Dave Halliday Southam Newspapers ADAM Webb offers a simple test for deter- mining if you need a solar panel to keep the battery in your recre- ational vehicle charged. “If you've never had a dead battery, you don’t need solar panels,” Powersource inc. in Calgary. For example, RVers who usually stop tor only one night in a location then move will have the RV. battery charged by the alternator. However, people who dry camp in one location for se eral days can find the RV bar- tery going dead. Hf you're continually run- ning out of power, solar pan- els are an option. Of course, generators are another option, but their noise makes them unwel- come in many campgrounds. Plus, generators have ongoing costs for mainte- nance and fuel and eventually wear out. “For the cost of a genera- tor, you can get a reaily nice solar system,” Webb said. In addition, solar power is pollution-free. He said solar power is gaining in popularity with RVers. Sales are increasing 50% a year. Weob = said the life expectancy of a solar panel is 40 to SO years. Spencer Evans, RV mar- keting manager for Soltek Solar Energy Ltd., demon- strated how tough solar pan- els are during a seminar CPgy SVSTEMs aid Webb of recently at an RV show and sale here He placed a panel on the floor and walked on it the panel wasn't damaged While the panel withstood the test, Evans told the audi epee he didn’t recommend walking or sanding on the panels. The panels Soltek sells carry rowarranty and Evans pointed out that some panels have alre been in service 30 to 40 years Solar power has the advantage of charging the battery. whenever there is sunlight — even on dull, cloudy days. A solar panel system can keep the battery or batteries charged without effort from the RV owner. The size of the panel determines its output, but more than one can be wired in series to produce more electricity, Evans sa‘d. In contrast, a generator charges only when it’s cun- ning and may have to operate eight to 10 hours a day to fully charge a battery, he said. For RVs with a stngle bat- tery and modest power demands, a single panel may be sufficient to keep the bat- tery charged. Evans said the most basic single-panel system can keep the battery charged without the use of a regulator to con- trol the flow of electricity. When fully charged, the battery and the channel are in a state of equilibrium. Evans said that system works as long as summer temperatures are not too aot the — temperature climbs, the panel loses effi- ciency, requiring a larger pane! to generate the same Better Business Bureau member Govt Inspection Facility 53897 AirCere Certified 50619 fajection Intake Carton | Adsione to oor avoady cxmmpronencive caytosis equapmert, Untroducing tna é most powertul diagqnostc tool, SIMUTECH. hy Edge Diaynosnes. Ths engne and ABS B agnostic computer is the only one on the North Shone capable of hardury af your engine management & ABS brake neers. i 834 West ist St. N.Van, B.C. ¥7P 4A E : For an appointment call 984-0077 he darger panels require 2 regulator so that they do [ Friday. Aare 17 V batte nor overcharge the battery Webiv said a sitall ss could ¢ em wt S800 to $1,000 while a darge system = con sisting of we panels, a regu lator and a power inverter for COO - North Shore News - 37 boost a Chass motorhome —-- Add page 39 Net of RDC Stk#817780 °36 month GMAC low km tease, 1.9. $17,184.24, Res $19.206.15. Total due at signing. $4,491.22, monthly payment $418.72 < tax. No down payment 0 CAVALIERS in Stoc! 2-24 Stk.# J27890 F299 ino. 36 mo. GMAC tow km faase at 1.9%, reas. 310,662.50, ¥.P. $12,270.96, to deliver $1,645.14, plus all taxes.