Le Mans 2017 Preparation

[Landy_Jon]

Those Coleman event shelters are very good.

[Lorry]

Those Coleman event shelters are very good.

For a dome, they work out quite square and hence big.

What are they like in heavy rain, and with evening sun (do you need the sunwalls?)

[Pilgrim]

Speaking of abodes, are there still any Expo cattle sheds with doors on them?

[landman]

Those Coleman event shelters are very good.

For a dome, they work out quite square and hence big.

What are they like in heavy rain, and with evening sun (do you need the sunwalls?)

Had one for years and swear by it. They are a bit leaky in really heavy rain due to the air vents at the top of the dome. That said even in the heaviest downpour on the Sunday night in 2011 the water just ran down the poles, we stayed dry.

I have all four walls as they are not expensive but a couple would do for shade or as windbreaks.

[Kev_mk3]

We have used them at shows and are really good. If you have the sides even better!

Tickets collected, New walking trousers bought, Boots I gave up looking for I have some other boots to use. Pre packing will start this weekend as I will be testing a few things at the Nurburgring 24hrs in a few weeks first.

Anyone know much about solar chargers as looking to get one.

[Landy_Jon]

Those Coleman event shelters are very good.

For a dome, they work out quite square and hence big.

What are they like in heavy rain, and with evening sun (do you need the sunwalls?)

No probs!
Square - or rather a dome with some edges trimmed - to make a square means you get the maximum space with the maximum height that fits on a traditional rectangular camping pitch.
'We haven't fitted the walls to ours (although I've used someone else's in the UK where they were a very useful windbreak!).
They come in 2 sizes and the sizes snuggle together very well to make a very usable protected area.  Even our slightly smaller one fits quite well with the other larger one in our group.

[Lorry]

.......Anyone know much about solar chargers as looking to get one.

They seem to work, especially in direct sunlight.  I've just bought one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-5W-6V-USB-Solar-Panel-External-Battery-Charger-For-Cellphone-Tablet-PAD-MP3-PA/   - loads with the same photo

Cost about a fiver, and mine took only a fortnight (5 weeks left) to arrive from China.  More of a toy, as you can always charge from the car

[cja]

Anyone know much about solar chargers as looking to get one.

Yes, have used one for a while from these people https://www.powerbee.co.uk/portable-phone-charger/power-bank.html

Very pleased with mine - has numerous connectors to suit different phones and holds a decent charge.

[Barry]

If you want something a little smaller and cheaper than the Coleman's, we have one of these.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/camping-shelter-with-doors-3mx3m-fresh-id_8353348.html

Works very well, one person can put up and it stayed dry inside even in the Thursday night storm of 2015.

4 sides included in price.

[Chrisgr31]

I got one of these last year http://www.argos.co.uk/product/4833369 Trespass Camping Shelter, comes with sides, did the job.

Am a bit more organised than the year before last when I managed to book parking instead of camping, and failed to book the ferry!  Both are booked this year.

[Lorry]

Thanks for the help on the shelter, the committee meet on Friday.

As for chargers, I saw Lidl do one, a solar cell with a 5000 mah battery, for £10.

Remember, the sun is twice as bright in Le Mans, till it rains, and if it rains all week, solar power gives way to generators.

[Kev_mk3]

Looking to get a solar panal to charge my phone pack as im camping / run the fridge when I am away from the car

[Barry]

Looking to get a solar panal to charge my phone pack as im camping / run the fridge when I am away from the car

Unless you get an industrial size panel I'd be surprised if you could run a fridge off it.
I would use the money and buy a gas fridge instead.

[Kev_mk3]

Think your right TBH - more money for beer anyway if I dont buy a solar block 

[Landy_Jon]

Looking to get a solar panal to charge my phone pack as im camping / run the fridge when I am away from the car

Unless you get an industrial size panel I'd be surprised if you could run a fridge off it.
I would use the money and buy a gas fridge instead.

Ummm, I got a small solar panel from high street national chain who is normally pretty useless just to top up the deep cycle battery when stationary for a few days and it actually powered up the fridge on its own - I'll only say sort of as the lights can on and it hummed but I wouldn't say that would have done any actual cooling...
 
...I'll be testing the panel this weekend to see if it will power the slow cooker (just because I can!!!).  If that doesn't work then I'll power the cooker from the deep cycle battery