Debra - 6-7-2006 at 08:49 PM
about gagets.........
What is your "can't leave home without it" setup?
DesertBull's gas powered blender comes to mind, (I've had the privilege to enjoy that on more than one outing 
Anybody else? Please share
A fan
Skipjack Joe - 6-7-2006 at 08:59 PM
Battery powered fans. On hot summer nights I turn mine on before going to bed and wake up the following morning to turn it off.
Diver - 6-7-2006 at 10:34 PM
Laptop with dvd, wifi and WinTV software.
Marine and/or CB walkie-talkies.
Solar panels and inverter for dry camp trips.
Solar camp lights for party time !
Blender ?
We prefer the mini Cousin Art, works for coffee, nuts, sauces, pesto and Margies !
And yes, the fan is a great idea, they really cool the camper faster.
Long time since the tent, freeze-dried food and little white gas stove !
.
capt. mike - 6-8-2006 at 07:16 AM
my Archos mp3 15 "gig rig" loaded with nearly 300 CDs worth of tunes (way before that silly ipod thingie came along....) and my SONY mini powered
speakers, both with 110V. adapters in case i'm where there's power - if not, batts baby!
gotta have the tunes, all else is secondary.
Bruce R Leech - 6-8-2006 at 07:18 AM
cameras
GPS
Binoculars
Debra - 6-8-2006 at 10:30 AM
Dever, tell me more about the solar panel invertor set up, how does it work? How much packing space does it need?
Capt: What's this MP3 set up you have.
[Edited on 6-8-2006 by Debra]
El Camote - 6-8-2006 at 10:35 AM
Vicodin. Never know when the back, or some other ancient body part, is going to give out! 
Si, Debra? 
Diver - 6-8-2006 at 11:06 AM
We have a single 85 watt panel and two batteries in the camper. It's enough to run all the lights, water pump and superfan each day, plus.
The panel can be wire directly to the batteries with a battery meter or charge controller.
A large inverter is rigged from the camper batteries to the 110v supply so we can plug into any camper outlet for juice anytime we turn the inverter
on. We also have a little cigarette lighter/battery clip inverter that we use in the truck to recharge batteries and run small appliances while we
drive.
Another panel and we could run the TV and blender half the day as well.
Our panel is about 26x48x2 and we've made a padded bag to store it when not in use. Gotta love that "free" power !
.
Debra - 6-8-2006 at 05:18 PM
Diver
thanks, I'm going to have to see a set up like that in action, I would really like to learn how to "plug" into that free power. Just reading about
it is a bit more than this "teckno" deprived brain of mine can wrap around. (remember, I just found out that there is something called and inverter.)
I'm wondering if it is portable enough to take along tent/truck camping. to run fans, charge the battery on the laptop (homeschool kid or I wouldnt
give a darn........(the mortage can wait, LOL!), save on the AA's that run the music system.
Diver - 6-8-2006 at 06:57 PM
Here's another way to feed you power needs.
In our old truck, we added a camper battery under the hood.
It was wired to charge from the alternator but not drain the truck battery.
This is the fastest way to charge a battery withought a 110v charger, maybe faster. You get mucho amps from the alternator for recharge if it's
connected this way. Of course, you must have room under the hood for another battery bracket.
A friend has a similar set-up to our with a few homemade cords to make it all easy. He carried his two batteries in a box that goes under the truck
when they arrive. He can connect the box to the alternator to charge while driving and/or connect to his solar panel when driving or parked. He
connects his inverter or 12v lights etc directly to the batteries. Homemade but effective.
.
Debra - 6-8-2006 at 07:06 PM
"a few homemade cords to make it all easy" ??? Don't think soooooooooo! (did I
mention I'm a "techo dummie?"
But all, keep talking.....I gets it but really in small spurts!
And Senior Sweet Potato........Your comment about "aging body parts" wasn't fair..........accurate, but not FAIR! Email me a pic of that boy of yours
please.
El Camote - 6-9-2006 at 08:54 AM
Debra, it's ancient body parts and I was talking about my own! 
(even though your's are more thoroughly aged)
Debra - 6-10-2006 at 08:11 PM
OUCH!