A Sunny Disposition
Dead Wren Memorial
by Reecy Pontiff
Many Rennies choose to
invest in solar power
instead of a generator or
footing the bill for those
rare electric sites.
Chris Jones runs solar to
power his big blue yurt
on the faire circuit, and even started offering a public
charging station for Rennie devices.
For the newbie, Chris exclaims: “Don’t buy from Harbor
Freight!” In his estimation their kits are “heavy, inefficient
for the weight and don’t provide all the plugs we need right
out of the box.” Their kits are also hard to add onto later,"
Chris said.
For the newbie Chris advises a purchase from Amazon.
“It’s cheaper to buy it piecemeal almost always,” he said.
2017 was a tough one for the
wrens of our world
to get fuel. Also some shows don’t allow generators. This is
passive energy—I don’t have to do anything!” she said. Larry Ringler
David Grubbs
Rebecca Rickart
Roger Withers
Richard Allen
Leon Dean 'Lee' Ramey
Barbara Jean 'Barbie'
Peter Carroll
O'Brien
Rollande Krandell
Michael Pettijohn
Julie Anne 'Miss Julie'
Paula Andrews Powles
Murphey
Kathleen Mary 'Kath'
Janine Rees
Barry
Paul Rovinelli
Marshall Smith
Samuel Bailey
Flo Marcelle 'Gatehouse
Melissa Erin
Goddess' Fields
Robert 'Bob' Lepre
Bart DeLackner
Casey 'Bearhugger'
Catherine Dendy
Sledge
Kris 'Big Show' Covert
Don Stovall
Bob Traveler Steffan
Robert Beatie
Bob Booher
Jessica Renee Marciano
Michelle Kronberg
Carrie Culler Hladilek
Donna Michelle Morris
Megan 'Meg' Brennan
Hopper
Randi 'Randi Rom' Brown
Pamela Gilmore 'Lady
John Spurvey
Lincoln' Bousquet
Jason Ritenour
James Edward III
Suzn Smith
'Merrick' Walker
Andrea Urban
Wyatt Ferris
Patricia 'Trish' Doss,
Marcia Kane
Johnson-Doss
Larry Boozer
John Robert 'Johnny' Fox
Dave 'Dred' Germinaro
Gregory Coblentz
Rev. Curtis E. 'Mr. Curtis'
For more information check the “Scarf the Sun” PDF file in
the Living the Renaissance Faire Dream Facebook group. All missed, all loved
"A 100 watt panel should provide enough energy to run
lights, a small fan, a laptop and a phone charger", Chris
said. Ideally the panel will run to charge controller, which
protects the battery from overcharging.
"The battery itself must be of the deep cycle variety, like a
marine battery, and not one designed for a car. These can be
purchased at any auto parts or big box store. The bigger—
and more numerous—the batteries, the more nighttime
power you will have," Chris said.
The battery alone outputs 12 volt (DC) power, like you’d
get from your car’s cigarette lighter. For ease of use and to
utilize your standard wall plugs (AC power), an inverter is
necessary. Though inverters come in many sizes, the author
uses a 200 watt inverter—plenty to charge a laptop and even
her hot glue gun.
More sophisticated electronics, like sound recording
equipment, will require a sine wave inverter, according to
Chris.
For Rennie Adventurer, another solar user, solar energy is “a
creature comfort."
She’s been running solar for the past five years, starting in a
pop-up with a 45 watt panel. When she moved into a bigger
trailer she first upgraded to a 100 watt panel and then added
a second. She runs her laptop, lights, phone charger and
propane fridge off the energy generated from them.
“ A generator is loud and I don’t want to have to go to town