mobile solar power question

[tomt]

Hey guys and girls,

I am new to solar and need some help. I am a general contractor in colorado springs and have and cargo or box trailer that I would like to install solar power on. The trailer is about 10 ft tall 7 ft wide and 12 ft long. I would like to use golf cart batterys and could cover the whole roof with panels if needed. I have heard that golf cart batterys work better because they have thicker plates than car batterys which means slower draining and faster charging. I would be running dc lights, air commpressor, chop saw and it would be nice to install a small frig if possible. This project could add close to 1000 lbs to the trailer if needed cause I dont haul material much. I would like this to be a homemade project and as cost effective as possible. If anyone could give a idea of the right materials to use and a basic description of proper installation that would be great. As far as the total amount of amps used at any given time I will try to put that together over the next couple of days. Most of these tools will be used intermittently.

Thanks for your help

[russ]

You really have to determine how much power you need for anyone to comment. Power tools are power hogs - especially when you first push the button.

Take a Kill A Watt meter or similar and measure each tool & fridge - lighting can easily be added up.

It will be quite costly and you will still need the generator as a backup during cloudy/stormy periods.

We have been through these type of trailers before and usually sticker shock ends the discussion.

[Mike90250]

So, there are a couple ways to do this, you can build this as a "battery only" with a small genset providing charge power, and if that proves effective, you can add some $olar later. To run an air compressor, chop saw, and other large tools, you will need a large pure sine inverter and likely a 48V battery bank.
Here's a parts list for pricing:
2000 w auto throttle inverter genset ($1,000)
XW6048 240VAC inverter/charger (std USA split phase) ($5,000)
8, L16 6V batteries (400ah, 48V bank) $___
Wire box [Midnight] $___
Battery & Inverter Interconnects ($1,000)
Runs gear all day on a gallon or 2 of gasoline
When you tire of gasoline, you can as as many PV panels to the roof as you can cram, and
that will cut the gasoline demand in half. Maybe. And cost you $$$ for the panels (that can buy a lot of gasoline!)

I have much of this, and the inverter runs the compressor, saws, well pump and arc welder flawlessly.

[Wy_White_Wolf]

I am a new too, keep going, come on.

We really need more info on your usage (see Russ's post about the Kill-a-watt meter) to go much farther.

Something to look at though

http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/yago108.html

WWW

[Sunking]

We really need more info on your usage (see Russ's post about the Kill-a-watt meter) to go much farther.

Something to look at though

http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/yago108.html

WWW

WWW he is a SPAMMER trying to sell cheap communist solar lights.

[tomt]

holy corona light!

Yeah I was thinking of a scrap yard type of build here. Guess that won't be the case. I will check the kilowatts over the next couple days. Also if i have a bigger battery bank does that mean I can cut back on the amount of solar panels. If I use golf cart 12v batterys they are about 65 lbs a peice I can safely have 10 of those without loading down my trailer to much.

This project isn't something that has to happen over night I've just been wanting to do this for about two years know and have no idea.

[Naptown]

Yeah I was thinking of a scrap yard type of build here. Guess that won't be the case. I will check the kilowatts over the next couple days. Also if i have a bigger battery bank does that mean I can cut back on the amount of solar panels. If I use golf cart 12v batterys they are about 65 lbs a peice I can safely have 10 of those without loading down my trailer to much.

This project isn't something that has to happen over night I've just been wanting to do this for about two years know and have no idea.

Actually no you will need a larger solar bank.