From: muratlanne@gmail.com   
      
   "Bob F"  wrote in message news:sobi1v$1g2$1@dont-email.me...   
      
   Solar alternatives are not cheap or easy.   
      
   -----------------------------   
   Solar is getting cheaper.   
   https://hqsolarpower.com/100-watt-12-volt-monocrystalline-solar-   
   anel-kit-w-30a-pwm-charge-controller/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAnaeNBhCUARIs   
   BEee8XIIJYAmm3nb252reEibE91XrewQyptgs_ryQYJftgkFa12ENtiZCAaAj6NEALw_wcB   
      
   I paid about the same $120 a few years ago for a 100W panel and a 20A   
   controller, minus the cables. You still need a battery and probably an   
   inverter to have 120V AC that will run some but not all equipment. A laptop   
   with an auto/air power supply can run directly from the battery. I bought a   
   Bestek 300W true sine inverter for $50 that removes the difficult question   
   of if the crude output of a modified sine inverter will damage something,   
   though 300W isn't a lot of power. That makes a small practical system for   
   around $170 in hardware plus the price of the battery. Without the inverter   
   it's marginally enough to run my Alpicool C20 as a freezer all day and maybe   
   all night, with two 12V 18Ah AGM batteries, and it looks like it could   
   handle the 3x larger T60 fridge + freezer.   
      
   Adding a second $100, 100W solar panel gives a comfortable margin for a   
   laptop and other small loads. A laptop running Win7 can be set up as a   
   television so you'd be well equipped for comfortable dry camping. If you   
   have a larger AC-powered refrigerator you need a true sine inverter that can   
   deliver its starting surge, perhaps 1000 - 1500W briefly though my two small   
   fridges each draw less than 100W after the surge.   
      
   A larger system quickly raises the difficulty of making your own heavy   
   electrical cables. The wire and accessories sold for high power car audio   
   are somewhat helpful. Otherwise you need heavy duty crimpers for battery and   
   inverter terminals and the MC4 connectors on solar panels. Don't waste your   
   time with too-thin wire and its excessive voltage drops.   
   jsw   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)