DIY Power Supply A Must

     It's been over a week now since power outages hit the Eastern coast, due to damages done by terrible storms.   Is it any wonder that so many people have now considered rebuilding with the addition of solar panels and purchasing small, portable generators for future emergency.

     Here are just a few numbers -

-  About 2.1 million homes and businesses from Illinois to New Jersey were still without power, with the biggest concentration in the Washington area.
- About 93,000 Commonwealth Edison customers in northeastern Illinois were without power from powerful storms that brought wind gusts of up to 90 mph.
- Utilities in Ohio, Virginia and Maryland described damage to their power grids as catastrophic.
- First Energy utilities in states from Ohio to New Jersey had about 252,000 customers without power.
- Pepco, which serves Washington and much of its suburbs in Maryland and Virginia, reported about 229,000 customers without power.
- Baltimore Gas & Electric said about 213,000 customers remained affected. Almost 1,200 utility workers from 12 states and Canada are helping restore power or are on their way to central Maryland, the company said.

Can you imagine the impact that this is having on households?  Especially those with occupants who rely on medical equipment?  Alternative power has gone beyond a 'trendy thing' to have and become a 'must have thing' for anyone living in an area that could be effected by this type of disaster in the future. Well - guess that includes about everybody.

Check out what we have found.  

     The best generator that we have found is UST GG1200  1,200 Watt 2.4 HP  79.55 cc  4-stroke OHV.  This generator is small, light weight and totally portable.  A house could run their refrigerator and several fans for days with just a few gallons of gas.  This would be a life saver consider the cost of replacing all the food and the possible cost of living in a hotel because of the intense heat that accompanies the storms.   Plus, you can run a other items such as a chain saw from this.  The unfortunate storm results could be made just a little better with a few extra dollars spent.

     Small solar panels such as the DM 145 watt Polycrystalline Solar Panel, may not be able to run the entire house when a power outage occurs but it sure can help out with the 'small stuff' which turn into big stuff when you have absolutely no power.  A small bank of panels may be worth considering for more effectiveness.

     Take time to research generators and the DIY solar panel kits.  Don't wait for tragedy to hit or when there is a shortage to start getting prepared for the unknown.  When things get tough you will be glad you did that, and took action.

Solar Panels - Uses You Should Consider

     Thanks to my brother, who is on top of all the latest in individual solar panel uses, I have become a bit interested.  I can see where I could find some uses - maybe.  If you are the outdoor-sie type person, these new panels are a must.  Let me show you.

     If you own a motor home, camp trailer, toy hauler or a race trailer, you should check out the new light weight panels that install in a matter of a couple of hours with basic tools.   A perfect example is this 145 watt panel made by DM, reasonably priced, consumer friendly and at this time, only $160.  This is just one of many options but this just happens to be the one that I found a lot of positive feed back on.

     If you are feeling a bit intimidated by the thoughts of the diy project, let me share what EHOW.com had to say about the installation.

     1.  Determine how much power you will need, and the number of solar panels you must install in order to generate it. Like the roofs in stationary homes, there is only so much space on top of your RV to use. Make sure that your needs can be met within a reasonable amount of space.

        2  Disconnect the coach battery and all other sources of power, such as the generator and the shore power cord. You should also cover the face of the solar panel with paper or cardboard while you are installing it, to keep it from generating a charge. 

        3.  Find a good spot on the RV roof where the solar panel will fit. It should be somewhere convenient for running wiring, such as near a vent or some other means of access. The roof at that location should be strong enough to support the array, and the panels should be at least 8 inches away from the edge of the roof.

        4.  Mark the positions for the solar panel mounts. Make sure that they line up precisely using a laser sight or similar tool.

        5.  Drill holes for the mounts. Use a drill bit specific to the size of the holes you need and take care that you are not drilling into any interior wiring.

        6.  Place the mounts in position and secure them with screws. Use the sealant to fill the space around the holes.

        7. Insert the solar panel into the mounts and tighten it into position. The exact means will vary depending upon the kind of solar panel you have purchased.

        8.  Find a suitable location in the RV interior to place the regulator/terminal.

        9.  Cut a hole in the interior panel large enough for the regulator (or just its control panel) to fit.

        10.  Connect the wiring to the solar panel and run it down to the location you have selected for the regulator.

        11.  Connect the wires to the regulator, making sure that the polarity is correct.

        12.  Connect the battery connection wires from the regulator to the coach battery. Make sure that the polarity is correct: that the positive wire is connected to the positive battery terminal and the negative wire is connected to the negative battery terminal.

        13.  Reconnect the terminals to the battery. The solar panel should now be generating energy for it.

Tips & Warnings

    The space above the RV refrigerator is a very good place to install the solar regulator. It is usually unused, and its proximity to the refrigerator vent means the wiring can be run up to the solar panel very easily.

    A deep-cycle battery can store power when the sun is out for use when it's dark and cloudy. You can link an AC inverter to it, and plug any appliances you need directly into the battery without having to go through the rest of the RV's electrical system.

     If that doesn't rest your mind about your ability to install your own panel, then here's a bit more help,  for those of you who are a bit more visual.  
   

Since every body's situation is different, I thought that I would share another approach to installation.

      Now think about it -  no more being restricted to expensive and over crowded camp grounds.  In case of an emergency, if the power lines are down, you have a secure and comfortable place to wait out the loss.  Company in town - you can add an extension to your home without having to run a cord.

And lastly - it is just sort of cool to be techy.