My youngest son, Wills, originally bought his big blue Renault Trafic for carrying building materials to the barn. Now that most of that work is finished, he has other ideas for it.
Eventually he will make a camper van out of it, and his first action has been to install this Solar panel on the roof, to run a fridge.
My oldest, Kimbo, is taking a villa in Tuscany for a couple of weeks, so Wills will test out the practicalities of camper life by joining him for a few days. Cold beers will be essential.
I shall be interested to see how it all works out; maybe he could install a few panels for me here. I wouldn't say no to some free electricity!
I have a solar panel on my motorhome that my ex-husband fitted. It tops up my leisure battery a treat but doesn't run my fridge. When I'm off grid my own fridge converts to running on gas. x
ReplyDeleteHe has connected this to a large storage battery, with some complicated fuses in between. He seems to think it'll work. He's buying a special 12 Volt (?) Fridge.
DeleteOne of the problems of 'free' electricity is the initial capital cost. When I last worked it out I realised I'd be dead and buried by the time it broke even. But then I'm a bit older than most people contemplating the option.
ReplyDeleteWills is more interested in the convenience side of things for the van. He has solar panels on the house roof for hot water, which will probably never pay for themselves.
DeleteWe hsve solar panels on the cow-house roof (our house roof is too complicated to have them) and they have almost paid for themselves after five years.
ReplyDeleteOne of my neighbours has two huge barns covered with panels. He sells all the electricity to the grid. I believe he will be in considerable profit after about 10 years.
DeleteI saw camper which was virtually covered in solar panels the other day. I wonder why they don't come as standard on electric or hybrid cars?
ReplyDeleteMaybe when he returns from his trip, he'll cover the rest of the top with more. He could probably run a HiFi unit, an oven, and his fridge.
DeleteSounds very enterprising to me and, as you say, essential for those cold beers.
ReplyDeleteBeyond my capabilities. My sons continue to surprise me.
DeleteThey are a different generation, aren't they. Things like computers, smart phones, shopping on line etc., are part of daily life. I expect our parents were equally bemused at some of the things that we had, and did, when we were young.
DeleteWhat things will young Bunny confound his dad with, in years to come?
I think we shall investigate solar panels at some point in the future. A French neighbour uses solar to power his shower in the summer and we think that is a good idea.
ReplyDeleteAn ordinary hot water system is very simple. Some basic plumbing and a few black painted radiators, and Bob's-yer-uncle.
DeleteI don't think that there are many solar panels on anything around New York, even though this town really uses up electricity hand over fist. Every so often I will see a news story about some planned panels.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of the solar vehicles and buildings.
Solar Panels are very common here; usually for heating water/central heating, etc. They work very well.
DeleteYet another reason that you were, and still are, wise to have settled there.
DeleteThis is beyond wonderful and of course fun !
ReplyDeletecheers, parsnip and thehamish
It's all up and running now, I was given a demonstration yesterday.
DeleteOh dear, cro, has Kimbo taken a shine to Italy? Hope he'll save some holidays to visit you and Lady M.
ReplyDeleteHe and the boys have already been here. They were here for two weeks.
DeleteI used to say that solar was the way of the future, but I was wrong. It is the way of now. Five years ago we thought of installing panels for our home but the up-front expense was too much. Our friend did it and now has free electricity most of the time and also sells some back to the electric company. I love the idea of solar because nobody can own the sun and the energy that it gives.
ReplyDeleteGood for your sons for using renewable energy.
Our house, and especially the roof, isn't really suitable for solar panels, otherwise we'd have some ourselves.
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