Input on solar chargers for hardside ice house

[rocki]

Any input on how they work, what brands are good, im looking to keep the deep cells charged in the house without removing them all the time if possible!

[nytelyter]

no problem. i wish i knew how to repost an old topic but i am sure someone will do it for me as i have done quite a bit of research on this very subject. and small wind generators as well. you can do a search on my screen name from last september. i am currently running three 15 watt panels with a charge controller and am now saveing for a 45 watt plug n play to add to them. i will be running an optima deep cycle this year. AND i fish every night. and have all the toys in my house. lights, tv, dvd, stereo and an inverter. on a side note i have seen 15 watt panels at northern tool for about $80 but dont know if they include a charge controller. they are sarting to come down in price. but plan on over buying not under buying. on some days you can never have enuff. ... paul

[rocki]

DOES IT REALLY TAKE THREE OF THEM TO CHARGE A SINGLE BATTERY? I AM NOT UP TO DATE ON THESE CHARGERS, BUT DO YOU THINK ITS WORTH THE INVESTMENT?

[nytelyter]

its really going to depend on how much you are planning on being init

i started with just one 15 watt panel, and that was not enough then i bought a two pack to add toit. thing is i have almost $700 invested in them. and i will tell ya, that it did keep a great charge on my one regular deep cycle battery. i never had to take it home with me all winter.if i had it to do over again i would probably just get a 45 watt panel. maybe two of them. i am an overkill person. but be ready a good quality 45 watt panel can set you back about 5 bills maybe less about now. i havent looked in a while. i based all of my original post on a very lengthly conversation i had with one of the guys at the alternitive energy area at the state fair last year. there were up by the technoligy building . i dont know if they will be there this year but if you hit the fair it might be worth a walk up there to get more of your questions answered. the guy has two fishhouses that have a enough panels onit to run a microwave and everything else in the shack. but, he does have some REAL good batteries that are designed for solor power storage. those batteries run about $500 a piece. so to somewhat answer your question. it really depends on what you are planning to run. and how often and long you are going to be there. if it is just some lights led or otherwise. you can get away with just a single panel or two. but if you are going to be running a power inverter and lots of toys. go big or go home ... early. heheheheh my goal is 1000 watts and then i may consider a small wind generator. please do a search for more information i have previously posted. ... paul

[nofish]

would a wind generator be more cost effective than the solar charging system? solar charging sounds pretty expensive.

[calli4120]

Quote:

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would a wind generator be more cost effective than the solar charging system? solar charging sounds pretty expensive.

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I have no idea of the cost of a wind gererator but it seems like it would be a better option then solar. Lakes always have a breeze blowing across them and you could charge your batteries day and night rather then just the few hours of daylight we get in the winter.

Again, I have not really done any research on this and there may be more factors that I don't know about.

I'm just getting started in ice fishing as last year was my first year and I'm still learning.

[nofish]

yeah, I have only been doing it for a couple of years also.I was looking into a charging system for my battery.

[jigginlow]

Rocki- I don't mean to sway you from your objective, but I thought it is worth mentioning you can buy one of the super quiet Honda generators that output 1000W for about $600.00 . They are really light and very quiet as I understand it, two things that are very important to me when I'm on the ice. I'm debating buying one myself, although I think it would be neat to have the solar panels as well. Good luck on your search. Again, just trying to offer you some alternatives that you may or may not have considered.

[nytelyter]

in my original post you will see that my original idea was to go with wind just for the fact that you stated there is almost always wind on the ice and these units will spin with a minimum of 7mph. however the reason i am starting with sufficient solar is the vibration factor. although the new carbon fiber blades are much more flexible and these units will magnetitly protect them selves in heavy winds. the guy i talked to said they are very noisey. now i have not heard one in operation. but this guy sells both systems. but like i have also said i eventually want to add one to my set up. but will only do so after i hear one in action. because even if you let it run while you are away that vibration will be transmitting right down thru the ice and scare those lil fisheys away. ... paul