Solar Cell and Mouse Chaser for Winter

[NoviBill]

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

[SeaDog]

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

[PhilFromMaine]

Originally Posted by NoviBill

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

Attachment 281748

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.

[Aussieguy]

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

[5picker]

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.

[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.

[NoviBill]

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.

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.

[richp]

Give us a full report in few months.

[NoviBill]

Originally Posted by richp

Give us a full report in few months.

I trust the math, but I will know the truth by the end of December.

[Aussieguy]

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

[TowPro]

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

[PhilFromMaine]

Originally Posted by NoviBill

I trust the math, but I will know the truth by the end of December.

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.

[TowPro]

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.

[NoviBill]

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.

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.

[NoviBill]

I checked on the batteries yesterday. At noon and mostly sunny they were at 100%

[snapcap14]

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.

[dedobias]

Ultrasound mice repllers are a scam.
https://youtu.be/PW8FbXRCF9U

[MevetS]

Say it ain't so !

[mnoland30]

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.

[TowPro]

well they keep lizards out of my boat