RV and vandwellers wiki

User Tools

Site Tools

Trace:
electrical:12v:intro

Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revision Previous revision
Next revision 		Previous revision
electrical:12v:intro [2023/09/17 11:51]
frater_secessus [Calculating power, battery, and solar requirements] 		electrical:12v:intro [2024/02/21 13:44] (current)
frater_secessus [higher bank voltages]
Line 1: Line 1:
 ====== Powering your vanlife ====== ====== Powering your vanlife ======
  
-Making, storing, and using power wisely is important for happy vandwelling. Power issues can seem overwhelming and confusing;  this article intends to lay out the basics.+Making, storing, and using power wisely is important for happy vandwelling. Power issues can seem overwhelming and confusing;  this article intends to lay out the basics.  If you would like a refresher on basic electronics, see [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTvXx9tBkuU|the AltE Intro to Electronics for solar]] video.
  
 Before you spend money on making/storing power in your vehicle, be sure to leverage other sources: Before you spend money on making/storing power in your vehicle, be sure to leverage other sources:
Line 37: Line 37:
      * <=100w loads from [[https://amzn.to/3u4Qm1g|small inverters]].  Note that most small, inexpensive inverters are [[electrical:inverter#modified_sine_wave|modified sine wave]] and not appropriate for all [[electrical:12v:loads|loads]].      * <=100w loads from [[https://amzn.to/3u4Qm1g|small inverters]].  Note that most small, inexpensive inverters are [[electrical:inverter#modified_sine_wave|modified sine wave]] and not appropriate for all [[electrical:12v:loads|loads]].
      * very small loads (like a cellphone) might be run off the ciggy/USB port [[https://www.reddit.com/r/urbancarliving/comments/v42jvw/is_it_safe_to_charge_your_phone_in_car_while_its/ib5k2u5/|without the engine running]].      * very small loads (like a cellphone) might be run off the ciggy/USB port [[https://www.reddit.com/r/urbancarliving/comments/v42jvw/is_it_safe_to_charge_your_phone_in_car_while_its/ib5k2u5/|without the engine running]].
-  * **Easy to run** off a [[lifestyle:faq_solar_generator|portable power pack]]((which you will have to recharge somehow))+  * **very small loads**  like phone charging can be run off [[https://amzn.to/47X2Ziy|USB power bricks]].  See [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1sjqaRll2s|this testing video]] by Project Farm.  Recharge the brick[s] from the cigarette lighter while driving, at cafes, etc.  
 +  * **Easy to run** off a small [[lifestyle:faq_solar_generator|portable power station]]((which you will have to recharge somehow))
       * Phone/Tablet/small laptop (MacBook Air, Chromebook) charging while parked       * Phone/Tablet/small laptop (MacBook Air, Chromebook) charging while parked
       * Fan       * Fan
       * Small 12v LED lights       * Small 12v LED lights
       * [[https://www.cpap.com/blog/cpap-camping/|CPAP]] - especially with humidification turned off       * [[https://www.cpap.com/blog/cpap-camping/|CPAP]] - especially with humidification turned off
 +      * Note:  there are power stations available in all the sizes described below.
   * **Average loads** - small ($) house power system:  Example:  200w of solar and 100Ah of battery.    * **Average loads** - small ($) house power system:  Example:  200w of solar and 100Ah of battery. 
       * Small [[food:refrigeration|12v compressor fridges]] -- they use little power and run intermittently       * Small [[food:refrigeration|12v compressor fridges]] -- they use little power and run intermittently
Line 162: Line 164:
  
 ===== higher bank voltages ===== ===== higher bank voltages =====
 +
 +
 +
    
 Although 12v house banks are most common there are use cases where higher bank voltages (24v, 48v, etc) may be desirable: Although 12v house banks are most common there are use cases where higher bank voltages (24v, 48v, etc) may be desirable:
Line 170: Line 175:
   * when someone stumbles into a great deal on a higher-voltage pack (Leaf battery fell off a truck)   * when someone stumbles into a great deal on a higher-voltage pack (Leaf battery fell off a truck)
   * when the vehicle has a 24v alternator, as found in some commercial vehicles like buses or box trucks   * when the vehicle has a 24v alternator, as found in some commercial vehicles like buses or box trucks
 +  * when wiring and solar charge controller expenses need to be reduced
  
 Challenges: Challenges:
electrical/12v/intro.1694965885.txt.gz · Last modified: 2023/09/17 11:51 by frater_secessus

Page Tools

Except where otherwise noted, content on this wiki is licensed under the following license: CC Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International

affilliate disclosure

CC Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International Donate Powered by PHP Valid HTML5 Valid CSS Driven by DokuWiki