From: bobnospam@gmail.com   
      
   On 12/3/2021 10:55 AM, Jim Wilkins wrote:   
   > "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-sola   
   -panel-kit-w-30a-pwm-charge-controller/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAnaeNBhCUAR   
   sABEee8XIIJYAmm3nb252reEibE91XrewQyptgs_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   
      
      
   And you think this is a solution for an apartment dweller?   
      
   Not that I have any objection about solar. I would do it myself except   
   for all the poplars in the yard south of mine, and the limited southern   
   exposure of my roof.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)