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--- electrical:12v:power_mix [2023/10/21 20:02]
frater_secessus [alternator]
+++ electrical:12v:power_mix [2024/06/30 10:54] (current)
frater_secessus [alternator]
@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 ===== alternator =====
-[[electrical:12v:alternator|Alternator charging]] is usually the biggest bang-for-buck charging offgrid.((bulk stage charging, at least))  It is automatic((unless you are using a manual switch, not recommended)) and will charge whenever you are driving.  **Consider the alternator as the backbone of your charging if you drive daily or near-daily**.
+[[electrical:12v:alternator|Alternator charging]] is usually the biggest bang-for-buck charging offgrid.((bulk stage charging, at least))  It is automatic((unless you are using a manual switch, not recommended)) and will charge whenever you are driving.  **Consider the alternator as the backbone of your charging if you drive daily or near-daily**, or live in an area of poor [[electrical:solar:output|insolation]].
-For many people [[electrical:12v:alternator#combiners|a plain combiner]] (relay, solenoid, VSR, "isolator") will be cheap and highly effective for [[electrical:12v:charging#bulk_stage|Bulk charging]]. However, some cases suggest a more expensive [[electrical:12v:b2b|DC-DC charger]] setup:
+For many people [[electrical:12v:alternator#combiners|a plain combiner]] (relay, solenoid, VSR, "isolator") will be cheap and highly effective for [[electrical:12v:charging#bulk_stage|Bulk charging]]. Direct charging like this will often be most efficient in early morning [[electrical:12v:alternator#charging_current_patterns|when bank voltage is the lowest]].
+However, some cases suggest a more expensive [[electrical:12v:b2b|DC-DC charger]] setup:
   * mandatory if you have a "smart" (variable voltage) alternator, common in Europe on recent models
   * mandatory if you have a large house bank (of any chemistry) compared to [[electrical:12v:alternator_details#current|your alternator's output rating]]
-  * suggested if you want a more predictable charge rate
+  * suggested if you want a more predictable charge rate;  DC-DC charge rates are typically consistent all the way through Bulk stage, no matter what the bank voltage is.
   * suggested if you want more of a hands-off approach
 **Alternator-only charging** [[electrical:12v:mandatory_solar|can work with lithium banks]] but for technical reasons solar or shore-power charging is usually required with lead batteries.
+==== the ciggy port ====
+{{ https://www.motorbiscuit.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/A-typical-12-volt-car-power-outlet-socket.jpg?125}}
+The vehicle's factory 12v outlet ("cigarette lighter") is typically fused at 10A, so it can provide ~120w of power before the fuse pops (12v x 10A = 120w).((Since chassis voltage will likely be at least 13.6v the actual power available is probably 136w or greater.  But it's best not to push it unless one has a spare fuse handy.))
+**Consider the ciggy port as a backbone of your charging setup** if you drive enough, time-wise, to harvest enough energy to run your small loads.
+w is much lower than the power a normal [[electrical:12v:alternator|alternator charging setup]] or [[electrical:12v:b2b|DC-DC charger]] can provide so we have to make maximal use of every opportunity to charge.  To paraphrase [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glengarry_Glen_Ross_%28film%29|Glengarry Glen Ross]]:  "ABC. A, //always//.  B,  //be//. C, //charging//."
+If you are maxing the outlet at 120w and you drive for half an hour you an harvest 60Wh of energy from the ciggy port.  (120w x 0.5 hours = 60 Watt-hours)  For comparison, on the same drive a 50A DC-DC charger would harvest ~675Wh.
+Still, it's present on most cars so it's free and no installation is required.  DC-DC are $$$ and require some work to install.
@@ Line 31: / Line 49: @@
 Having panel permanently mounted on the vehicle can be a quality of life upgrade;  it is charging anytime the sun is falling on them.
-**Consider mounted solar as a backbone of your charging if you spend a lot of time in open areas** with good insolation.  Camping in non-forested areas, for example.
+**Consider mounted solar as a backbone of your charging if you spend a lot of time emplaced in open areas** with good insolation.  Camping in non-forested areas, for example.
@@ Line 43: / Line 61: @@
 ==== portable solar ====
-Portable solar can work alone, augment the mounted panel((seperate controllers)), can be placed in sun, and can usually be angled for maximal harvest.
+[[opinion:frater_secessus:portable_panels|Portable solar]] can work alone, can augment the mounted panel((separate controllers)), can be placed in sun, and can usually be angled for maximal harvest.
-**Consider mounted solar as a backbone of your charging if you spend a lot of time in areas of shade adjacent to areas with clear sun**.  In a forest with canopy openings, for example.
+**Consider portable solar as a backbone of your charging if you spend a lot of time emplaced in areas of shade adjacent to areas with clear sun**.  In a forest with canopy openings, for example.
   * must be set out to work
   * works well - when set out in the sun, especially when tilted toward the sun.
-  * works poorly - when not deployed
+  * works poorly - when not deployed, like for people who move a lot or who do not diligently set up / take down the portables.
+One way to **predict if you will reliably set up the portables**:  how full is your vehicle's gas tank and your phone battery right now?  If you are a "never let it get low" type you will likely set out portables consistently.  If you are a "always running on [E]mpty" type you are less likely to set out the portables. This is a not a moral judgement, but rather a way to help assess whether or not portables would be a good source of power for your use case.

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