Hey guys i am curious if any one on here uses any kind of solar pannels to run there set ups. This big east coast storm got me thinking about it again. I used to live in nh and a couple years ago we lost power for allmost 6 weeks thank god i had a generator then. So if any one does use such a set up to power there tanks please show pics and explain how it works, and how to figure out what you need for how many watts you use it completly makes no sence to me but would like to realy c if any one does. Pics of the set up would be great and how to figure out what you need for what you run would be very help full. As allways thanks in advance guys.
Does any one use small solar panels to run there tanks?
- Thread starter skillzizzo
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Good question, I personally don't; though it'd be pretty hard to attach a solar panel to my igloo here in Canada..
thats funny i am originally from N.H so i feel ya on the cold. Solar panels work even in winter cload cover thow
I dont have a solar set up but I looked into it a long time ago. I could tell you what you need, but first I would have to know how much electricity you're using for each tank on a daily, weekly, monthly basis. All you need to do is buy a kill-a-watt monitor, plug it in to the wall and run all your electricity through the kill-a-watt for each tank. That will give us an idea of how many solar panels/batteries and what size inverter you need.
That makes sence i appreciate you willing to help me figure it out but it isnt some thing i am going to do any time soon. I have 2 generators and one is just for my tanks if needed that are both hard wired into the breaker box system so i dont need one right now and dont have the extra money for such right now. Mainly curious if any one does this and what it in tails.
one my offroading trips i met a guy who had a full size chevy truck 4x4 with a camper on it. not a cap a camper with fridge stove tv ac the works. He had 6 volt golf cart/ marine batterys . he had them hooked to a power converter. said his wife could sit comfy for 5 to 7 days. watching direct tv running the c fridge lights exc. while he fished on the beach. then he would go charge them back up. you could keep batterys on a maintnce charge and have a thing that switchs tanks over to the backup system u made. instead of useing a battery charger you could use solar pannles to keep them charged up untill u need them justt a thought
Gotcha..Well I know basically whats needed. Solar panels, an inverter and deep cycle batteries. The kill-a-watt monitor will give you how many amp hours you are using and help determine what size batteries. The batteries are rated in amp hours. The solar panels will be based off how many batteries you have, how many watts you're using and how fast you want to charge them..
True and they actually function better at colder temperatures.
I'm definitely planning on looking into solar and/or wind power when I have a more permanent place to live in a few years.
Keep us posted if you figure it out, that would make a GREAT sticky thread. No more power outages 
also i duno bout where u live but here in maryland. if you got a way to make natrual power u can get it hooked into your grid of your house. and the electric company will give u money or slash take money off your bill for puting power into the grid instead of just takeing it.