VARRI GREEN FARM
GROWING IN HARMONY WITH NATURE


THE SOLAR RV
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THREE 75 WATT SOLAR PANELS ADORN THE TOP OF THIS 1989 FORD F150 CONVERSION VAN.
A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THEY LOOK LIKE SUITCASE RACKS FROM THE GROUND,
THATS WHEN I OPEN THE SIDE DOORS AND REVEAL THEIR TRUE PURPOSE.....POWERING ALL
THE 12 VOLT GADGETS I COULD FIND THAT WOULD BE USEFUL FOR WHAT WE CALL "VAMPING".
THIS RV HAS SEEN MANY A CAMP SITE AND WE HAVE NEVER NEEDED TO PAY FOR AN ELECTRICAL SITE,
SET UP A TENT, OR COOK IN THE RAIN SINCE THE RV'S SOLAR ADDITION.
CAMPING MADE EASY AND POWERED BY THE SUN.




INSIDE THE RV THERE IS A COLOR TV, VCR, FM/CASSETTE DECK,  AND A 12 VOLT COOLER ALL RUN BY SOLAR POWER.
I BUILT A CABINET TO HOUSE THE FRIDGE AND HOLD WATER STORAGE ABOVE.  I INSTALLED A POWER USAGE DISPLAY
ON THE FRONT DOOR TO THE CABINET, WHICH HOUSES THREE 100 AMP HOUR SOLAR BATTERIES. THE 300 Ah BANK PROVIDES AMPLE TIME USAGE ON ALL EQUIPMENT. THERE IS ALSO STORAGE SPACE IN THE CABINET FOR CANNED FOODS, DRIED GOODS, FIRST AID, AND SOME 12 VOLT POTS AND PANS. ALTHOUGH THEY TAKE A LITTLE LONGER THAN A CONVENTIONAL STOVE TO COOK FOOD, THEY STILL DO A FINE JOB WEATHER WE'RE OUT ON THE ROAD OR PARKED NEXT TO A SMALL CAMP FIRE WITH THE DOORS FLUNG WIDE.

                           

NEXT TO THE BATTERIES,  I INSTALLED A CHARGE CONTROLLER WHICH REGULATES THE POWER COMING FROM THE SOLAR
  PANELS AND A SMALL GRID-TIE INVERTER TO FEED ELECTRICITY BACK INTO MY HOME,  OR WHEREVER WE PARK NEAR AN OUTLET. WHEN WE'RE NOT USING THE RV'S APPLIANCES, I CAN SEND ELECTRICITY BACK TO THE LOCAL POWER GRID. THE GRID TIE INVERTER SHUTS OFF AUTOMATICALLY WHEN NO CURRENT IS SUPPLIED, WHICH IS A PROTECTION FOR LINE WORKERS.  WITH THE INVERTER AND THE BATTERY BANK I CAN USUALLY RECOVER 3%-5%  OF  MY MONTHLY ELECTRIC BILL.  CLOUDS DON'T HELP MUCH THOUGH. ON THE SIDE OF THE CABINET,  I PLACED TWO AC INVERTERS. ONE DELIVERS 110 VOLTS OF CLEAN POWER TO MY LAPTOP OR OTHER SENSITIVE ELECTRONIC DEVICE,  THE OTHER IS OF HIGHER WATTAGE AND POWERS MOST APPLIANCES IN THE HOME THAT USE 110 VOLTS. I PUT A POWER OUTLET ON THE BACK OF THE RV TO GAIN ACCESS OUTSIDE;  AND THIS SAME OUTLET ALSO SUPPLIES POWER TO THE LOCAL POWER GRID WITH THE FLIP OF A SWITCH. AGAIN, ITS ONLY 3-5% PER MONTH,
BUT THAT'S 5% THE GREEDY POWER COMPANY ISN'T GOING TO GET FROM ME!

   

NEXT TO THE CHARGE CONTROLLER IS A DEVICE CALLED A SHUNT. IT REGULATES THE POWER GOING TO THE CHARGE CONTROLLER. THE DISPLAY UNIT ON THE FRONT DOOR TELLS ME THE VOLTAGE LEVEL, THE AMPS COMING IN OR GOING OUT, THE PERCENTAGE OF REMAINING BATTERY POWER, AND  PERFORMS OTHER VARIOUS FUNCTIONS. THERE ARE THREE 12 VOLT OUTLETS IN THE CABINET. TWO LEAD TO THE BATTERY BANK AND THE OTHER GOES TO THE RV'S BATTERY. THE LIGHT AND FAN I INSTALLED TURNED OUT TO BE INDISPENSABLE! WE PUT AN ICED WATER  BOTTLE IN THE FRIDGE AND RUN IT FOR ABOUT 4 HOURS AT NIGHT. IT STAYS AROUND 38 DEGREES FOR 3 TO 4 DAYS. IT DRAINS VERY LITTLE POWER THAT WAY. I INSTALLED SOME SWITCHES ON THE CABINET SIDE WALL TO CONTROL THE ACCESSORIES. MOST THINGS ARE DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THE BATTERY BANK, AND ALL LINES HAVE THIER OWN FUSE. THE ABOVE LABEL 'ok4u-100' IS FROM THE MICROSINE GRID-TIE INVERTER. I AM ALWAYS LOOKING TO FIND ANOTHER ONE SINCE THIS PRODUCT WAS DROPPED FROM PRODUCTION SOME TIME AGO.

   

THE RV IS ALSO LOADED  UP WITH LOTS OF CAMPING GEAR,  A 12 VOLT VACUUM,  A HEATING BLANKET,  A 12 VOLT COFFEE MAKER, A MAGNIFYING GLASS FOR STARTING A FIRE, AND EVEN A SMALL 12 VOLT 250 WATT HEATER,  ROPE, CAN OPENER, UTENSILS, RECHARGEABLE FLASHLIGHTS,  PACKS OF KETCHUP, HOT SAUCE, AND SALT & PEPPER, SUN-TAN LOTION, POISON IVY CREAM, AND OF COARSE ..... ASPIRIN!

   

I FOUND THIS 1986 TOSHIBA LAPTOP AT A THRIFT STORE. 'TOOK IT OFF THEIR HANDS FOR A MERE $23.00 WITH ACCESSORIES. IT RUNS A PROGRAM I DOWNLOADED FROM THE MAKERS OF THE GRID-TIE INVERTER. THE PROGRAM DISPLAYS THE ACTUAL LINE VOLTAGE, THE INPUT LINE VOLTAGE (24v), THE TEMPERATURE OF THE UNIT, AND HOW MUCH KILOWATT HOURS I HAVE PUT BACK ONTO THE LOCAL POWER GRID. I HAD TO ORDER THE ADAPTER SHOWN. IT HOWEVER, WAS NOT SO INEXPENSIVE.

   

IN THE BACK OF THE VAN, THE BED DID NOT EXTEND OUT FAR ENOUGH FOR TWO TO SLEEP COMFORTABLY, SO I BUILT THIS WOODEN TRUNK AND FOUND SOME 4 -INCH UPHOLSTERY FOAM AND SEWED UP A NEW CUSHION FOR IT. WE REALLY GET A GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP ON THE BED NOW, AND WE CAN KEEP OUR CLOTHES NEATLY PACKED AWAY UNDERNEATH.

BECAUSE OF THIS PROJECT, HOLLY AND I HAVE BOTH LEARNED A LOT MORE ABOUT WHY WE NEED TO CONSERVE ENERGY AND HOW WE CAN EFFECTIVELY MAKE REAL CHANGE IN OUR WORLD --- JUST BY SIMPLY FLIPPING OFF A SWITCH! A LOT OF FOLKS LEAVE THINGS ON AND THEN WALK AWAY AND FORGET ABOUT THEM. TV'S, OVENS, LIGHTS, RADIOS, AND THE LIKE. THAT BEHAVIOR BECOMES HABIT, AND THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW 40% OF YOUR TOTAL HOUSEHOLD BILL IS THAT MUCH MORE ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE AND THAT MUCH LESS CASH IN YOUR POCKET. BY THE WAY, COMPACT FLORESCENT LIGHTS ARE GREAT FOR SAVING ENERGY, MONEY, AND REDUCING POLLUTION. WE'VE REPLACED EVERY LIGHT ON OUR FARM WITH THEM.



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