also have an inverter and give my generator (4KW Onan) a rest periodically by using the inverter...and I have a small 5 amp battery charger so the battery gets recharged when the generator is running.

Re: Any Greenies in the audience?
 

check out honeywell 1400 inverter generator (home depot) comes with battery charging cables, ,about 500 to 600 bucks, inverter style generators are very quiet and lite. Put in 2 6volt deep cycle batteries (all the new RVS use 6 volt batteries because more storage capacity) , and a converter for 12 volts to 120 when not running generator. Size converter wattage to as close to max watts you need when not running generator because the larger the converter the more power it consumes even if no draw on it.

Make sure generator is 4 cycle.

Go to RVNET forums, a lot of info on there about boondocking, camping without hookups.

Re: Any Greenies in the audience?
 

An Inverter produces AC from DC and a Converter produces DC from AC. A generator produces AC and is your primary power source. Your battery powers your inverter. An Inverter style generator is just a different way to make AC using an engine for power. Sounds confusing but really isn't. Cheap generators no matter who's name is on it are Made in China. Honda is the std all others are judged by.

Re: Any Greenies in the audience?
 

Well satisfied with the Yamaha 2000. I think it and the Honda equivalent are nearly identical in performance and features. You can join two of these together for 4000 watts if desired. They are so quiet I'm constantly checking to see if it is even running.

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps95c67b65.jpg

Re: Any Greenies in the audience?
 

Yes those Yamaha generators are very good and quiet.

Re: Any Greenies in the audience?
 

I have solar panels on the top of my trailer for the last 16 years. They keep the batteries charged for the winch and power for the laptop, weather station, radio etc. I have a Honda 3000 which is great but I rarely have to use it. Solar panels are very cheap now between $1.00 to $1.50 a watt.

Re: Any Greenies in the audience?
 

Thank you for the responses, everyone. Very informative. I will probably go with the inverter/generator, but SGSST109E: How do you control for the variable input of the solar panels?

Greg

Re: Any Greenies in the audience?
 

check out with Bill Bagley, he races and sells Honda Generators at great prices, will ship to your house, tell him Nitro Joe sent you.

Bagley Tractor
& Equipment

3709 South Eastman Road
Longview, TX. 75602

800-281-0256
903-753-8262
903-753-3651 Fax

http://www.bagleytractor.com/