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electrical:12v:intro [2019/05/07 23:16] frater_secessus [sources of house power] |
electrical:12v:intro [2021/05/02 18:50] frater_secessus [what you can run in the van] added wallwart link\ |
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* **House power** (coach power, leisure power) is the (usually 12v) electrical system in the **living area**. It runs fans, lights, etc. It's what we are discussing here. | * **House power** (coach power, leisure power) is the (usually 12v) electrical system in the **living area**. It runs fans, lights, etc. It's what we are discussing here. |
* [[electrical:12v:chassis power|chassis power]] is the electrical system in the vehicle itself. Starter, alternator, headlights, etc. | * [[electrical:12v:chassis power|chassis power]] is the electrical system in the vehicle itself. Starter, alternator, headlights, etc. The two are usually separate systems, except when actively [[electrical:12v:alternator|charging from the alternator]].((or doing something exotic like [[electrical:solar:shallow_cycling|shallow cycling]])) |
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| ===== what you can run in the van ===== |
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| Things that are run off house power are called [[electrical:12v:loads|loads]]. Unlike a wall socket where you can run pretty much anything you want, using power you make yourself is a series of choices and compromises. Some things are easy to run off off-grid; some things are harder and require more infrastructure, planning, and money. Some things are impractical in vans. |
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| Here are some very general ideas to get you thinking: |
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| * **trivial to run** off the [[electrical:12v:ports|cigarette lighter port]] //while driving// |
| * [[electrical:12v:phone charging|phone and tablet]] charging - can also be charged from a [[https://amzn.to/2WTMOAm|USB battery pack]]. |
| * [[electrical:12v:laptop|laptop]] charging |
| * **easy to run** off a [[lifestyle:faq_solar_generator|portable power pack]]((which you will have to recharge somehow)) |
| * fan |
| * [[https://www.cpap.com/blog/cpap-camping/|CPAP]] - especially with humidification turned off |
| * **average loads** - small ($) house power system: Example: 200w of solar and 100Ah of battery. |
| * [[food:refrigeration|12v compressor fridges]] -- they use little power and run intermittently |
| * laptop charging/use during the day |
| * [[hvac:roof_vent|roof vent]] |
| * swamp coolers (due to high power fan motors) |
| * gaming laptops run off solar during the day |
| * 120v refrigerators off [[electrical:inverter|inverter]] |
| * charging e-bikes, etc [[electrical:solar:nonessential|during the day]] |
| * **harder and more expensive to run** - substantial ($$$) house power system - 400w+ of solar, 200Ah+ of battery |
| * charging/ussing laptops at night |
| * gaming consoles|laptops|PCs |
| * charging e-bikes, etc at night |
| * **difficult and very expensive to run** - $thousands in solar, battery, and alternator charging. |
| * heating or cooking with electricity, which is why we use propane |
| * [[hvac:solar_ac|air conditioning]], which is why [[camping:snowbirding|we go where it is cooler]] |
| * electric [[food:coffee|coffee makers]], which is why we use propane((see the pattern?)) |
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| Note: devices that have [[electrical:12v:wallwart|"wall wart adapters"]] typically will not necessarily require an inverter. |
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===== sources of house power ===== | ===== sources of house power ===== |
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| Most campervans use [[electrical:solar:gentle_intro|solar]] combined with another charging source, usually the van's [[electrical:12v:alternator|alternator]]. [[electrical:12v:alt_and_solar|This combination]] can be both cheap and highly effective((Isolators are inexpensive, and the combination allows one to run much smaller solar configurations than if one were charging by solar alone)) |
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^ ^ Pro | **Con** | | ^ ^ Pro | **Con** | |
| [[electrical:shore_power|shore power]] | cheapest per watt \\ simple \\ abundant power | often not available \\ if available you are tied to the outlet by your cord/adapter \\ campgrounds with outlets are more expensive | | | [[electrical:shore_power|shore power]] (outlet) | cheapest per watt \\ simple \\ abundant power | often not available \\ if available you are tied to the outlet by your cord/adapter \\ campgrounds with outlets are more expensive | |
| [[electrical:solar|solar]] | automatically makes power when the sun shines \\ makes high voltages needed to fully charge lead-acid batteries\\ silent\\ lasts for decades | most expensive per watt \\ can be complex\\ panels are large\\ output drops dramatically when shaded | | | [[electrical:solar|solar]] | automatically makes power when the sun shines \\ makes high voltages needed to fully charge lead-acid batteries\\ silent\\ lasts for decades | most expensive per watt \\ can be complex\\ panels are large\\ [[electrical:solar:output|output]] drops dramatically [[electrical:solar:shading|when shaded]] | |
| [[electrical:12v:alternator|alternator]] | automatically makes power when driving\\ about 1/10th the cost of solar for the same current output | relatively low charging voltage((unless b2b)) \\ can result in [[electrical:12v:psoc|chronic undercharging]] \\ should not idle to charge \\ most people don't drive enough to fully charge lead-acid | | | [[electrical:12v:alternator|alternator]] | automatically makes power when driving\\ about 1/10th the cost of solar for the same current output | relatively low charging voltage((unless [[electrical:12v:b2b|b2b]])) \\ can result in [[electrical:12v:psoc|chronic undercharging]] \\ should not idle to charge \\ most people don't drive enough to fully charge lead-acid | |
| [[electrical:generator|generator]] | can make 1000w+ of 120v \\ can run for days \\ inverter models are quieter | can be expensive ($1000+) \\ maintenance \\ needs to be stored when not in use\\ noisy \\ not allowed in some areas/times | | | [[electrical:generator|generator]] | can make 1000w+ of 120v \\ can run for days \\ inverter models are quieter | can be expensive ($1000+) \\ maintenance \\ needs to be stored when not in use\\ noisy \\ not allowed in some areas/times | |
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[[electrical:12v:http://rvwiki.mousetrap.net/doku.php?id=electrical:12v:alt_and_solar|Combined alternator+solar charging]] enhance each other when used together. The investment in solar can be significantly reduced. | [[electrical:12v:alt_and_solar|Alternator & solar charging]] enhance each other when used together. Adding alternator charging to solar can significantly reduce [[electrical:solar:sizing|the amount of solar required]] to meet your needs. |
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Note: So-called [[lifestyle:faq_solar_generator|solar generators]] **do not generate power**: they are battery banks, usually AGM or lithium. See below. | Note: So-called [[lifestyle:faq_solar_generator|solar generators]] **do not generate power**: they are battery banks, usually AGM or lithium. See below. |
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| ===== use patterns ===== |
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| * People who can camp in driveways can cheaply run shore power to the van with an extension cord. |
| * people who weekend camp can [[https://www.reddit.com/r/vandwellers/comments/hkvuot/agm_charging_for_weekenders/|charge the batteries from shore power on their return]], augmenting with alternator, solar, or generator if needed |
| * people who drive hours each day (delivery, trucking, etc) may be fine with [[electrical:12v:b2b|DC-DC charging]] alone. This also applies to lithium chemistry batteries |
| * people who spend long periods off-grid will probably want a robust solar install |
| * people who want to run big loads off-grid can do it cheapest with a [[electrical:generator|generator]]. |
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===== storing power ===== | ===== storing power ===== |
^ ^ Pro | **Con** | | ^ ^ Pro | **Con** | |
| [[electrical:12v:deep_cycle_battery#flooded_lead_acid|Flooded lead-acid]] (FLA) | cheapest per Ah \\ most tolerant of abuse | lowest current throughput \\ maintenance ("watering") required \\ can only use 50% of rated capacity((or longevity suffers)) | | | [[electrical:12v:deep_cycle_battery#flooded_lead_acid|Flooded lead-acid]] (FLA) | cheapest per Ah \\ most tolerant of abuse | lowest current throughput \\ maintenance ("watering") required \\ can only use 50% of rated capacity((or longevity suffers)) | |
| [[electrical:12v:deep_cycle_battery#agm|Sealed lead-acid]] (SLA, AGM) | able to charge/discharge more current than FLA | more expensive per Ah((~2x the price of FLA)) \\ cannot check or replace electrolyte | | | [[electrical:12v:deep_cycle_battery#agm|Sealed lead-acid]] (SLA, AGM) | able to charge/discharge more current than FLA\\ no maintenance required | more expensive per Ah((~2x the price of FLA)) \\ cannot check or replace electrolyte | |
| [[electrical:12v:deep_cycle_battery#lifepo4|LiFePO4 (LFP) lithium]] | very close to normal 12v ranges \\ available as "drop-in" replacements for lead-acid\\ current throughput \\ can be more deeply discharged than lead-acid | most expensive upfront per Ah\\ cannot be charged in freezing temperatures | | | [[electrical:12v:deep_cycle_battery#lifepo4|LiFePO4 (LFP) lithium]] | very close to normal 12v ranges \\ available as "drop-in" replacements for lead-acid\\ current throughput \\ can be more deeply discharged than lead-acid | most expensive upfront per Ah\\ cannot be charged in freezing temperatures | |
| [[electrical:12v:deep_cycle_battery#non-lifepo4_lithium-ion|Non-LFP lithium]] | cheaper than LFP per Ah \\ current throughput | thermal runaway \\ voltage not well-suited for 12v systems | | | [[electrical:12v:deep_cycle_battery#non-lifepo4_lithium-ion|Non-LFP lithium]] | cheaper than LFP per Ah \\ current throughput | thermal runaway \\ voltage not well-suited for 12v systems | |
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The battery bank is sized to meet your [[electrical:solar:gentle_intro#daily_power_needs|daily power needs]] and as well as any extra margin you might like. | The battery bank is sized to meet your [[electrical:solar:gentle_intro#daily_power_needs|daily power needs]] and as well as any extra margin you might like. |