Dave Simmo
Junior Member
Recovering from Surgery. Shoulders had to be rebuilt. End Stage joint damage
Posts: 76 
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Post by Dave Simmo on Jan 27, 2017 22:26:13 GMT
If you are working on a 12 volt only system My Knowledge I will share.
Our System is mixed But I am only trying to say 12 volt is doable and most of the Time a off the shelf 12 volt appliance is available. TVs Lights DVD players are all out there Many at Walmart, Best Buy or other stores. Its a hunt but they are there. Best of all you wont need an Inverter.
12 volt to 19 DC-DC converter can put a low amp 32 inch TV off the grid. Read the back for out put Voltage and Amp usage printed on the AC to DC transformer on the power cord.If out put is 12 volt Great if up to 19 volt a step up transformers should work. Dvd players .
Lighting 12 volt Lighting LEDs are awesome and not as expensive as they used to be.
I am not a electrician. And I have Fried Multimeter's and Lights in my Quest to get off the Grid. Still Learning.
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Post by dennis461 on Jan 27, 2017 22:36:55 GMT
....12 volt Step up Transformer ...
I think you meant to say DC-DC converter (transformer is a word usually associated with AC voltage/current, not DC)
Unless of course you meant to say 12 volt step up inverter?
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Dave Simmo
Junior Member
Recovering from Surgery. Shoulders had to be rebuilt. End Stage joint damage
Posts: 76
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Post by Dave Simmo on Jan 28, 2017 1:06:17 GMT
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Post by tytower on Jan 28, 2017 5:52:56 GMT
12 Volt makes a lot of sense Dave because all the auto stuff is 12 Volt and cheap. 24 Volt is more plane and boat territory and tends to be expensive . The higher the voltage the thinner the wiring can be and thats an attraction to some.
I've found lately that 24 volt is better suited to these LED spotlight type chips which really need 32 odd volts for full brightness so on my shed and boat I am stepping it up a bit more. The LED strips however are staying down on 12V and individually addressable chips even down to 5 Volt but lots of amps . Its a developing world but I think 12 Volt is with us for a long while yet.
I think I had less problems with the 12 Volt battery bank
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Dave Simmo
Junior Member
Recovering from Surgery. Shoulders had to be rebuilt. End Stage joint damage
Posts: 76
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Post by Dave Simmo on Jan 28, 2017 20:37:13 GMT
Just a few Pictures on the 12 volt 0.47 amps and how they were deployed around or farm. The Pull Cahins were about 1.20 the Fixture were from garage sales. I dont think we paid over a buck for them. The Mirrored backs where from Aluminum Metal Duct tape. The Pancake Lights were just modified with a switch. |
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Dave Simmo
Junior Member
Recovering from Surgery. Shoulders had to be rebuilt. End Stage joint damage
Posts: 76
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Post by Dave Simmo on Jan 28, 2017 20:46:36 GMT
Sorry Did not get the Pancake Lights in. This is How I made them and how I killed one. They are on a Tupperware lid |
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usernameinvalid
New Member
Even if you're on the right track if you stand still you'll get run over.
Posts: 16
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Post by usernameinvalid on Jan 30, 2017 22:51:23 GMT
What wire gauge are you running for your lighting and fan?
How long are the wire runs? I read some where you need pretty thick wires for long runs using 12 volts.
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Dave Simmo
Junior Member
Recovering from Surgery. Shoulders had to be rebuilt. End Stage joint damage
Posts: 76
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Post by Dave Simmo on Jan 31, 2017 15:53:22 GMT
The Evap (Swamp Cooler) Pulls 115 Volts of a Tripp Lite wire to a 8 GC batteries wire to 12 volts. The Evap Pulls 9 or 4 Amps. It is Wired a 10 Gauge. Not that it needed that. But I got a great deal on a 250ft roll at a Garage sale. Breaker at 15 amps. Wire length about 55 feet The Lighting is all run on 14ga or 12ga. (Fused at a DC Combiner Switch hand Made 15 amp Fuse below 10 Amp above) Almost all of the wire runs are over 30 ft the Rest are around 20. But the lights only pull 0.47 AMPS. 5 Amp to 10 amp Auto fuses my norm here. The Lighting and TV DVD System are on a desperate 12 volt System powered By Two GC Batts fed by 5 of the 40/60 watt kit panels HF, Irontron,Sunforc, Thunderbolt.Why? Because I hate central point of failure. 12 volt lighting and Appliance Junction Boxes where made from Garage sale Tupperware and ground bars. Folks are going to be telling me fire hazard. At 0.47 Amps per light it is tough to melt a 15 amp rated wire that is fused to 10 amps. At 15 amps I can Leave every light on in the house and never hit 15 amps. We never do it but it is doable. Here are some Pics I hope it helps |
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usernameinvalid
New Member
Even if you're on the right track if you stand still you'll get run over.
Posts: 16
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Post by usernameinvalid on Jan 31, 2017 16:26:45 GMT
Thanks for the info.
In my little greenhouse project the longest run will be about 20 feet to a water pump. Thinking of using the same pump that's used in a RV.
I'll also be running a small circulating pump in the spring and fall for hot water heat and fans for cooling in the summer.
Still getting everything together to see how many amps I'll be drawing.
On a side note anyone try running an electric lawn mower on solar power? I'll need an inverter for AC power. How would I go about figuring
out how much power will be needed?
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Dave Simmo
Junior Member
Recovering from Surgery. Shoulders had to be rebuilt. End Stage joint damage
Posts: 76
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Post by Dave Simmo on Jan 31, 2017 22:12:08 GMT
Here is a link to a meter, I hate to drive it in but AMPs are everything in a 12 volt world. Here is the Harbor Freight Kill a Watt Electric MonitorHey I will try to post a pick of my Solar water heater if you want. Here in Texas we use it from April to Sept. Showers Wash clothes ect.. The Cooling now in the winter is a good time to look for used Evap Coolers. There is a awesome 12 volt pump at HF Here is how I did my quest on inverter Size I took a meter like the one above and plugged it into every thing I expected to use. Wrote Down the amps Needed. I was surprised a lot of Item still pull juice when off. I fixed that with power strips. TVs DVD Players all pull juice when off. The Refrigerator and Freezer went to Zip once they got cold. Last make sure the Inverter dumbs down when there isn't a load on it. Good Luck |
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Dave Simmo
Junior Member
Recovering from Surgery. Shoulders had to be rebuilt. End Stage joint damage
Posts: 76
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Post by Dave Simmo on Feb 4, 2017 22:40:53 GMT
12 volt world stuff I learned.
1.HF kits are a good starting point, Learn the competents with one.
2.HF when a 12 volt Inverter is on Clearance (open Boxed item) you can normally if it is still there on Monday get a good discount on it. I got a Cen-Tech 2000- 4000 for 75 bucks.
Sine wave yes I have one and did pay full price through the nose, Tiger claw it is a good inverter. But MSW 2000 watt Tripp-Light is my work horse.
3.PWM 30 Amp Controllers are to me still a great buy Amazon Has them for 19 to 25 bucks
30 Amp PWM Solar Panel Charge Controller 12V 24V, Yep I bought Spares for Backup
4.Fuses and Breakers Amazon Again. 12 DC volt Breakers and fuses are reasonable and low cost enough to keep a spare. Murphys Law.
12V DC Car Audio In-line Circuit Minn Kota Breaker Fuse for System Protection 60 AMP
5.Wires
Wires and this is just what I used. For the 12 Volt 30 foot runs from the panels to the CC. HF 8 or 6 Gauge Jumper cables. Splices to 30 feet.
From the Batteries to the 12 volt appliances 14 gauge or 12 Gauge Romex 35 foot to 20 foot runs. Fused to 5 or 10 amps Blade fuses. Autozone Fuse holders
Lights Command Electronic RV LED Lights they Used only 0.47 amps and are as bright as a 60 watt bulb.
From the Batts to the inverter a Mix of 2 Gauge and 4 Gauge . These were clearance and Garage sale Items Had to hunt for them. Breakers on all of them way below what was needed
Inverters out all 10 Gauge to Major appliances Evap cooler Washing Machine ect…..
I did start a stack of wire and just piled them up until the day came to splice them together. But it did Pay off.
12 Volt Appliances. TVs Jenson TV and RV some were reasonable others were insanely over priced.
I just took a look wow 12 volt appliances have dropped in price awesome.
Solar Panels DM SOLAR 158s and 145s
Any Questions just aske
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