Humless generator & small flexible panels??

[Kathleen]

Hi all. I watched Cheap RV Living Solar video but have not gotten to the solar forum til today. Hope I'm not repeating an old thread. I saw a video on Humless generators and short flexible solar panels, 100 watts each. Just talked to the manufacturer, plus the owner of a company that distributes them as well as the small 5lb flexible panels. Here is a link to that company.

https://www.blackoutsolarsolutions.com/products/1500-series-1-3kwh-one-100w-flexible-solar-panel

I'm just learning about solar. Not thrilled with using fossil fuels or having propane on board. But it seems that staying warm with a 12 volt heater, even in a minivan in a location like southern AZ in winter, would not work. I lived in AZ and been there when it was snowing with very low temps as storms moved through.

I really liked the idea of going solar. With Humless you can charge while using appliances, but a 12v elec heater would drain the system in a short period of time. We need lightweight solar flex panels that generate a lot more watts but the Humless owner did not see that coming in the near future.

Sorry if I'm repeating an old thread. Mods, pls feel free to move this to the right one, if necessary. I would really like an alternative to propane for my minivan travels. Ideas, anyone???

 

[Trebor English]

To keep your minivan warm you can stay in warm places, insulate enough to not need heat, or heat it.  Most people use a combination.  This time of year Ehrenburg and Quartzsite aren't very cold.  Curtains and foam panels in the windows help. A good sleeping bag usually does the trick.  If you are still cold you need to heat your space.  If you plug in to the electric grid the electricity comes from nuclear, hydro, or fossil fuels. Geothermal, solar, and any other sources are insignificant.  If you combust your own fuel on site it is more efficient.  If you run your van engine it is the least efficient but you don't have to handle the fuel. Personally, my backup heat is propane. I rarely have to use it in Florida.  If you come here you can bask in the no income tax and the sun.

 

[DrJean]

I think the price on that set up with the humless generator is rather pricey, myself.

As for heat, I'll opt for a small heater bc the space will not be so big that needs heating... and then I'll sleep under the winter coats and also the 103* movable heater called a dog

 

[highdesertranger]

holy cow that Humless place is way expensive. highdesertranger

 

[Trebor English]

My 100 Watt panel was $110. For $2099 it had better not hum. At that price it needs to bring in the entire marching band with Sousaphones, cymbals and at least 76 trombones.

 

[Kathleen]

To keep your minivan warm you can stay in warm places, insulate enough to not need heat, or heat it.  Most people use a combination.  This time of year Ehrenburg and Quartzsite aren't very cold.  Curtains and foam panels in the windows help. A good sleeping bag usually does the trick.  If you are still cold you need to heat your space.  If you plug in to the electric grid the electricity comes from nuclear, hydro, or fossil fuels. Geothermal, solar, and any other sources are insignificant.  If you combust your own fuel on site it is more efficient.  If you run your van engine it is the least efficient but you don't have to handle the fuel. Personally, my backup heat is propane. I rarely have to use it in Florida.  If you come here you can bask in the no income tax and the sun.

Both sides of my family moved to Florida to bask in the sun. My grandparents had a choice in the 60's to buy a house on Sanibel Island or Pt Charlotte for the same price. Wish they had chosen Sanibel. Love the Gulf Coast sunsets, dolphins, manatee, fishing birds, and warm weather. But I live far away in the mountain west. I get cold easily even in layers of merino wool and down vests. I've got the right sleep gear. It's the long dark hours and early cold hours when I'm in the van and out of the bag that I want to stay warm. I'll use reflectix, curtains, and rugs on the floor, with a space blanket and curtains hanging at front and back ends. Haven't tried it yet, so don't know what how warm it will be. Love the idea of solar but current panels don't generate enough power yet. I may end up being a May through Sept van dweller with a little Mr. Buddy for occasional back up.

 

[AngryVanMan]

Man I was confused by the title, I had to check it out via the link... I still cannot believe that a battery and inverter in a plastic box is legally allowed to be called a "generator" - I just don't get it! There are a few companies that follow this same naming trend and it's just... wrong, syntactically speaking, right???

 

[Kathleen]

I think the price on that set up with the humless generator is rather pricey, myself.

As for heat, I'll opt for a small heater bc the space will not be so big that needs heating... and then I'll sleep under the winter coats and also the 103* movable heater called a dog

It's the first solar unit I looked at. The video popped up on Facebook. Have some solar studying to do, check the Renology prices. I love wild animals but bear cuddling is not highly recommended. A 103 degree dog sounds like a good solution. :shy:

 

[Kathleen]

holy cow that Humless place is way expensive.  highdesertranger

good to know there are less pricey options out there to explore.

 

[Kathleen]

Man I was confused by the title, I had to check it out via the link...  I still cannot believe that a battery and inverter in a plastic box is legally allowed to be called a "generator" - I just don't get it!  There are a few companies that follow this same naming trend and it's just... wrong, syntactically speaking, right???

I'm just starting to explore unknown solar territory. It looked very pricey but neat and tidy, easy for a simpleton (like me) to use. But not enough power for my purposes.

 

[AngryVanMan]

The thing is, I think people go for these all in-a-box solutions for convenience, they are not intended to be price-competitive with building your own solar system from individual components.

This is something you could throw in the back of a Jeep and head out on the trails, and run your camp gear after strapping a few solar panels to the rag top. There is no setup to speak of, you get the package from Amazon or wherever and can "install" it the same day you intend to leave on your outing.

If you want to be up and running fast and have lots of cash on hand, these are viable. I bet a forum member could make a side-business out of mimicking this trend with a large sturdy tupperware and some good quality solar components. It would probably be lower cost, and could have higher-end components in it as well!

 

[Kathleen]

My 100 Watt panel was $110.  For $2099 it had better not hum.  At that price it needs to bring in the entire marching band with Sousaphones, cymbals and at least 76 trombones.

That's funny, TE, but you must have needed something to go with the $110 panel, didn't you???

 

[Kathleen]

The thing is, I think people go for these all in-a-box solutions for convenience, they are not intended to be price-competitive with building your own solar system from individual components.  

This is something you could throw in the back of a Jeep and head out on the trails, and run your camp gear after strapping a few solar panels to the rag top.  There is no setup to speak of, you get the package from Amazon or wherever and can "install" it the same day you intend to leave on your outing.

If you want to be up and running fast and have lots of cash on hand, these are viable.  I bet a forum member could make a side-business out of mimicking this trend with a large sturdy tupperware and some good quality solar components.  It would probably be lower cost, and could have higher-end components in it as well!

When a reliable forum member develops one of those I'd like to be notified, especially if they can up the power enough for my  needs. I've got certain skill sets, but mechanics and engineering are not my domain. I did like the fact that the Hummer is so tidy looking, easy to use and move.

 

[highdesertranger]

Kathleen just curious, how much power do you need? and what do you do in the mean time until solar meets your requirements? highdesertranger

 

[Kathleen]

Kathleen just curious,  how much power do you need?  and what do you do in the mean time until solar meets your requirements?  highdesertranger

I want to run a 12v heater enough to keep the minivan warm during dark cold hours before going to bed, and in AM long enough to warm the interior. Want to run a small freezer unit and 2 burner 12v stove, plus keep pc and phone charged. Occasional hair dryer on low watts. I've got decades of driving experience but van dwelling is new to me.

I don't know any other solution except for propane. So many use it but if I could find another way, I'd prefer not to carry it with me.

 

[Trebor English]

To simplify, 12 volts, no heating, no stove, no hair dryer.  If you have 200 watts of solar you are getting into refrigerator range and maybe a low power microwave for very short periods of time.

 

[highdesertranger]

heating anything with electricity is very inefficient. doesn't matter if it's 220VAC, 120VAC, or 12VDC. I would look for more efficient power sources for the heating side. with those out of the system solar is totally doable for you. I have never seen a 12V stove, do you have a link? highdesertranger

 

[Trebor English]

To keep warm you need to pay attention to the weather.  Right now Alaska has chilled.  It is cold.  According to National Weather Service the Western US should be getting cold in 6 to 8 days.  To quote them: On Wednesday afternoon next week, temperatures are forecast to be 20 to 30 degrees colder than normal in much of the Rockies and western Plains. Now might be a good time to head towards Corpus Christi, Texas, if you are inclined to visit relatives there. 

I went to New Jersey to my daughter's house before Thanksgiving.  It was too cold for me. I am back in Florida now.  I have the mobility adVANtage.

 

[rvpopeye]

I'd just go with a dog , like the Doc prescribed .
For just a little heat,,,, a little dog .
For more heat,,,,a medium dog or two little ones .
For a lot of heat,,,,a big dog or a bunch of little ones .
For no heat,,,,get the dogs their own sleeping bag .
Fuel = a bag of kibble .

If you're allergic to dogs , Poodles come in several sizes........

 

[akrvbob]

Florida has very good PR, it is NOT a very sunny state.

Arizona has the most days of sunshine a year at 198, Florida has 101 and ranks 23rd of all states.
https://www.currentresults.com/Weather/US/average-annual-state-sunshine.php

Yuma Arizona is the single sunniest place in the USA with sunshine 90% of the year. Quartzsite is in the high 80's.

You want sunshine, go to Arizona.