Wind Power for Boondocking--Weigh the Noise

If you're a boondocker, no doubt power is a major concern: Keeping enough juice in the batteries for all the things electricity is needed for can be a challenge. We hear you! We've got solar and wind to keep up with our boondocking, and we feel it's a great combination.

Dollar for dollar, wind power puts out more power than solar panels--provided, of course, there's wind to push the blades. Head down to Quartzsite, Arizona any winter and you'll find out that's one place where wind power is a definite advantage. But if you're a believer in pristine silence, take a step back. Even as I write this blog I can hear the wind tugging at the RV's windows--and if I listen closely, 25 feet away at the far end of my rig I can hear the gentle thrum of my wind turbine. If you can' stand a dull, constant sound, wind power may not be for you.

Not sure? Pick a breezy day on the desert and find a wind turbine user. Drive up, knock on the door, and let the owner know you're interested in wind. Chances are the owner will be happy to tell you all about his wind plant, and he may even invite you in for a listen. If you don't mind the sound, it's a great way to charge your batteries.

For more information on wind power an boondocking, check out our book, RV Boondocking Basics.

Texas Boondock? Go One Better

It's not always easy finding just the right boondocking locale in Texas--a lot of the land is tied up in private holdings. There is a (not so?) secret way you can take advantage of that warm winter Texas climate and still have access to some of the "purty-est" places in all of the Lone Star State: Be a campground host.

Texas State Parks dot the entire state, and the system needs camp hosts. Hosts typically volunteer 25 hours a week to caring for the needs of campground visitors in exchange for a camp site, most all with full utility hookups. Other folks find their niche doing office work or interpretive duties. All in all, it's a rewarding way to see this big state. Visit this site for more information.

Add a Battery?

With winter coming on, plenty of boondockers are heading south to the warmer climes. Solar power is definitely riding high on the list of questions that folks have. But even if you have a whole "farm" of solar panels on your roof, you've still got to have someplace to bank that power. A big "whatif" is this one: What if there's no more room in my battery compartment for more batteries?

Yes, Virginia, you really can stick more batteries in your RV. It's best to keep the add-on battery as close to the originals as possible, or else relocate all of them to the "new" location. Why come? Well, the longer the run of wire to the battery the more the power loss. The battery or batteries closest to the power source--your solar panels for example--will get a better charge. Some suggest that if you can't get them all together, then you could conceivably "rotate" them from position to position. Making sure they get fully charged is really important, because this will prevent sulfation, a killer of batteries.

In any event, you should always do your best to use the same make and manufacture of batteries, and ideally they should all be replaced or installed at the same time. Why so? Older batteries will have less life in them, and will "take the new guys out." Batteries wired in parallel want to "see" the same voltage between them. The higher voltage battery will "lend" juice to the lower voltage battery, pretty soon, everybody suffers.

In putting together an alternative battery location, be sure there's no chance for hydrogen gas (a byproduct of charging a "flooded" lead acid battery) to get into your coach interior. The compartment should be vented to the outside world. Some worry that the battery gassing will corrode the inside of the compartment--they suggest painting or somehow coating the inside of the compartment to prevent this. Well----we've added batteries in other compartments and never experienced any corrosion issues--of course, we made sure there was good ventilation.

If you're really worried, you can install your new battery in a vented battery box. Looks a lot like your "normal" battery box with a plastic lid, but a hose comes out of the top and can be led to a point where outside air is accessible. That should keep any nasty gases from even thinking about getting close to your compartment walls. Here's one you can buy on the internet.

Newbee Has Generator Questions

A friend of ours, after spending a few days running down his RV battery, queried a group of RVers about generators. He's a family man and doesn't spend more than a total of a couple of weeks a year camping with the wife and kiddies. Most of his time is spent in the cooler areas of the west coast, so he doesn't have much of a need for air conditioning, but his family is addicted to the microwave oven.

We talked about wind and solar, and of course, the subject did have to come around to generators. His rig is not pre-wired for a generator, so he's looking at a freestanding unit. Our advice, "Get enough muscle to power your microwave, add a little bit more, and try to keep it a quiet one--don't buy the handy dandy contractor model!" Our pick, of course, would be one of those little red Honda units, but we know there are "others" that may fit the bill.

We also pointed out that if he's not going to go solar to recharge his rig "house" battery that he should take along a hefty shore-power battery charger, something that will quickly recharge his RV batteries, rather than trying to rely on the typically whimpy "12 volt" output of so many of the generators on the market today.

So here's a chance for your help: How many of you have used the small Hondas or an "alternative" version of one of those little quiet units? Are they reliable? Truly "boondock friendly"? We'll pass along your reviews.