I’m really pleased with how easy it is to tilt and untilt my solar panel.
Some expressed concern that having the panel on the roof of my tow vehicle would be a royal pain. I’m happy to report that it isn’t a problem for me. But then I’m not the type to jump in a vehicle at the drop of a hat. I usually plan my trips in order to combine tasks and save on energy (mine and the planet’s).
I choose the angle I want based on the seasonal position of the sun in the sky – these days I’m setting it at 40 degrees – and insert the pins in the corresponding holes and lift her up, pushing in the pins in the bottom of the bars. Presto! It doesn’t take five minutes! And it’s even easier untilting the panel and securing it on the roof rack for travel. Now if I could clear the sky of clouds this easily . . .
I drive into town for groceries and drinking water.
Chuck and Geri might arrive this afternoon and I want to be stocked for a possible move to Quartzsite on Thursday. I put everything away, pour a glass of iced tea, and open my laptop.
- Benny.
There’s an email from Denise (Sassy Rider) from across the pond. Just as I’m about to reply, I hear a voice outside. It’s Denise with her little pooch, Benny.
We talk here a few minutes and then walk over to her place and sit and talk some more. Bridget and Spike love this kind of socializing, getting to sniff out Benny’s yard.
Denise gives me lots of ideas on how to spend money!
Those round things on the ground are the tops to her solar lights.
She shows me the shade cloth that she got at Quartzsite. It attaches easily by tabs that slide into the groove on the awning, and there are plenty of tabs so it doesn’t droop.
The photo shows the inside view. The grommets allow you to take it down temporarily while leaving the tabs in place.
It makes a softly lit place to sit, letting in enough light and providing a little privacy.
LED light, motion sensitive
She also picked up some handy motion sensor LED lights. I’m thinking one would be great to have in the bathroom.
Hmmm . . . Does that mean I’ve got to keep moving in there? I suppose I could sit there waving . . . but what is it that I have to see? Gotta think this through . . .
I like the outside, folding chairs she has, also purchased at Quartzsite. My five-dollar,grocery store camp chair is starting to come apart and is not very comfortable. When I have a visitor, one of us has to sit in the anti-gravity chair. It’s not good for visiting, better for dozing off, which one of my visitors might be tempted to do!
Denise takes me around and opens one of her storage compartments.
She’s rightly proud of the PVC holder she just made to hold her sewer hose. We walk around to the front of her Class A to the windshield . . . Geez, that’s a big windshield . . . she points to her 
wipers.
They’re snugged into those gray, foam tubes used for insulating pipes. “That’s to protect the wiper blades from the Arizona sun,” she explains. She also has vinyl wheel covers that look big enough to cover my Casita! Well, maybe I exaggerate. Everything is so big on a Class A!
Suddenly I realize the time and gather up the crew .
I left my cellphone back at our campsite and Chuck and Geri may be trying to reach me. We hurry back home. As it turns out, they decided to park for the night in Dateland, a stop along I-8 where several date palms were planted. I’m glad. I don’t think it’s good to try to drive a lot of miles if it’s not necessary. Why arrive at your destination and park your rig when you’re not as alert as you could be? This isn’t a race.
I’m looking forward to their arrival tomorrow! And the crew will be happy to see the “hound herd” again!
rvsue
Hi Sue, I smiled at the motion sensor light for the bathroom. Last summer my daughter-in-law and I dined in a small Parisian bistro and I visited their public restroom. Suddenly, I found myself in the dark! I did had to wave my arms to restore the lighting. Their system did not invite lengthy visits.
I also like your friend’s folding chairs. I know they are not cheap or lightweight, but they are comfortable and the little table holds your beverage and your meal. They are sturdy and one we have also has a mesh water bottle holder that is useful when we carry our chairs to soccer fields to watch our grandchildren.
Like your solar panel a lot. Will be reading your comments with interest. Thanks.
Hi, Pat!
I like her chairs, too, but they are expensive. You get what you pay for, right?
I like Denise’s sun screen. How is that attached on the awning?
Mark
Salina Ks
Hi, Mark!
Very good question. I revised today’s post to show a photo and an explanation. Just for you! So scroll back up and take a look. It’s hard to explain so I hope the photo is good enough.
The photo is great. I can see clearly how it is attached. Thanks
Denise is fun to take shopping in Q. She always says she’s not going to buy anything then she finds all these fun things to bring home. We have a screen kind of like Denise’s but ours is a pain in the butt to put up.
Hi, Sandie!
Yeah, it’s fun nosing around Denise’s place just to see her stuff, although most of it has Harley written on it!
I first laughed at your thinking about the LED light and then at Pat’s account of actually having to wave. LOL!!!! What would scare me is when the light comes on in the bathroom and you are in the bedroom.
What an awful thought! The crew would never allow anyone to hide in the bathroom . . .
Motion sensor lights for the bathroom. Hmmm. We have a puck light stuck to the wall to the left of the door. It’s really easy to push on and doesn’t drain the battery or blind you in the middle of the night. I also have one that’s “bedside” for a night light when I get up in the night. It provides enough light without waking Paul – who sleeps like the dead anyway.
From what I’ve heard, there’s lots of neat stuff to spend your $$ on in Quartzite.
I have a feeling I’m going to blow my budget at Quartzsite. it’s hard to resist all these rv doodads and must-haves.
We have a motion light in our walk in closet in our house. I love it as I do not have to remember to turn it off. Only problem is when I am in the back of the closet straightening or looking thru stuff, I am too far away (not that the closet is that big!) for the sensor, so suddenly I am in the dark. Then I have to step forward and look like a crazy woman waving my arms and dancing around in the dark in the closet!
What you do in your closet stays in your closet!
Ya know Sue, You don’t have to get everything you want this year! You will be back next year too!
You sound sure about that. You must like Quartzsite and think I will, too!
Good to hear the solar panel mount is working out. Don’t forget to wrap the rubber shock mounts with duct tape to prevent UV damage. A couple wraps would probably last for a year. The rear ones are probably in the shade but the front (left side) ones are exposed, of course they are harder to reach.
Your blog is always enjoyable to visit.
Hello Mick, the Mastermind and Creator of My Panel Tilter Thingy!
I did forget about wrapping the shock mounts. Thanks for reminding me.
Evening Sue,
I thought you might like to know that my 200 watts of panels keeps my batts full without tilting. Tilting does recharge the batts faster but they are normally full by noon anyway. It is a year now since I changed the Castle to using only solar for the 12 volt service. I have tilted them twice to get under and clean the debris from trees off the roof.
Hi, Barney . . .
The Starlight Solar people told me that tilting the panel can give a 20 percent increase at this time of year when the sun is so low in the sky. Right now I’m parked in a place where there’s some filtered shade for part of the day, plus clouds. So the 20 percent means a lot.
You’re right. There have been days when the batteries are full by noon without the tilt.
Hi Sue – know many readers might want to see you while you’re in Quartzsite, but if you run out of things to do, you can find us and our SCAMP16 in The Scenic Road RV Park on Central Avenue, right across the street from The Pit Stop – propane dealer.
We are in our 6th year of fulltiming and having a blast. Safe journeys and keep having fun –
L ‘n D
Hello, LdB!
We just landed in Quartzsite, getting set up now . . . What a place! Thanks for the invite!
Six years and loving it? That’s great!
I have puck lights in my teensy trailer, but I had to find a way to attach them to the places where I really needed them since the walls are covered with a plastic-y type of wall “paper.” Nothing sticks to it. But, I did find places. And they are also very handy inthe deep cupboards and especially in the cupboard/cubby under the sink. Those things are great!
Loved the awning shade!
Emjay
Hello, Emjay!
I could use one in my closet and under the sink. Another thing to buy!!!!
I was glad to read Mick’s comment on protecting the rubber mounts on the PV panel mounts. I was a little confused when Starlite was concerned about the UV rating of the wire because, like the rubber shocks on the ‘pin’ side of the collector, the wire is generally in the shade!
Do you remember how impressed I was with the design and workmanship of the mounting system Mick provided the project? I would hate to cover any of that with duct tape. I’m reminded of a situation where I had to protect wood on our mountain cabin in Colorado. At 8900 MSL, it’s an issue. I found a coating from Allied Photochemical that I sprayed on the wood. It is clear and adheres to several kinds of surfaces.
If you talk to Mick, ask him what he thinks. The UV clear coat can be used for all kinds of things, even windshield wipers. (although I was impressed with your friends wiper ‘booties’?) BR
Ha ha, I see your point on the duct tape but it is quick and easy. I should have covered the UV problem in my design but it got missed. My ideal solution would be stainless steel measuring cups, inverted with a hole in the center, but the installation would involve disassembling the mount. Any coating would have to be very flexible.
Okay, you guys . . . so what is it? Do I go with the duct tape or find some kind of coating? It does seem a shame to cover up Mick’s beautiful design with tape! Gotta think about this.
That is a good thing to shop for while in Q-site.