Wow. Its been awhile since I’ve done one of these posts. About time I guess. Standard disclaimer that this is not ALL the money we spent for these months. Not even all our discretionary shopping – just the categories I feel that people would find most interesting. To learn how I work my budget see…
We get asked quite frequently why we chose an Airstream to travel in full time. Many people love how they look, their functionality, their definitive “American-ness” but don’t see them as practical for full time families. Originally, our plan was to buy a Class C RV (the ones that look like a truck cab with…
With the solar mounted on top (part 1, part 2) and the wires run to the forward compartment (part 3), there was only one thing left to do. The next step in my project was to connect it all up! Underneath Cara’s bed is the wiring panel where the battery is connected to the rest of…
Alright! Now I know that I can do this myself. Nice series of articles. Really liked the pictures.
I do have a portable 200w fold out that I charge with and a know that the angle of the panels and the declination makes a big difference as well, but we can’t keep moving our Airstream around to follow the sun. Do you believe you will ever add the tilt up brackets? I know Rich Luhr and he just has 2 panels (flat mounted) on his 31 footer and has never had to use a generator (or carry one). So, it is a detail and I’m not sure that I’ll consider it either. We are not big consumers of Amp hour.
Actually, our Zamp Solar 200w fold out charges our two stock 27 batteries up after a night of use. I know I’ll go over-kill on as many panels as I can fit on our 2015 27ft Serenity… so I’ll probably just run with them flat. Not even sure how I’d tilt them as we don’t carry a ladder.
Great article. Please f/u with an article on how the user interface works in real life, the amount of Ah you collect, your storage capacity as you use it with your particular habits, what you might have done differently or options for others, etc…
Thanks for spending the time reporting,
Agreed, great group of articles. We are considering going full time out onto the road and this would be a huge consideration. Like the previous comment stated if you could document actual usage and storage that would be great. I work online and have need for electricity. I would like to do some boondocking and this would help make that happen.ReplyCancel
At the conclusion of Part 2, we had panels mounted on the roof and wired up to the combiner box. We connected the 6 gauge wire to the combiner box and dropped it behind the fridge. The next phase of this project involved running the wire from behind the fridge to the forward compartment. In…
At this point of the install, each panel was mounted on the roof, with a wire connected to each panel and routed along the roof to the fridge vent. The next phase of the project requires connecting the three panels together in what is called a combiner box. Each of the negative wires are connected…
Wow. Great post Sam. You are about two months ahead of me on my solar expansion. Keep the posts coming. I like the fridge vent idea; however I wonder if I can pull it off in the [Approved Interloper make inserted here]. A bit more complicated to remove at first inspection. Maybe ….as I also now need to become ‘A Special Kind Of Cheap’.ReplyCancel
Great site. When are you going to finish your series on your solar installation? I was really enjoying the first two posts about your DIY solar project. What happened once you got the basic wiring down the refrigerator vent?
The next step was the part I wanted to read about. Getting the wiring through the Airstream to the Batteries and installing the electronics and the remote monitor.
Did you just pay someone to finish off the technical part of finishing the wiring and the electronics?
good read
Enjoyed meeting you and your family tonight. Safe travels!
Thanks Holly!! Per your suggestion we rode the trails at Cuyana State Recreation area and it was AMAZING! Thanks so much!
[…] no secret we love our Airstream Travel trailer (see our reasons for choosing Airstream in this post). 3 years in and we still are happy with our purchase, and fully support the […]