Pop Up Camper

A Recreational Vehicle (RV) gives you independence from hotel bookings and allows you to change your journey at will.  In theory you can go anywhere you like, but often you are limited to where to park for the night because you need a source of electricity.  Even if you use your batteries to power on-board appliances they will need recharging from time to time – usually more often than you had planned! And be warned, regularly flattening a battery will shorten its life dramatically. But there is now an attractive option that will give you the freedom of the road, and you can make it yourself easily and cheaply.

Most RVs have on-board generators, but these tend to be noisy, smelly and gas-guzzlers.  These days you can fit solar panels to your RV which will give you all or most of the power you need without hammering your battery, and literally anybody can put these together in their backyard.  Your generator, if you have one, can then become a backup – much less wearing on the ears and pocket. Keep your generator for powering the lights at your next backyard party!

Solar panels for RVs can be easily stored if foldable, and they tend to be quite lightweight so are easily moveable. One 4ft x 2 ft solar panel will generate about 75 to 100 watts, which is about the same as a pair of golf cart batteries.  A typical 24 ft RV would probably manage on this but it would depend, of course, on your personal electrical requirements. Most RVs use no more than 400 watts.  Perhaps start with a couple of solar panels, and fit some more as needed. We have some more information about this here.

If you plan to use your RV regularly in hot weather, you will have one or two other things to consider.  You will need to fit a solar-powered battery charger with battery temperature compensation to prevent overcharging of, and damage to, your batteries.  Also, solar panels on the roof of an RV can get very warm, which can lower their efficiency and can lead to a drop in voltage. Ensure that your solar panels have a rating of at least 17 volts to ofset this loss.  Just keep these thoughts in mind when planning your RV’s solar panel system.

There is a good range of RV solar panel kits on the market but these tend to be very pricey.  We thoroughly recommend making your own. You will find it very easy, a lot of fun, and literally anybody can do it.  And much cheaper than buying a kit.  It is very sensible, however, to get professional advice and guidance as you plan and build your solar panel, otherwise you could end up with a system that does not work properly or even at all.  Don’t worry, professional advice and step-by-step instructions are readily available if you know the right source, and only cost a few bucks.  We believe this is a good investment.

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Have you ever wondered how insurance companies come up with your Car Insurance Quotations? It may seem random, but in reality several factors are taken into account. While there are some factors you can change, others are really out of your hands. Here are a few of the factors that go into the calculation of car insurance quotes.

Age

Older people will have lower car insurance ratings than teenangers who just earned their licenses. Statistically, young and inexperienced drivers have higher accidents rates.

The Use of Vehicle

One thing that becomes an important factor is your annual mileage, whether your car is used for daily commute or business purposes. Of course, those with fewer miles will be less likely to have an accicident compare with those who drive more often. In other words your car insurance will be lower when you use less of your vehicle.

The Type of Your Car

When it comes to car and insurance, its safety statistics are important, and the average cost of repairs for your make and model figure in as well. An expensive minivan or crossover vehicle will cost less to insure than an expensive import or sports car.

Driving Record

Obviously, people with better driving records pay less for car insurance than people with several tickets or accidents on their record. The more moving violations you accumulate, the higher your insurance rate will be when they rate give you your Car Insurance Quotations.

Your Address

Insurance companies want to know where you live: what kind of neighborhood it is, how densely populated it is, and how busy the streets are. If you live in a city your Car Insurance Quotations will probably be higher than if you live in a rural area.

Credit History

You may not believe it, but your credit history is truly taken into account when it comes to figuring car insurace quotations. If you have a good credit history, you may pay less for your car insurance than those with bad credit scores. It is very important to know that each providers can give different quotations for your car insurance, so you better get at least five quotes before choosing any of them.

Technorati Tags: auto insurance, car insurance quotes, RV insurance