Golden_HVAC
Fulltime, CA, USA
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Joined: 08/19/2003
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Hi,
The first answer, google the 12 volt side of life will be helpful, especially if you find out the information posted in "Poop Sheets" by Phred Tinseth.
Phred was a full timer, who was very knowledgeable about running things while drycamping.
You might also want to look up the charts on www.rvSolarElectric.com
Sorry I don't have the time to make the links clickable.
You might also want to check out this website too. www.solaronsale.com
You might want to subscribe to this magazine if you like solar stuff - www.homepower.com
I have a "E-meter" that monitors the amount of power going into and out of my batteries. It shows that I use about 100 amp hours per day to run my RV, watch TV, and run the lights. If I run the furnace, it is an additional 6.5 amps per hour.
The basic RV useage is about 35 amp hours per day to run the refrigerator, propane and carbon monoxide leak detectors. Add to this load about 1.2 amps per hour of each light that is on, about 6.5 amps per hour to run a TV set (even if through a 200 - 300 watt inverter).
The water pump is actually an insignificant power consumption. My pump will draw about 7.5 amps per hour, and pump 2 GPM or over 100 gallons in a hour, so only about 7 AH is required to empty out my fresh water tank, in about 2 weeks?
I have a 400 watt solar system, so I don't have to listen to my generator.
My 4 golf cart batteries will hold about 5,000 watts, or 440 amp hours. But using more than 50% at one time before recharging is not a great idea, as the sulfur will build up on the plates, and can harden if the battery is not recharged soon. It is best to fully recharge the batteries at lease once a week.
Also keep an eye on the water level. Frequent recharges can deplete the water level. Dry cells can cause the plates to warp, and this can lead to a short battery life.
Good Luck!
Fred.
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Steveo35
Ohio
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Joined: 06/16/2009
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smkettner wrote:Dry cell batteries are not rechargeable. Do you mean AGM?
Absorbed Glass Mat batteries are also referred to as dry cells.
http://www.odysseybatteries.com/index.htm
http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Battery_FAQ.htm#Major%20Battery%20Types
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Steveo35
Ohio
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Golden, thanks for those links, they are really helpful, I appreciate you posting them.
I was told by an executive with a utility back east and by our IS Manager that LED screens (computers and TV's) are horrendus energy hogs even when not being used. Our corporate policy is to turn our computer monitors OFF (not sleeping) when we arn't using them.
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pnichols
Santa Cruz Mountains
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Joined: 04/26/2005
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"LED screens (computers and TV's) are horrendus energy hogs even when not being used"
You probably mean "LCD" screens. They use so much power because they actually get their lighting from flourescent bulbs that must be in back of the panel shining through the thousands of colored liquid crystal cells. It's powering these bulbs that sucks the energy from 12V battery systems.
* This post was
edited 09/16/09 09:20am by pnichols *
Phil, 2005 E450 Itasca 324V Spirit
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Matthew_B
The boonies near Dallas, Oregon
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Joined: 08/18/2005
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When a LCD screen is on full white, 16% of the light from the back light makes it out the screen.
The back light is VERY bright.
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Salvo
California
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Joined: 06/01/2008
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Actually TVs don't consume that much power. I have a 20" LCD TV that is powered from 12V. It draws 3.42A (~42W). A DVD movie draws 3.94A (~49W). If the TV operates from ac, then it will probably consume more power as you need to go through an inverter.
Now lights are real power hogs. One ceiling light (2 x 1141 bulb) consumes 2.74A (~34W)!
Sal
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smkettner
Southern California
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Joined: 03/21/2005
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My LCD tv uses no energy when not in use because it is unplugged.
If I turn on every light (~20 bulbs) they collectively draw about 2 amps because they are LED.
2001 F150 SuperCrew
2006 Keystone Springdale 249FWBHLS
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pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
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Joined: 12/18/2004
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Hi smkettner,
Which LED lights are you using? Do you have a url for them? Thanks in advance.
smkettner wrote:
If I turn on every light (~20 bulbs) they collectively draw about 2 amps because they are LED.
Regards, Don
Kustom Koach Class C 28'5" 256 watts solar, 875 amp hours in two battery banks 12 volt batteries 2500 watt inverter.
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smkettner
Southern California
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Joined: 03/21/2005
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T10-PCB-WHP9 in cool white
Not cheep but they work great. For areas that are OK with less light like the bunks I have the warm white, a little softer too.
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Salvo
California
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Those leds still output about 3.7 times less light than the pair of 1141 incandescent bulbs.
Not sure, but the 1141 output about 10 lumens/watt.
Two bulbs consume 34W, or output 340 lumens.
The WHP9 outputs 92 lumens at 2.28W (40 lumens/watt).
You would need 3 of those WHP9 led packages to get equivalent light. LED light efficiency is 40/10 = 4 times greater. At $22/package, the cost is still too high.
Sal
smkettner wrote:T10-PCB-WHP9 in cool white
Not cheep but they work great. For areas that are OK with less light like the bunks I have the warm white, a little softer too.
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