HELP! I am so lost/confused on a simple solar hook up,

[Txjaybird]

:huh:  I have been working outside with a heat index of around 100 degrees.  I have two 10 X 20ft, storage units to sort thru by myself { a family member shares one }   Then my  viking pop-up trailer to work on & luckily that will be  with help and multiple extension cords so I hope I can get fans to the trailer.

I have read a lot of the posts here about solar energy and I am Confused.......Still    :s 

 What would be the cheapest way I could have solar to run a regular household fan?  Or would a 12v be better?  I'd rather not mount the panel  on my truck as then I'd need to depend on or  pay someone to help me.  There is room to lay a panel in the bed of the truck or on the ground.  Is one of the suitcase style portable units good for this and do I need a inverter            [ is that the right name for it]? 

 The $$$ for the storage units is eating me alive...today I paid a pro- rated fee on the 3rd one so I wouldn't have to keep dragging  out and putting back the same stuff as I sort to "sell'....."keep".......or "donate".  I can only work about 4hrs at a time as my strength is limited right now.  When I get out of this mess I'll be able to make VAN payments    
                             Any suggestions or advice on the solar will truly be appreciated.

                                                Jewellann and Queenie, The Snore Hound

 

[TMG51]

I wouldn't use an inverter for a fan. 12v fans are available and inverters carry an inherent efficiency loss. I suggest always using 12v appliances where possible.

My preference is also to have panels fixed to the roof. When they're up there, they're totally passive; you don't have to set them up and take them down, and as soon as you have to do that then your solar becomes work twice a day. But, some people do prefer not to mount them on the roof, either because they don't want to modify the vehicle or because they want to park in the shade and have panels in the sun (however there's a question there of cable size and drop over distance). The short answer is yes you can put your panels in the bed if you want to. Be aware of shade on the panels if you do this. You might consider some sort of roof rack to put the panels on instead.

 

[Almost There]

 What would be the cheapest way I could have solar to run a regular household fan?  Or would a 12v be better?  I'd rather not mount the panel  on my truck as then I'd need to depend on or  pay someone to help me.  There is room to lay a panel in the bed of the truck or on the ground.  Is one of the suitcase style portable units good for this and do I need a inverter            [ is that the right name for it]? 

 

                                                Jewellann and Queenie, The Snore Hound

A suitcase set up would work fine for you and then you'd have it for when you get a van as well. The suitcase comes with everything you need except for a battery and the fan you want. No need for an inverter if you buy a 12V fan.

The inverter is for when you want to use a 120V appliance off of 12 V battery system. It uses some power to do it's job so you only want to use one when you absolutely have to because you can't/don't have 12V appliance to use.

Laying a panel flat in the bed of the pick up truck would leave you with a lot of shifting it around because of shadows on the panel which makes them ineffective.

The Renogy 100W suitcase is a good starting point and an excellent unit.

 

[Txjaybird]

Sooooooooooo..........If I buy the "solar in a suitcase" I need a battery...since this is not going to be a long term set up at this time what is the least expensive battery I can buy?   Also how do I "plug" a fan into a battery......what do I need to hook the fan to the battery?

Thank You to Everyone,    Jewellann

 

[rvpopeye]

A "marine" battery at Wally World should work and has top posts in the form of bolts with wing nuts..
A 12 volt fan probably has a ciggy lighter plug , so you could get a ciggy lighter socket or just cut it off and attach crimp on rings to the wires. If the fan runs backwards , switch the wires.
Not sure about prices though , easy to call and ask..
Getting 2 -6 volt golf cart batteries would be ideal but cost more !