Differences

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

--- electrical:12v:intro [2024/09/08 18:36]
frater_secessus [How much power do I need?]
+++ electrical:12v:intro [2025/04/13 16:14] (current)
frater_secessus [sources of house power]
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 ====== 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.  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:
+===== TL;DR =====
+  * There is //chassis power// (your van's electrical system) and //house power// (your power setup for charging and running things).  They are separate except when intentionally combined, as when charging from the alternator.
+  * As with money, //using power// is much easier than //making/storing power//.
+  * Only you can know how much power you will require;  there will be math. Luckily it is the kind of arithmetic we learned in grade school.
+  * it is easy to make //some// power offgrid.  It is challenging to make substantial power, and/or to make it consistently in all conditions.
+  * house power systems are DIY (made from selected components) or pre-made ("power stations", "solar generators").  Regardless of your choice, ensure you understand your own needs, ability to charge, and capabilities((specs)) of the products you are considering.
+[[opinion:frater_secessus:pareto|about these summaries]]
-  * plugs at your work, church, or anywhere else you visit regularly
-  * plugs at cafes and restaurants -- ask for a table near an outlet
-  * look for outlets at bus stops, park pavilions, etc.
-It may be useful to carry a gym bag with a power strip, extension cord, and any items that need to be charged.  The power strips allows you to charge many things at once, and the extension cord helps you reach faraway outlets or outlets in inconvenient places (on a wall,  behind furniture).
@@ Line 119: / Line 124: @@
 ===== sources of house power =====
+>> A. B. C.  \\ A - always.  \\ B - be. \\ C - charging.  \\ Always be charging. //Always// be charging.  -- [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yz246_Pjjkc|Glengarry Glen Ross]] (paraphrased)
+Most 'dwellers use [[electrical:solar:gentle_intro|solar]] combined with another charging source, usually the  [[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))
+Before you spend money on making/storing power in your vehicle, be sure to leverage other sources:
+  * plugs at your work, school, church, or anywhere else you visit regularly
+  * plugs at cafes and restaurants -- ask for a table near an outlet
+  * look for public outlets at bus stops, park pavilions, etc
+It may be useful to carry a gym bag with a power strip, extension cord, and any items that need to be charged.  The power strips allows you to charge many things at once, and the extension cord helps you reach faraway outlets or outlets in inconvenient places (on a wall,  behind furniture). An inexpensive, pocket-sized [[electrical:shore_power#power_testers|outlet tester]] can quickly tell you if the outlet is live and wired correctly. It's easier to pop one of those in than to drag out all your equipment only to find out there is no power to that outlet.
-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**                                                                                                                                                        |
@@ Line 185: / Line 202: @@
   * requirement for higher solar array voltages.
+===== avoiding beginner mistakes =====
+  * hoping, wishing, or daydreaming instead of doing the math
+  * failure to consider //all// loads
+  * belief that electrical outlets will be easy to find and free to use
+  * failure to consider the time it takes to recharge a bank
+  * relying on marketing rather than product specifications
+  * DIY:  belief that all components have to be from the same brand
+  * Pre-made:  belief that a "power station" is the default solution to every answer.  People were vandwelling for decades before power stations were invented and marketed.
+===== further reading =====
+  * [[https://www.youtube.com/@RVelectricity|RVelectricity YT channel]] (Mike Sokol)

RVwiki for vanfolk and others who live in vehicles

User Tools

Site Tools

Differences

Page Tools