advice - why not 12v only appliances?

PROMETHEUS

One day, when I win the lottery I want to do a van conversion with very good insulation for extreme cold weather.
One query I have is why not have 12v only electrics and appliances? Surely, apart from 12v hookups mains voltages are up converted by inverter (which uses energy in itself). Only to be reduced to much lower voltages in the appliances, more energy lost/wasted!
My idea is keep all appliances 12V and let the only wasted energy be in a heavy duty transformer/regulator unit when connected to a mains hook up.

I would love to hear peoples thoughts on this subject - please!
 

grahamb

Price of 12 volt only appliances is way more expensive than 240 volt items check out the cost of a 12 volt microwave 5 times the price of a houshold item
 

Alf

And what about when not on mains hook up. You only use an inverter to get mains voltage from 12v DC there is not the choice to replace some mains appliances with 12v powered ones, having said that we could all go back to gas appliances and lights.

Alf


PROMETHEUS said:
One day, when I win the lottery I want to do a van conversion with very good insulation for extreme cold weather.
One query I have is why not have 12v only electrics and appliances? Surely, apart from 12v hookups mains voltages are up converted by inverter (which uses energy in itself). Only to be reduced to much lower voltages in the appliances, more energy lost/wasted!
My idea is keep all appliances 12V and let the only wasted energy be in a heavy duty transformer/regulator unit when connected to a mains hook up.

I would love to hear peoples thoughts on this subject - please!
Click to expand...
 

shortcircuit

Cable sizes would be considerably bigger as higher currents. As an example 1000w at 240volt would be approximately 4 amps. At 12 volts it would be 1000/12 = 85amps so a huge size in cable. Calcsare not exact as doing mental arithmetic with a few beers
 

PROMETHEUS

Thanks for the replies people. Naughty me didn't even think about cable sizes!:eek:
 

Deleted member 951

You must also consider that some 12v appliances such as Microwaves, have an inverter built into them.
 

Alf

We only use the fridge and on board charger in our van when on hook up but we mainly wildcamp so do manage with only 12v, unless you need microwave,kettle,toaster etc you will manage with 12v





PROMETHEUS said:
Thanks for the replies people. Naughty me didn't even think about cable sizes!:eek:
Click to expand...
 

hextal

Just got 12v in my conversion and no ehu.

Time will tell if it was a good idea.
 

vwalan

you can manage with 12 v i did for years . gas cooker, gas fire, gas water heater, gas lights .,gas fridge .
charged leisure battery when travelling . had two swapped them around as one was low etc . used a cassette radio cd player that took 8x1.5v batteries i wired it so it could work off a 12v cig lighter socket . small 5ins tv for odd times .
all worked well . but then i saw how good solar worked and changed to have little luxuries like washing machines etc .
still use gas lights most of the time as they are nice and cosy.
now have an under counter fridge /freezer makes life easier . can stay in the wilds longer and have icecream or lolly pops . not too many vans selling them in the sahara .ha ha . but you can cope with 12v only .
do have ehu .but havent used it at all in 13yrs . rarely use a campsite .
 

plum loco

Just thinking,if your going to pay site fees with a hook up,you might aswell have 250v in your van.Your going to be charged for it anyway.
 

Smaug

I try to stick to all 12v, no kettle or other high wattage items, but the van came with hook-up so I do use it if ever on a site. I have no oven so carry a cheap microwave for when on a hook up & a Dutch Oven for when wilding.
 

Kiwi Colin

Hi. When I converted my 6m Toyota bus (with 24v electrics) in NZ I added a 220 amp.hr. 12v deep cycle house battery, a 500 watt 24 to 240v inverter followed by a 25 amp 3-stage battery charger for it (with a relay so it operated only when the motor ran) and a 12v, 60 watt solar panel - I later replaced this with a 125 watt one when the cheap Chinese made ones became available. I also put on a bigger MPP solar regulator at this time.
I also initially had 240 v mains fitted with 4 sockets including one by the battery charger. In NZ electrical connections have to certified every 5 years - as mine is never used I have disconnected it. I seldom use campsites, but if I do it' cheaper without power.
I find that with gas for cooking, water heating and space-heating, and fridge I don't need mains power (I have two 9kg gas bottles). With LED bulbs in all the lights, a LED TV and satellite decoder I never run out of battery. The biggest current draw is 15 amp for the electric toilet and the macerator pump on the black water tank (no cassette here). I find the solar panel keeps the house battery fully charged all the time and there is no need to charge the batteries at the end of the winter - if I need to I could always run a extension cord straight to the built in battery charger.
In summary, if I was doing it all again, I definitely would not waste money on the mains voltage wiring and the long round-pin extension cord. I would stick with the inverter/charger set-up as the "Evenchargers" that are now available are so expensive. I've thought about a microwave but manage well without it.
Cheers. Colin
 
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plum loco

What if the site owner,decieded to buy a great big 12V transformer and made everybody use 12v appliance,and still charged the same hookup fee,he could save on his electric bill and we could do our bit for the enviroment,and the site owner could put the extra money in the bank.Thus everyone happy.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

vwalan

Kiwi Colin said:
Hi. When I converted my 6m Toyota bus (with 24v electrics) in NZ I added a 220 amp.hr. 12v deep cycle house battery, a 500 watt 24 to 240v inverter followed by a 25 amp 3-stage battery charger for it (with a relay so it operated only when the motor ran) and a 12v, 60 watt solar panel - I later replaced this with a 125 watt one when the cheap Chinese made ones became available. I also put on a bigger MPP solar regulator at this time.
I also initially had 240 v mains fitted with 4 sockets including one by the battery charger. In NZ electrical connections have to certified every 5 years - as mine is never used I have disconnected it. I seldom use campsites, but if I do it' cheaper without power.
I find that with gas for cooking, water heating and space-heating, and fridge I don't need mains power (I have two 9kg gas bottles). With LED bulbs in all the lights, a LED TV and satellite decoder I never run out of battery. The biggest current draw is 15 amp for the electric toilet and the macerator pump on the black water tank (no cassette here). I find the solar panel keeps the house battery fully charged all the time and there is no need to charge the batteries at the end of the winter - if I need to I could always run a extension cord straight to the built in battery charger.
In summary, if I was doing it all again, I definitely would not waste money on the mains voltage wiring and the long round-pin extension cord. I would stick with the inverter/charger set-up as the "Evenchargers" that are now available are so expensive. I've thought about a microwave but manage well without it.
Cheers. Colin
Click to expand...
like you i fitted 240 ehu . never used it . carry this great long lead just in case . have all the trip box etc and the only time i used it was when building the trailer insides . waste of money . dont use campsites and if i do certainly wouldnt pay for leccy . cheers alan .
 

voyagerstan

12 volt only in our van , we get plenty of power via soler and inverter :idea: stan
 

Kiwi Colin

MORGANTHEMOON said:
How you doin colin, long time no see.
Click to expand...

Hi Haydn. Sorry I didn't make it to Wales this year. Spent a couple of months in France, mainly around Brittany, nice spot except for all the Frenchmen! Loved eating lots of fresh artichokes. Will be back next year so hope to see you then. Cheers, Colin
 

Tbear

Mainly 12v in summer but we do sometimes use 5 van sites so the 240v kettle comes in very handy also the fridge is 3 way. In winter we often use 240v electric heating so use 5 van sites then for the hook-up.

Richard
 
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