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11-21-2022, 08:28 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Novi, MI USA
Posts: 593
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Solar Cell and Mouse Chaser for Winter
I added a 110 watt solar cell and an inverter with two electronic mouse chasers for winter storage.
I am hoping it gets enough sunlight even with Michigan snow to Lee my battery above 50% running the inverter and normal parasitic load.
https://www.amazon.com/Bell-Howell-U...28754213&psc=1
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11-22-2022, 08:45 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Idaho
Posts: 12,003
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unless your rig is pointed north if that is the solar cell on the back cargo box its not going to get the best sun. I would think on the roof would do a better job. JMHO
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Retired Navy
Jake my sidekick (yellow Lab) 10/04 - 05/20
2017 RAM 2500 CC 4X4 Cummins Diesel
2016 Flagstaff 26 FKWS
AF&AM & El Korah Shrine of Idaho
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11-22-2022, 09:31 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Maine
Posts: 891
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NoviBill
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Bill,
I assume that these units use next to zero power to operate. However, by just leaving your inverter on, you are going to be using about 1 amp per hour plus any parasitic load there is. Assuming a total of two amps per hour which would be around say 50 amps per day.
The solar panel of 110 watts under the best Summer conditions will yield approx. 6 amps for 6 hours of sunlight or 36 total amps per day. Being in MI in the Winter would mean even less current gain.
I just found this on the WEB for MI:
"Sunlight
State Sunlight Rank: 42/50
Average Annual Sunlight Hours: 2300 hours
Clear Days: 71 days per year
Summer Peak Sun Hours: 4.71 hours per day
Winter Peak Sun Hours: 2.7 hours per day
Average Peak Sun Hours The average of daily peak sun hours for a flat solar panel on a fixed tilt that does not track the sun in the sky. : 4.0 hours per day."
I don't know anything about the battery capacity. IMO, it will have to be occasionally recharged and monitored.
__________________
2018 Coachmen Freedom Express Liberty Edition 231RBDSLE
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11-22-2022, 09:35 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2022
Location: Tarpon Springs FL
Posts: 1,349
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snow much where you are ?I doubt that you'll get enough power from one panel in winter to keep the battery charged and the mousey things working
at most you'll see about 4 hours of charging time but will be on lower amps .
do them mousy things even work?
being on asphalt... with no ground cover
would take a real brave and hungry mouse to go out foraging there.
remove ALL food from trailer add some mothballs in strategic locations
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Tarpon Springs FL
2022 Salem 24RLXL
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11-22-2022, 09:43 AM
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#5
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Pickin', Campin', Mason
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: South Western PA
Posts: 16,970
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That's a lot of "hoping" for something that likely won't work anyway.
The panel is too small, not in a good location (on roof would be better) and with an inverter and other parasitic loads, it simply won't be enough.
Those "sonic" pest deterrents are useless and you are going to wind up with a dead/ruined battery.(ies)
Not trying to ruin your party but your expectations are going to fall short on this one.
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2022 Cedar Creek 345IK 5th Wheel•Solar & Inverter•2017 Ford F-Series SCREW 4x4•Factory Puck•B&W Companion•TST Tire Monitor w/Repeater•Sinemate 3500w Gen.
F&AM Lodge 358 Somerset, PA - JAFFA Shrine - Altoona, PA
Days Camped: '18=48 ☼ '19=58 ☼ '20=110 ☼ '21=116 ☼ '22=112 ☼ '23=32
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11-22-2022, 11:36 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Dayton Ohio
Posts: 3,020
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on your panels best day in west texas during the summer it will produce 24 amps. However in Michigan in the winter there are clouds all the time. Plus you have to remove the snow. DW grew up in Wyandotte.
The paracitic loads wil be over 30 per day. Expect the battery to be dead in a day or two. Four might make a week. Bring a new one for the spring.
A 100 watt solar panel in Michigan would be considered a learning tool. Most rv's consume far more power per day than they can provide.
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11-22-2022, 07:58 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Novi, MI USA
Posts: 593
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tomkatb
on your panels best day in west texas during the summer it will produce 24 amps. However in Michigan in the winter there are clouds all the time. Plus you have to remove the snow. DW grew up in Wyandotte.
The paracitic loads wil be over 30 per day. Expect the battery to be dead in a day or two. Four might make a week. Bring a new one for the spring.
A 100 watt solar panel in Michigan would be considered a learning tool. Most rv's consume far more power per day than they can provide.
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The lot is “patrolled” by Red Tailed Hawk that I have seen many times.
On Solar Cell power:
Assume I get the equivalent of 30 minutes of sunlight a day. That is 55 watt hours or (55/12) 4.5 amp hours at 12 volt.
Loads:
Propane sensor 90ma*24 hours 0.2 amp hours.
Mouse repellent 1 watts (1/12) 83ma*25 hours 2amp hours make it 3 amp hours for invert loss
So total load is 3.2 amp hours per day and battery charge is 4.5 on average. I have a 90 amp hour battery do 45 usable amp hours without battery degradation. So I can service 10 days without sunlight and on average should be charging the battery.
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11-22-2022, 08:19 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: IL
Posts: 1,256
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Give us a full report in few months.
__________________
Rich Phillips
2019 K-2500 Duramax Crew Cab
2014 Silverback 33RL
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11-22-2022, 10:00 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Novi, MI USA
Posts: 593
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Quote:
Originally Posted by richp
Give us a full report in few months.
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I trust the math, but I will know the truth by the end of December.
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11-23-2022, 08:24 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2022
Location: Tarpon Springs FL
Posts: 1,349
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The lot is “patrolled” by Red Tailed Hawk that I have seen many times.
so who /what gets the credit for no mouse damage...
a) the hawk
b) overly cautious mouse won't go on asphalt
c) electrons
On Solar Cell power:
Assume I get the equivalent of 30 minutes of sunlight a day. That is 55 watt hours or (55/12) 4.5 amp hours at 12 volt.
(55/12) 4.5 amp hours at 12 volt.
that's with a good well placed, clean panel with good wiring and no voltage drop
Loads:
Propane sensor 90ma*24 hours 0.2 amp hours.
Mouse repellent 1 watts (1/12) 83ma*25 hours 2amp hours make it 3 amp hours for invert loss
couldn't find actual figures for power consumption
but google did suggest ..." class action lawsuit "
looks like plenty of people don't like this product
including the Judge that said there is merit and enough proof that the device don't chase off mice.
Citing a picture of mouse sitting on top of device keeping warm?
Whether it works or not ... I'm skeptical.
So total load is 3.2 amp hours per day and battery charge is 4.5 on average. I have a 90 amp hour battery do 45 usable amp hours without battery degradation. So I can service 10 days without sunlight and on average should be charging the battery
__________________
Tarpon Springs FL
2022 Salem 24RLXL
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11-23-2022, 08:33 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 1,554
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why even deal with an inverter? I had mice in my MBS that went away once I started using One of these 12V contraptions. I have since put one in my boat (under the cover) and have not seen any signs of boats or lizards in the boat since.
in the MBS I used to turn the battery switch off, but the solar was connected direct to keep batteries charged even with coach turned off.
I used alligator clips on the mouse repeller and connected it direct to battery which were under the step
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No RV currently
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11-23-2022, 08:57 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Maine
Posts: 891
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NoviBill
I trust the math, but I will know the truth by the end of December. 
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Firstly, I want to applaud the OP's innovative approach to finding a solution. It is this thinking "out of the box" that gives us new methods and technology.
Secondly, IMO, there are some issues that need to be "ironed out" with the mathematical assumptions used. My numbers differ from the OP's:
My numbers:
90ma=.09amps multiplied by 24 hours=2.16 AH
83ma=.083amps multiplied by 24 hours=1.99 AH
at idle an inverter (my inverter) uses about .8 amps multiplied 24=19.2 AH
Total AH =23.35 AH per day
obviously, the weak point here is the use of an inverter. It is too bad the mouse devices weren't 12 volt devices that you could wire up directly to the battery.
__________________
2018 Coachmen Freedom Express Liberty Edition 231RBDSLE
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11-23-2022, 09:21 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 1,554
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I think I would have put the panel on the roof so it gets full time sun at any point of the year. it can be used to charge batteries while in storage all the time but if he is covering motor-home that will not work. Another thought is if your facing the correct direction; put a way on that rear panel to tilt the panel to around 45 deg for better angle which creates longer solar charge time. This might also help the snow slide off and cause less periods of interruption.
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No RV currently
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11-23-2022, 09:21 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Novi, MI USA
Posts: 593
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PhilFromMaine
Firstly, I want to applaud the OP's innovative approach to finding a solution. It is this thinking "out of the box" that gives us new methods and technology.
Secondly, IMO, there are some issues that need to be "ironed out" with the mathematical assumptions used. My numbers differ from the OP's:
My numbers:
90ma=.09amps multiplied by 24 hours=2.16 AH
83ma=.083amps multiplied by 24 hours=1.99 AH
at idle an inverter (my inverter) uses about .8 amps multiplied 24=19.2 AH
Total AH =23.35 AH per day
obviously, the weak point here is the use of an inverter. It is too bad the mouse devices weren't 12 volt devices that you could wire up directly to the battery.
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Thanks for double checking my math, it appears to be required.
I agree with your numbers.
The question issues is around the inverters draw, I guess I will know in a few weeks. The winter solstice is almost here.
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11-27-2022, 11:39 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Novi, MI USA
Posts: 593
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I checked on the batteries yesterday. At noon and mostly sunny they were at 100%
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12-01-2022, 08:57 PM
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#16
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Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 61
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My friend had mouse chasers and mice in his house. Guess they don’t work on country mice. That or you need to train the mice. They would walk right past them.
Now he has inside and outside cats no more micron the house.
We have had a cat since we built the house no mice knock on wood. But have them in the detached garage. Cats don’t go outside.
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12-02-2022, 07:03 AM
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#18
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Steve & Linda M.
Join Date: Dec 2021
Location: SW Michigan
Posts: 290
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Say it ain't so !
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Started in the "Pumpkin" '79 Burnt Orange Dodge "Street Van" ... NW cruise, Canadian Rockies, Round trip to Alaska. Then' 94 Tioga Montara, '06 Jayco Jay Flight 5th Wheel. Workmanship decline started : '15 Thor Siesta & '17 Tiffin Breeze.
Another RV learning experience with our 2022 34KD Force.
2019 Jeep KL (Cherokee) TOAD
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12-02-2022, 07:45 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Albuquerque
Posts: 1,134
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Sloping your panel at 45° will help the snow melt off, and help clean it when it rains. Solar panels are more effeicient in the cold, so pointing east might work best, but in snow country, I'd aim it southwest so that the sun melts the snow during the warmest part of the day. Inverters are more efficient when they are sized for the load. If you don't go with the 12v pest controllers, I'd recommend installing an inverter that is just big enough to run the controllers.
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2009 Roo 21ss + 2007 Superduty 6.0
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12-02-2022, 11:46 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 1,554
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well they keep lizards out of my boat
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No RV currently
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