The sun works

The sun works.

It had been apparent for some while that things where not right when it came to our house batteries.
They where not keeping the charge and newer lasted long. We had to limit our use of electricity and it was giving me some problems working.
This was in-spite of the fact that we had more than enough of solar power. As my knowledge of electricity, let alone 12v systems was below freezing point, I had been reading what is said to be the RV'ers electrical bible. Understanding 12 volt by (setja inn nafn). This had helped me a lot in understanding that AC/DC was more than a good rock and roll band. By now I knew some thing was wrong. Still I was not sure how to solve the problem.
I had before leaving Iceland stumbled up on some websites with information and probably through the desert duch learnt about Slab City and Solar Mike. Michael Gohl has set up a company in Slab City that he calls The sun works. http://thesunworks.com

I decided (as it was said that if nothing else he would give me free advise) to visit Mike before I wold do any thing by my self. And am I glad that I did.

After I told him about my problems, he took one look at my meters ,and the result was there. This is not right, at this time of day the meters should not be like that. After a little discussion he said I needed nothing but new batteries. The only problem was that we had to go the most expensive road if we where to fit them in the same space as the old batteries where. I did not mind. If it would solve my problem in the way it was described, it would make me so happy that the cost was irrelevant. Beside, by having enough electricity I would be even better self contained than before. Thus I could save money by staying here and there in stead of having to go regularly into some RV parks with hook ups.

For some one that is living full time in the RV as we do this is in fact not so much money. If we calculate the cost pr. day estimating that the life time of the MGM gel batteries installed is 3 years we will be paying 1.5 dollars a day for the electricity. It can not get better than this. I still have not taken in to account the cost of the solar cells. This of course will raise the price a bit but only to 2 or 3 dollars as the cells will outlast the batteries in lifetime. This is less than I would pay for electricity back home, and it is cheap compared to some or most of the states in USA.

We ended up doing more than just installing 6 new MGM Gel batteries. We even pulled out some of the cables and put in new ones. Thus having less amount of cables but more efficient ones. Just in case, as you never know how much sun you have we also put up an charger that can be hooked up to outside electricity or a generator. After having this setup for 12 days I can not describe how happy I am. I have not been able to pull down the voltages of those batteries, and believe me I have tried. Just think about it. Charging batteries for my cameras. Two computers on with external hard drives running, and radio or TV. Still at night it shows better charging after all this than the old regular batteries ever showed

If you are one of those full time RV'ers that like dry camping you should definitely consider getting solar energy. Even if you are not a full timer. It pays of.

I can recommend Mike and his Sun works he is fair in price and is goo and sound in his advise not even being afraid to tell you that you don't need solar power. Before selling you any thing he will ask you about your lifestyle and thus calculate your needs. In one case I heard of, he told this elderly lady that on the grounds of here life style (staying so much in parks and doing almost no dry camping) it would be a waste of here money to invest in solar systems.
How many sales persons are that honest today? Recently I only have met on and that was a guy in Apple store in las Vegas. Just like Mike he did not try to bullshit us with some techno mambo jambo.
It is always a pleasure doing business with people like that.

I can highly recommend solar Mike and his company

You can visit his website at
http://www.thesunworks.com

• kristjan's blog
• Login or register to post comments
•