Solar Cells, Batteries and Musings On Freedom....
AuthorMessageMichael |
Squirrel |
Joined: May 28, 2003 |
Posts: 66 |
Location: Boise, Idaho |
Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2003 11:40 pm Post subject: Solar Cells, Batteries and Musings On Freedom.... |
I wanted to start this thread to discuss the unattached Apache. The lifestyle of the rogue soul that attempts to harness electrons on their own and live somewhat better to tell about it. I have heard of some interest, so I am bringing it out of the byways and into the full light of the forums. Feel free to add anything related to conserving, producing, or philosophizing about the race of electrons to the earth |
By no means do I know everything about this subject. I am learning about it as I go and appreciate all comments and ideas as they lead toward a more (ahem) enlightened trail. |
~Michael |
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Squirrel |
Joined: May 28, 2003 |
Posts: 66 |
Location: Boise, Idaho |
Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2003 11:42 pm Post subject: Batteries |
Batteries are really important in a solar set-up. Many regular car batteries are very inefficient, although it really doesn't matter since a great deal of charge is completely wasted in a car anyway. There are special solar app batteries for home and cabin use etc. but when you drive them around on bumps etc. the plates are hammered to death quite soon after the installation. Golf cart batteries are good. Some deep cycle marine batteries are also good choices. (Not the dual or cranking ones though) |
The beauty of 12 volts is that it is relatively easy to produce and very efficient. Really, you can do an incredible amount of camping on two batteries and a couple of amps in solar cells. Especially if you don't need air conditioning and rely on propane for heat and refrigeration. I am also thinking of building an emergency 12v generator with a 4-stroke weedwhacker motor and a car alternator or generator. |
~Michael |
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Squirrel |
Joined: Jul 25, 2003 |
Posts: 73 |
Location: Sacramento valley area, CA |
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 8:53 am Post subject: |
For years we have camped without hookups. First in our HiLo and now in our Apache. Typically, we can go about a week with a deep cycle battery and the car battery for backup. When we are on a trip that is longer than a week we schedule to stop at a campground that has hookups and showers about once a week, so that we can charge the deep cycle battery (we carry a charger) and take showers. Our Apache is set up for both dual batteries and solar charging, but we can not afford a second battery and/or solar panels. _________________ Beth '67 Ralph '60 Mary '95 '75 Apache Royal '03 GMC Sierra LSE 1500 Extended Cab |
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Wolf |
Joined: May 26, 2003 |
Posts: 154 |
Location: Florida |
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 9:17 am Post subject: |
I've been thinking of doing this as well. Has anyone hooked up their battery so that it charges from the car's generator? I wouldn't have a clue how to do this. - al r. |
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Squirrel |
Joined: May 28, 2003 |
Posts: 66 |
Location: Boise, Idaho |
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 10:09 am Post subject: |
Quote:cobbfmly wrote: |
Our Apache is set up for both dual batteries and solar charging, but we can not afford a second battery and/or solar panels. |
I am wondering where your second battery is located and what the sizes of the boxes or mounting areas are. I would like to someday convert to 2 6-volts possibly, but haven't figured this out yet. |
Quote:araden wrote: |
Has anyone hooked up their battery so that it charges from the car's generator? |
I'll refresh myself on mine and try and give you an indication of how it works. |
|
Squirrel |
Joined: Jul 25, 2003 |
Posts: 73 |
Location: Sacramento valley area, CA |
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 11:26 am Post subject: |
We haven't done this specifically, but we believe that we can connect the car battery in to the solar panel cercute (sp?) and then we should be able to at least equalize the charge in both batteries. If we start the car it should charge both from the generator. Note: Our solar set up is not an off the shelf solar set up. The previous owner was a electrical engineer and designed the battery/charging system himself. _________________ Beth '67 Ralph '60 Mary '95 '75 Apache Royal '03 GMC Sierra LSE 1500 Extended Cab |
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Squirrel |
Joined: Jul 25, 2003 |
Posts: 73 |
Location: Sacramento valley area, CA |
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 11:36 am Post subject: |
Michael wrote:I am wondering where your second battery is located and what the sizes of the boxes or mounting areas are. I would like to someday convert to 2 6-volts possibly, but haven't figured this out yet. |
The previous owner built a rack for the batteries between the propane bottles and the bezzle. It was originally designed to hold 6 gel cell batteries (3 each in series to make 2 batteries) and the box with the "smart" trickle charger, solar panel connection and battery selector. It will hold 2 deep cycle batteries without battery boxes. We put plexiglass (left over from when we replaced the windows) under them and built a 3 sided box for the sides and top (it fits the entire length of the rack). |
You can see it just behind the propane bottles in these pictures. I will take a closer picture next time we have the battery on. |
_________________ |
Beth '67 |
Ralph '60 |
Mary '95 |
'75 Apache Royal |
'03 GMC Sierra LSE 1500 Extended Cab |
|
Squirrel |
Joined: May 28, 2003 |
Posts: 66 |
Location: Boise, Idaho |
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 7:10 pm Post subject: Araden |
That cobbfmly set-up looks trick! I don't know why I couldn't just think of putting the propane tanks in front! |
My Ranger just simply has the battery spliced into the accessory wire from the pigtail. Two wires run down to the loom and connect directly below the battery. This way it recieves a charge while hooked up- which is when I'm driving so it's charging. The danger is in leaving it plugged in at the campsite and running your truck battery down, but I always unplug mine right away. |
I think this is stock on a 1978, but hopefully someone will correct me if wrong |
~Michael |
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Squirrel |
Joined: Jul 25, 2003 |
Posts: 73 |
Location: Sacramento valley area, CA |
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 8:43 pm Post subject: |
The position of my propane bottles is original. They were not moved to install the battery rack. _________________ Beth '67 Ralph '60 Mary '95 '75 Apache Royal '03 GMC Sierra LSE 1500 Extended Cab |
|
Moose |
Joined: May 13, 2003 |
Posts: 347 |
Location: Lancaster, Ohio |
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 9:14 pm Post subject: |
Michael, I think 78 was the first year for the deep cycle batteries on the Apaches. I plan on going with a similar setup sometime next year, and hope to get some great advice from you guys in how to go about hooking it all together. I like to primitive camp, but would also like the convenience of some 12v accessories. |
_________________ |
Bill |
77 Ramada without end beds |
|
Greenhorn Camper |
Joined: Oct 27, 2003 |
Posts: 6 |
Location: Austin, Texas |
Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2003 3:59 pm Post subject: |
araden wrote:I've been thinking of doing this as well. Has anyone hooked up their battery so that it charges from the car's generator? I wouldn't have a clue how to do this. |
- al r. |
You need to take a look at the link Michael provided before going too far. |
Your car alternator is not the best charger if you are using deep cycle |
batteries, and you can damage the batteries and/or the alternator. |
Having said that, I have two deep cycle batteries connected through a |
relay and circuit breaker such that as long as the engine is running, all |
my batteries are charged off the alternator. When I turn the key off, the |
relay drops out and the batteries are no longer connected. I can deplete |
the two deep cycle batteries without fear of discharging the battery I |
depend on to start the truck. That safety factor in my mind is a MUST! |
Bob |
|
Ole' Elmer Like |
Joined: Jul 23, 2003 |
Posts: 775 |
Location: Keene, Texas (Fort Worth Area) |
Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2003 4:40 pm Post subject: Bottles |
Michael wrote:That cobbfmly set-up looks trick! I don't know why I couldn't just think of putting the propane tanks in front! |
My Ranger just simply has the battery spliced into the accessory wire from the pigtail. Two wires run down to the loom and connect directly below the battery. This way it recieves a charge while hooked up- which is when I'm driving so it's charging. The danger is in leaving it plugged in at the campsite and running your truck battery down, but I always unplug mine right away. |
I think this is stock on a 1978, but hopefully someone will correct me if wrong |
~Michael |
Michael, |
On my 1973 Ramada it has two bottles originally up front to the lift handle and behind it is an original two battery tray. |
_________________ |
Alan |
Restoring a 1973 Ramada |
|
Ole' Elmer Like |
Joined: Jul 23, 2003 |
Posts: 775 |
Location: Keene, Texas (Fort Worth Area) |
Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2003 4:44 pm Post subject: Bob |
badams wrote:araden wrote:I've been thinking of doing this as well. Has anyone hooked up their battery so that it charges from the car's generator? I wouldn't have a clue how to do this. |
- al r. |
You need to take a look at the link Michael provided before going too far. |
Your car alternator is not the best charger if you are using deep cycle |
batteries, and you can damage the batteries and/or the alternator. |
Having said that, I have two deep cycle batteries connected through a |
relay and circuit breaker such that as long as the engine is running, all |
my batteries are charged off the alternator. When I turn the key off, the |
relay drops out and the batteries are no longer connected. I can deplete |
the two deep cycle batteries without fear of discharging the battery I |
depend on to start the truck. That safety factor in my mind is a MUST! |
Bob |
Bob, |
Can you take some pictures of what you have or make up a parts list and setup instructions as to how yours is done? |
I would really like to set mine up like yours with the safety that you have with the relay to not drain my main battery on the vehicle. Please share additional information. |
Thanks, |
_________________ |
Alan |
Restoring a 1973 Ramada |
|
Squirrel |
Joined: May 28, 2003 |
Posts: 66 |
Location: Boise, Idaho |
Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2003 5:20 pm Post subject: Bob- |
Your setup is trick, but let me humbly suggest another way to keep from draining your battery and have the possibility of even more capacity and safety.... |
The device is a battery isolator. I know there are many theories and systems that work, including relays. Personally I have an isolator. You can get one at your local parts store. |
Ok... here's the link: http://www.smithae.com/surepower.html |
Basically, you would wire up the isolator to another battery in your truck, which you could then hook up to your accessory wire on your trailer. This is my preferred solution and it makes it easy to swap batteries from the Apache to the truck if you want a quick fresh charged Apache battery. |
You have probably already considered this, but at least it might generate some helpful discussion |
~Michael |
|
Wolf |
Joined: May 26, 2003 |
Posts: 154 |
Location: Florida |
Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2003 5:40 pm Post subject: |
Michael
Michael, Thanks, that is some very useful information. I'll have to make a few mods though - someone changed the plug on my Apache to be a 4-wire plug; I think the 5th wire is buried in the electrical tape somewhere. The hook up on my truck is also a flat 4-wire; so I'll have to change that as well. - al
This post has been restored from the original Apachepopup forum that was discontinued. Select posts have been recovered and copied to the new forum to preserve their content.