HELP........I want a very SMALL and basic SOLAR set-up.........Please.

[Murphy]

That is because you are not starving to death.

Even if I was starving, unless I've turned to cannibalism or decided I wanted some lead in my diet, I'm not going to run towards the gun shots.

I have no idea where you would get the idea that hungry people would interpret gun shots as food.

[Sourdough]

I have no idea where you would get the idea that hungry people would interpret gun shots as food.

You spend 40+ years as a professional hunter, you equate a gun shot with dead game animal.

[Murphy]

You spend 40+ years as a professional hunter, you equate a gun shot with dead game animal.

In normal times maybe.. I can understand that. But in an SHTF situation? I think a hungry person is more likely to go elsewhere rather than run to someone armed with a hunting rifle.

[Sourdough]

In normal times maybe.. I can understand that. But in an SHTF situation? I think a hungry person is more likely to go elsewhere rather than run to someone armed with a hunting rifle.

Maybe........but if there are 37 people in that group or 77 people in a group who are starving and dying, they can risk sending a lot of humans. Even if the shot was someone killing someone, the dead person makes a lot of stew.

And they may well have 77 people armed with rifles.

Notice how it always comes back around to hiding from humans.

[Murphy]

Maybe........but if there are 37 people in that group or 77 people in a group who are starving and dying, they can risk sending a lot of humans. Even if the shot was someone killing someone, the dead person makes a lot of stew.

And they may well have 77 people armed with rifles.

Notice how it always comes back around to hiding from humans.

You think 37 or 77 starving people in a group are just going to be wandering around the deep woods acting and making decisions as one large organism?
Sorry man, but you and I have two very different ideas on what SHTF would be like...

I tend to lean more towards New Orleans, Bosnia, and what historical precedent has shown.

[Sourdough]

You think 37 or 77 starving people in a group are just going to be wandering around the deep woods acting and making decisions as one large organism?
Sorry man, but you and I have two very different ideas on what SHTF would be like...

I tend to lean more towards New Orleans, Bosnia, and what historical precedent has shown.

And your willing to wager the wellbeing of your loved ones on that.........it is fine. We all get to choose. And if there is a test.......(and I believe there will be a test).......that test will only have two possible grades, and one of those grades sucks.

I'll not argue with you, I'll not even attempt to alter your chosen course. I actually hope you are correct.

[Murphy]

And your willing to wager the wellbeing of your loved ones on that.........it is fine. We all get to choose. And if there is a test.......(and I believe there will be a test).......that test will only have two possible grades, and one of those grades sucks.

I'll not argue with you, I'll not even attempt to alter your chosen course. I actually hope you are correct.

I'm pretty confident there will never be a test in my, or your, lifetime.. but just in case...

[Nik]

Have you looked into researching yachty-grade stuff ?
Anything that will carry on working during a ghastly 'Roaring Forties' gale while being flung from side to side and drenched with brine has much to commend it...

Another would be to look at the stuff eg USGS use for remote sensor stations. Ham repeaters may bear investigation...

[Dorobuta]

For a very basic setup with about 100 watts of power, believe it or not, harbor freight has a decent portable set up. You need to add a 12 v battery to it for use at night.

one of my friends has this set up and we use it at deer camp. It charges the battery during the day while we are out hunting and then use it to run lights and charge electronics.

it was a couple hundred bucks without a battery. We’ve used it four years now without any problems.

might be worth looking at.

[RICHFL]

You guys are way of subject! To Dorobuta, to understand power needs you need to figure out how much power you need, i.e. Watts is how appliances, tools, Conn etc. Need. Watts is volts x amps. If you use a 12 volt system or need a converter? Outdoor lighting is easy, solar powered lights including security lights that shine when a warm body steps in its range. Appliances can be purchased (RV) that use 12 volts cost can come down at RV store or buy used.

You will need a covered area where to store your batteries. Water proof! The energy companies will sell you very expensive kits if you let them. But with research you can buy your items to build it you self.

[Dorobuta]

You guys are way of subject! To Dorobuta, to understand power needs you need to figure out how much power you need, i.e. Watts is how appliances, tools, Conn etc. Need. Watts is volts x amps. If you use a 12 volt system or need a converter? Outdoor lighting is easy, solar powered lights including security lights that shine when a warm body steps in its range. Appliances can be purchased (RV) that use 12 volts cost can come down at RV store or buy used.

You will need a covered area where to store your batteries. Water proof! The energy companies will sell you very expensive kits if you let them. But with research you can buy your items to build it you self.

you are 100% correct.

The setup I was describing includes the inverter. OP was looking for small. If 100 watts isn’t enough to keep batteries charged, then you go bigger

i understand how to size panels and have used watt meters to size out requirements. I am a go at least 20% larger than your peak requirements kind of guy.

to do it right, you are going to spend some money and you will need some basic knowledge. I was just suggesting a plug and play system that may or may not meet OPs needs.

you could keep several batteries charged and use them in switched banks to run an inverter, depending on your power needs. I’d look into one of the expedition type refrigerators if I needed to keep meds cool. They’re optimized for 12v systems.

[Tugaloo]

you are 100% correct.

The setup I was describing includes the inverter. OP was looking for small. If 100 watts isn’t enough to keep batteries charged, then you go bigger

i understand how to size panels and have used watt meters to size out requirements. I am a go at least 20% larger than your peak requirements kind of guy.

to do it right, you are going to spend some money and you will need some basic knowledge. I was just suggesting a plug and play system that may or may not meet OPs needs.

you could keep several batteries charged and use them in switched banks to run an inverter, depending on your power needs. I’d look into one of the expedition type refrigerators if I needed to keep meds cool. They’re optimized for 12v systems.

For RV camping, I looked into it once. This is an expensive solution:

https://www.etrailer.com/p-342-75011.html

As it lists all the components needed to build a whole RV system, you can build a significantly less expensive kit to power your DC refrigerator.

[Armyjimbo]

Heres a minimal set, run it to a charge controller and to a battery