A Little More Progress

I knew that getting 12 solar panels installed on an RV Roof wouldn't be done in a hurry. Lots of time passed just to get all the parts for the installation. Repeatedly I just got the last inventory the stores had, and I have been at Home Depot and Lowes as well. Besides, I discovered that both stores have a lousy customer service andjust about the highest prices for everything.

But we got a nice break in the work as yesterday we had a Potluck Thanksgiving dinner in Camp. 33 people showed up.

Like always, cutting the turkey was a "man-matter" as the photo bears proof of. We ate very well, nobody left hungry.

Today, I was "back to work". I went to town and picked up 2 parcels containing more solar wire, solar in-line fuses and a package of strut nuts and bolts. I also stopped by the local ACE-store where I found 3 4ft. length of slottet angle iron, which completed my total need. I bought a hundred small hex screws, with washers and stop nuts. Also a bunch of selv-drilling screws to eventually drive into the roof, though I am still not sure whether to do that.

The beauty of an ACE-store versus big-box stores like Home Depot is that you can buy a lot of things without plastic wrappings. Bolts and nuts can be found in loose weight from small bins. And you just pay by the weight.

So today I spent only 80bucks on all of it. And they actually have staff you can ask if you need something special. Try that in a Lowes store! 

Back in camp, I started mounting the previously cut 2ft. long cross bars on the solar panels. The panels have pre-drilled holes, which made the work more efficient. I did 7 panels, while 5 are temporarely connected to the motorhome batteries.

While being in town I also stopped at a car-parts store to get a marker light for the front of our bus.

And even one of our 5gal. drinking water containers got filled.

So overall, a pretty satisfactory day I'd say.