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Solar Panels
 Solar
panels are becoming increasingly popular among the grey nomads,
particularly those travelling long term who like to get out into
the bush.
Solar panels, which
charge up deep cell batteries, have a number of advantages over
their traditional power source rival - the generator. Firstly, they
are free to operate, secondly they don't require fuel and, thirdly,
they are completely silent. However, there
are a couple of downsides, too. They are pretty expensive to get
set up, you do need to position them in sunshine, depending on your
set-up they can be awkward to transport, and they are vulnerable
to theft.
Peter from Melbourne
has been travelling in his small motorhome for the past five years.
He spent more than $2,000 getting his vehicle set up with a solar
power system and he's never once regretted it.
"I've got to admit
I was pretty nervous when we first got it done," Peter says. "It
was a lot of money but it has been absolutely brilliant. We love
our wilderness stops and we can stay as long as we like now. We
watch movies every night and have music on all day and we just don't
run out of power. It has changed the way we travel and the way we
live."
Despite all the pluses,
there is one issue relating to solar power that has Peter fuming.
"We wanted to apply
for subsidies for getting our solar set-up," says Peter. "This van
is our home. We have sold our house so we live here. Why do people
who live in houses get subsidies if they convert to solar power
and people who live in vans don't. It's just plain wrong!"
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The Right Stuff
 Which
Billy is best for
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When the sky is
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