The nearest places in Canada I've found that could upgrade the electrical systems in my coach to make it more boondocking friendly are four to six hours away. So, I thought of looking for help in northern NY, Watertown--Syracuse area, which is much closer.

Can anyone recommend someone in that general area who would be up to the tasks I've mentioned? At the same time, I figured I could look into getting my tow and auxiliary brake systems and investigate tripod satellite options, so if anyone has recommendations for those services, too, they'd be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

There is a least one place in Quebec that will do a good job.

He gave a seminar at our chapter rally a couples of years ago on solar panels. All our members who are into solar said he really knew what he was talking about.

FYI he told us that COLD weather will have an impact on your installation if you spend part of winter in Canada even if you don't live in your RV. Can't remember exactly what but to be honest since I was not interested in solar I was not paying that much attention

He told us about a class he took in Arizona. He asked about the impact of a minus 40 degree temperature because he add started seeing problems. They answered: Why do you want to put solar panels in a freezer !

If your interested PM me and I will get you his name

After pricing a solar panel and other associated items here in BC I found I could have the same thing done in Arizona for about half the cost. I like the idea of keeping as much of my money here at home as possible but enough is enough! The job will wait until Fall.

If you are going to be using solar in cool to cold temps you'd get a lot of good out of an MPPT solar controller that makes more power than normal from cool panels.

As far as tripod satellite goes you REALLY need to research your dealer/installer because without them you are possibly going to get very frustrated. The Yahoo group RVInternetBySatellite is good as is the DataStorm Users forum.

quote:

Originally posted by Lynn Foley:
There is a least one place in Quebec that will do a good job.

I'm willing to bet he's the guy in Marieville, QC. If not, the chances are still good he's in the Montreal area and, therefore, not as close as n'n NY.

I will PM you for the name, though. Thanks!

quote:

Originally posted by Croft:
After pricing a solar panel and other associated items here in BC I found I could have the same thing done in Arizona for about half the cost. I like the idea of keeping as much of my money here at home as possible but enough is enough! The job will wait until Fall.

I'm having the same thoughts, Croft. I will be spending most of the next year or two on the road in Canada, spending lots of money all across the west and north. If I can save money at the start, buy outfitting as much of my rig in the States as I can, that means I'll have more money to pour into the Canadian economy later.

quote:

Originally posted by Stanley P. Miller:
If you are going to be using solar in cool to cold temps you'd get a lot of good out of an MPPT solar controller that makes more power than normal from cool panels.

As far as tripod satellite goes you REALLY need to research your dealer/installer because without them you are possibly going to get very frustrated. The Yahoo group RVInternetBySatellite is good as is the DataStorm Users forum.

Stan, thanks for the info about the solar panels. I had never come across this particular tidbit of information (you're a fountain of knowledge, that's for sure!).

As for satellite, it looks like I've got one option in Canada that's reasonably close (3 hours away). I think I'll wait till I get out west.

Cheers,

I went to a place just south of Ashville, NC and the guy who says he's a full timer who started an RV repain business to help other RV'ers said it would cost a little over $10K for two 100watt panels a Magnum pure sine wave inverter and a controller. I went to RVsolarelectric.com and ordered two 130 watt panels all the harware and wire to hook it up the same inverter and a controller and monitor for $3K. If you order the parts then take them to almost any RV repair shop and have them install it you'll come out ahead. I'll install my panels but I'm in my 80's and laying on my belly trying to rewire the breaker panel on the old converter under my Frig would give me aches I'd carry around for the next month or so.