Power System Requirements: Determining Capacity

[Desertdude]

I sometimes travel with a dead quiet Honda EU 1000 and a 20 ft 12 gauge power cord - when it is on the other-side of the truck it cannot be heard - takes up little room and runs on just a tiny bit of gas.
This generator takes up a bit of the slack when I am stationary for longer than a day and want to use extra fun lights - music - fridge - and computer movies/video editing on the road.
I also travel with a battery jumper pack just in case the second battery has been foolishly used - I can run things like my computer (with a 12-volt adapter) bose speakers - ipod or charge up a phone or GPS unit.

I do like very much the idea of solar, but without a heavy bank of batteries for storage or larger panels, it is just a trickle charge.

 

[Scott Brady]

We have SUN power

I should have two of the Powerfilm R15-1200's in a few days. These units put out 19 watts each, for a total of nearly 40 watts of output.

The flexible panels are less efficient than the ridged ones, but I have a very cool plan for mounting these.

I am going to use the roof of the Eezi-Awn to mount the panels to. They will be stored on the tent too. When I stop for camp, I just unfold the tent and have solar power as well. These two panels will allow me to camp indefinitely if it is cool (5-6 hours of fridge run time daily) and sunny (8-10 hours of good sunlight.

I also have an Engel transit bag coming, which will add more insulation to the fridge.

And IMO, one of the best features of the panels is that I can roll them up, and take them on any mountaineering trek I want. Or on a Mtn. Bike Expedition.... or even on a BMW 650 into the mountain of Honduras :ylsmoke:

 

[goodtimes]

Very cool Scott. Free power is awesome! How efficient are the flexibles? Current rigid solar panels are only about 15% thermally efficient...there is a huge improvement to be had somewhere....I'm looking forward to the technology being developed to exploit that remaining 85%.

 

[Scott Brady]

Brian,

That is the real challenge with these panels. For the same surface area, there are other ridged panels that would put out 30% greater amps.

The one thing I really like about these panels durability. These are designed for the military and can LITERALY be shot full of holes and still work. That sounds expedition certified to me

 

[goodtimes]

Well, if they are running 10.5% TE (70% of 15%TE), that really isn't that bad, when you consider the "shot full of holes" durability...which you obviously don't get with traditional rigid panels. Any idea how much (if any) effect having the panel bent will affect the output? (as in, they are laid out across a convex--or concave for that matter----surface, instead of a flat surface?)

I assume of course that you will have it setup for SEMA (and therefor the November trip)?

 

[Scott Brady]

You bet! The truck will be done (essentially) for SEMA.

After SEMA, I am going to spend some quality time on equipment lists, organization, testing, etc. I am also going to look at getting some better seats, and maybe building a camera storage system. Just fun little projects.

I will just enjoy the truck for about a year, and then start the Trooper replacement project (a seven passenger adventure transport concept)

 

[scosanf]

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