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electrical:12v:intro [2019/05/07 23:19]
frater_secessus [sources of house power] |
electrical:12v:intro [2020/05/10 19:26]
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]])) |
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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// |
| | * 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?)) |
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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 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 | |
| ^ ^ 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. |
