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electrical:12v:intro [2019/05/07 23:17]
frater_secessus [sources of house power]
electrical:12v:intro [2020/05/10 19:27]
frater_secessus [sources of house power]
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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]]))  
 + 
 + 
 + 
 + 
 + 
 +===== what you can run in the van ===== 
 + 
 +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. 
 + 
 +Here are some very general ideas to get you thinking: 
 + 
 +  * **trivial to run** off the [[electrical:12v:ports|cigarette lighter port]] //while driving// 
 +     * phone and tablet charging 
 +     * [[electrical:12v:laptop|laptop]] charging 
 +  * **easy/cheap to run** off a [[lifestyle:faq_solar_generator|portable power pack]]((which you will have to recharge somehow)) 
 +      * fan 
 +      * CPAP 
 +  * **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 if you do it at night 
 +      * [[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 
 +      * gaming laptops at night 
 +      * 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?))
  
 ===== sources of house power ===== ===== sources of house power =====
 +
 +
 +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))
  
 ^                                           ^ 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                                                                              |
  
-[[electrical:12v:alt_and_solar|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.
  
 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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 ^                                                                                  ^ 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                                                                    |
  
 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.
electrical/12v/intro.txt · Last modified: 2024/02/21 13:44 by frater_secessus