====== RV and vandwelling glossary ======

This is a list of terms, abbreviations, and acronyms found on the wiki and forums more generally.  Also see [[http://www.goodsamcamping.com/rvresources/RvGlossary.aspx|this more general RV-related list]] at Good Sam.

===== A =====


  * **A** - Amps (amperes).  A measure of electrical current.
  * **AH** or **Ah** - Amp-hour.  Example:  2.5A x 2 hours = 5Ah.  
    * Note that Ah is voltage-dependent:  5Ah at 12v is 60Wh, while 5A at 24v = 120Wh.  For this reason, Wh may be a more "portable" specification. 
    * the [[electrical:12v:battery_capacity|capacity]] of [[electrical:12v:deep_cycle_battery|deep cycle]] batteries is traditionally given in Ah.  Example:  a 100Ah battery will provide 100Ah from 100% to 0% DoD at a ~5A draw (C/20).
  * **AGM** [[electrical:12v:deep_cycle_battery#agm|Absorbent Glass Mat]] battery, a type of [[electrical:12v:deep_cycle_battery#vrla|Valve Regulated Lead Acid battery]]

===== B =====

  * **BM** - battery monitor
  * **BTU** - British Thermal Units, a measurement of heat. 

===== C =====
  * **C** - [[electrical:12v:battery_capacity|rated capacity]] in Amps.  
  * **CAR** Current/charge acceptance rate;  the amount of current the battery will take under present conditions
  * **CC** - [[electrical:solar:charge_controller|[solar] charge controller]]
  * **CRVL** - [[http://www.cheaprvliving.com/forums/s|cheap rv living]] forum

===== D =====
  * **DoD** - [[electrical:depth_of_discharge|Depth of Discharge]]
===== E =====
  * **endAmps** - the amount manufacturer-specified amount of measured current in **Amps** that signals the **end** of the Absorption stage of [[electrical:12v:charging|charging]].
===== F =====
  * **FLA** - [[electrical:12v:deep_cycle_battery|flooded lead acid battery]]
  * **FT** - full time (lives in the camper)

===== G =====
  * **GC** - [[electrical:12v:deep_cycle_battery|6v golf cart battery]]
  * **GVWR** - Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: maximum weight the vehicle can carry
  * **GCWR** - Gross Combined Weight Rating: maximum towable weight
  * **GAWR** - Gross Axle Weight Rating: maximum weight each axle can carry
===== I =====
 
  * **Imp** - current (**I**) the panel puts out at Vmp.  Vmp X Imp = Pmax
  * **IRL** - in real life;  in practical terms
  * **Isc** - max current (**I**) the panel can output.  This occurs when the panel wires are **s**hort **c**ircuited.
===== L =====
  * **LFP** - **L**i**F**e**P**O4 lithium batteries
===== M =====
  * **MPPT** - Maximum Power Point Tracking, a type of [[electrical:solar:charge_controller|charge controller]]  

===== N =====

  * **normally closed** (NC) - a relay where the unpowered (default) condition is //closed//, i.e. relayed circuit is complete and electricity can flow
  * **normally open** (NO) - a relay where the unpowered (default) condition is //open//, i.e. relayed circuit is broken and electricity cannot flow
===== P =====
  * **Pmax** - **max**imum **p**ower the panel can output
  * **PT** - part time (ie, lives in a vehicle part time)
  * **PV** - "photovoltaic", ie [[electrical:solar:panels|solar panel]]
  * **PWM** - Pulsed Width Modulation, a type of [[electrical:solar:charge_controller|charge controller]]


===== S =====
  * **S&B** - Sticks & Bricks (house or apartment)
  * **SC** - [[electrical:solar:charge_controller|solar controller]]
  * **SCC** - [[electrical:solar:charge_controller|solar charge controller]]
  * **SKP** - [[https://escapees.com/|Escapees RV club]] (say the acronym aloud)
  * **SoC** - [[electrical:depth_of_discharge|state of charge]]
  * **SoH** - State of Health, a measure of the general health of the battery.  Often expressed in terms of its original capacity rating in Ah. 


===== T =====
  * **TLA** - three letter acronym =)
    * Alternately, "Three Letter Agency", aka the fun police (FBI, CIA, NSA, ATF, etc)
  * **TnTTT** - [[http://tnttt.com/|Teardrops and Tiny Travel Trailers]] forum
  * **Toad** - a second vehicle which is towed
  * **TT** - travel trailer
  * **TV** - tow vehicle, usually a pickup truck

===== V =====
  * **Vabs** - **V**oltage setpoint for the **Abs**orption stage of [[electrical:12v:charging|charging]].
  * **Vfloat** - **V**oltage setpoint for the **Float** stage of [[electrical:12v:charging|charging]].
  * **Vmp** - **V**oltage at which a [[electrical:solar:panels|solar panel]] produces **m**aximum **p**ower under present conditions.
  * **Voc** - Maximum **V**oltage the solar panel can output.  This occurs in an **o**pen **c**ircuit condition((like when you measure the bare leads of the panel with a multimeter))
  * **VSR** - Voltage Sensing Regulator, a smart kind of [[electrical:12v:alternator|battery isolator]]
===== W =====
  * **Wh** - Watt-hours.  Example:  32w x 3 hours = 96Wh. Like Ah, but not voltage-dependent.
  * **WM** - walmart