I have my 640 amp lithium titanate batteries in my travel trailer with an inverter but almost everything is dc now adays anything I don't have to run through the inverter I don't. Led e26 light bulbs 12-24v I use car cigarette sockets and the power supplies almost always work 12-24v micro wireless router that uses usb cords, even the TV is 24v can get a 24v volt fridge if I want and air-conditioner which I am planning on eventually but I can grind my coffee and have an espresso or microwave a burrito on 120v. Nothing even remotely like that with 48v systems. Every amount not converted is power saved. I started with 12v because 24v wasn't affordable for what I needed at the time.
Wondering why're many people still building 12/24v system ?
- Thread starter new off grid
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We are on a 24v boat. Small solar panels are 12v so we wire them in pairs to give us 24v panels (180w x2) Going to 48v would be impossible for us as we would need to wire 4 solar panels together. The shading problem of series wired panels would be a nightmare.
I think the ultimate set up is a 24v system. Small wire sizes. MPPTS are rated in amps so you need half the capacity of MPPT for a 24v system. We can run 60A 24v alternator on single belts with no slippage. So much stuff is available at 24v. Fridges, LEDs, inverters, etc
I think the ultimate set up is a 24v system. Small wire sizes. MPPTS are rated in amps so you need half the capacity of MPPT for a 24v system. We can run 60A 24v alternator on single belts with no slippage. So much stuff is available at 24v. Fridges, LEDs, inverters, etc
Rednecktek
Expert Newbie
Well, for me:
My pop-up only had 12v and 120v so sticking with a 12v setup was plenty, it's not like I need more than 2kw ever in that thing.
My camp I bought the panels and inverter many years ago before "life happened" and a 3Kw 24v AIO was well under half the price of the 48v 3Kw units, and building an 8s battery (or making 24v out of WallyWorld DC29's) was going to be less than half the cost of building out 48v setups.
My pump house only needs 12v for its lighting, battery charging, and heat. I'm penciling in a DIY 14Kwh battery and 6000xp to backup the well pump though.
My solar generator runs its 1200w inverter on a 12v battery, couldn't imagine building out a 48v that would be definable as "portable".
My portable diesel heater runs 12v natively, so 12v for that.
12v and 24v both have their places, it's more people starting with "Back up my McMansion when weather!" systems that make it hard to grasp why anyone would use less than 48v. If you need a split phase 6000w 240v inverter for your fishing shack, you're doing something wrong.
My pop-up only had 12v and 120v so sticking with a 12v setup was plenty, it's not like I need more than 2kw ever in that thing.
My camp I bought the panels and inverter many years ago before "life happened" and a 3Kw 24v AIO was well under half the price of the 48v 3Kw units, and building an 8s battery (or making 24v out of WallyWorld DC29's) was going to be less than half the cost of building out 48v setups.
My pump house only needs 12v for its lighting, battery charging, and heat. I'm penciling in a DIY 14Kwh battery and 6000xp to backup the well pump though.
My solar generator runs its 1200w inverter on a 12v battery, couldn't imagine building out a 48v that would be definable as "portable".
My portable diesel heater runs 12v natively, so 12v for that.
12v and 24v both have their places, it's more people starting with "Back up my McMansion when weather!" systems that make it hard to grasp why anyone would use less than 48v. If you need a split phase 6000w 240v inverter for your fishing shack, you're doing something wrong.
OffGridForGood
Catch, make or grow everything you can.
That is a great idea...
run the Ice-fishing shack: 12,000BTU heat pump, fridge, induction cook top, Starlink, entertainment system & lights!! yeah just joking, if I go ice fishing i put everything in a pail, then sit on the pail to fish
Checkthisout
Emperor Of Solar
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That is a great idea...
yeah just joking, if I go ice fishing i put everything in a pail, then sit on the pail to fish
That sounds lame. What's the point of ice fishing without an ice fishing shack?
Wait...why would you need a refrigerator while you're ice fishing?
OffGridForGood
Catch, make or grow everything you can.
I think its just like 'camping' needs a four lane hwy, paved pull throughs, 50Amp plugs and running water for some...for me just a back pack and the canoe, but to each their own.
I'm a roast marsh mellows at a campfire and enjoy nature till its late and go to a motel to sleep kind of person.
Rest of the family is the tents and the great outdoors all night types. Bad weather is when my method shines and I get to enjoy everyone's wonderful mood the next morning after they got flooded from rain setting in
Just never understood the joy people get from camping. I guess its from when we camped across europe in the early 70's. My father was stationed in germany at the time and he took us to all the sites and then we camped most of the time with some motel stops. Camping got old fast for me.
Wife loves camping so I indulge her on it sometimes.
Rednecktek
Expert Newbie
Try corn dogs over a camp fire, it'll change your life!
I told the nephews and their friends about that many years ago and got the chorus of "Eeeww" and "Seriously? That sounds awful!" and 'Yeah, right"...
Now that they're teenagers every single one that comes to the family camping trip brings a box. We never have leftovers.
I tried to pick something the youngins would connect with.Try corn dogs over a camp fire, it'll change your life!
I told the nephews and their friends about that many years ago and got the chorus of "Eeeww" and "Seriously? That sounds awful!" and 'Yeah, right"...
Now that they're teenagers every single one that comes to the family camping trip brings a box. We never have leftovers.
We have done corn dogs, fish (tricky), popcorn (when no one forgets the cooker for it), spam (was surprised on this one as I didn't care for spam before this). Dutch oven and you can cook about anything you want on a campfire too.
Is there a deep fryer over the fire? Don't you have to fry corn dogs?Try corn dogs over a camp fire, it'll change your life!
Good point. I bet he is using the ones we use. Frozen and ready to cook/heat up. No having to batter them.
Nice!
Hey they are good for a diet. I live off of them some months. Sitting at a computer so many hours a day you have to watch what you eat or end up the size of a whale. I found 2 of them and some chips twice a day works calorie wise !
Rednecktek
Expert Newbie
Yup! Them's the ones! They even come with a pilot hole for your stick, just pull the pre-installed one.
I'm a roast marsh mellows at a campfire and enjoy nature till its late and go to a motel to sleep kind of person.
Rest of the family is the tents and the great outdoors all night types. Bad weather is when my method shines and I get to enjoy everyone's wonderful mood the next morning after they got flooded from rain setting in
Just never understood the joy people get from camping. I guess its from when we camped across europe in the early 70's. My father was stationed in germany at the time and he took us to all the sites and then we camped most of the time with some motel stops. Camping got old fast for me.
Wife loves camping so I indulge her on it sometimes.
It took man 200,000 years to invent a Marriott with a bar and restaurant…
I refuse to disrespect all those blessed people’s effort , groaning, grunting and toiling to go back to sleeping with bugs and critters.
One of my favorite experiences was a canoe and portage trip with my oldest son with Scouting. We went with a small group to the Adirondacks of New York. It was one of the most challenging but rewarding 50 mile trips I have ever taken. Took all our gear in our canoes and backpacks. Filtered our own water and ate MREs for a week. Beautiful scenery. Amazing trip I will never forget.
My first system was 12V because I used an old car battery... Later I added 4 (6V) tractor batteries so it all stayed at 12V.
This was purely an Ups system. Charged with a DIY 80A charger made up from a modified 1000W computer PSU. I loved that charger... If my car ever had a problem starting in winter I'd connect the charger at 80A for 10min. It would both charge and warm it up. It always started nicely.
Sadly, I was stupid with it one day. I was using it as a power supply for my fpv lifepo charger with aligator clips. I didn't realise alligator clips were touching and I switched it on. It had short circuit protection while running, but not when starting up. It broke down pretty badly :-(
Then my off-grid solar/lifepo journey started...
I started with 24V just to power few computers during outages. A month later upgraded to 48V and never looked back.
However, friends cabin needed solar and they (being on tiny fixed incomes) wanted the cheapest system possible with one panel and a 12V 100ah battery. Just to run a mini fridge, lights and charge mobile phones. This is 100% off grid summer cabin. They have a tiny generator to charge the battery if required. After testing it initially I don't thing they actually had to use it yet (it's end of August, it was installed in May).
This was purely an Ups system. Charged with a DIY 80A charger made up from a modified 1000W computer PSU. I loved that charger... If my car ever had a problem starting in winter I'd connect the charger at 80A for 10min. It would both charge and warm it up. It always started nicely.
Sadly, I was stupid with it one day. I was using it as a power supply for my fpv lifepo charger with aligator clips. I didn't realise alligator clips were touching and I switched it on. It had short circuit protection while running, but not when starting up. It broke down pretty badly :-(
Then my off-grid solar/lifepo journey started...
I started with 24V just to power few computers during outages. A month later upgraded to 48V and never looked back.
However, friends cabin needed solar and they (being on tiny fixed incomes) wanted the cheapest system possible with one panel and a 12V 100ah battery. Just to run a mini fridge, lights and charge mobile phones. This is 100% off grid summer cabin. They have a tiny generator to charge the battery if required. After testing it initially I don't thing they actually had to use it yet (it's end of August, it was installed in May).
I have 3 systems. A 12v, 24v, and a 48v.
My 12v system has one 100 watt mono panel, a 20 dollar charge controller, fuse block, and two old 12v batteries repurposed from my diesel truck. This small system is for charging all of my usb charged devices. Phones, tablets, battery banks, running my small weather station, and battery powered lights. I works perfectly, and is overkill for what it does.
My 12v system has one 100 watt mono panel, a 20 dollar charge controller, fuse block, and two old 12v batteries repurposed from my diesel truck. This small system is for charging all of my usb charged devices. Phones, tablets, battery banks, running my small weather station, and battery powered lights. I works perfectly, and is overkill for what it does.
That's why my current 'temporary' system is still at 12v (despite me doing all my cooking on electric, and running some heavy loads like the vans portable wheelabout AC in summer, and the welder and plasma cutter off it)- my caravan parked in the shed (temporary 'house' while owner building the new house) is all 12v with its lights, water pumps and tv etc all being 12v, plus I already had the 12v 8kw inverter from the old work ute (used for powertools etc off the 12v 'house battery bank' in it that was charged from the utes alternator, which was 12v)Well, for me:
My pop-up only had 12v and 120v so sticking with a 12v setup was plenty, it's not like I need more than 2kw ever in that thing.
My camp I bought the panels and inverter many years ago before "life happened" and a 3Kw 24v AIO was well under half the price of the 48v 3Kw units, and building an 8s battery (or making 24v out of WallyWorld DC29's) was going to be less than half the cost of building out 48v setups.
My pump house only needs 12v for its lighting, battery charging, and heat. I'm penciling in a DIY 14Kwh battery and 6000xp to backup the well pump though.
My solar generator runs its 1200w inverter on a 12v battery, couldn't imagine building out a 48v that would be definable as "portable".
My portable diesel heater runs 12v natively, so 12v for that.
12v and 24v both have their places, it's more people starting with "Back up my McMansion when weather!" systems that make it hard to grasp why anyone would use less than 48v. If you need a split phase 6000w 240v inverter for your fishing shack, you're doing something wrong.
The house itself will be using the 48v 12kw, but the 12v 8kw is doing sterling service for the temporary install for the caravan... (been running 24/7 for the last three years, and its hit its tenth birthday this year!!!- although the cooling fan has developed a worrying noise- might need to order a new fan for it me thinks lol)
OffGridForGood
Catch, make or grow everything you can.
Its an old Powerjack I bought back in 2014 for the work ute so I could run powertools without a generator...
8kw continuous, 16kw peak
I didn't originally buy it, I bought a 5kw one, but it failed in the middle of a job under warranty, and as I needed it urgently, and the store I bought it from didn't have another 5kw in stock- they offered me the 8kw as a replacement if I 'split the difference' in price with them (I bought a lot of stock through them doing offgrid and marine installs, so they were wanting to keep me happy lol)
One of these...
Although 7 years in the back of the ute made mine look a little battered...
And yes- they NEED those twin input posts- I run two 'truck starter motor' cables - two positive leads and two negative leads in parallel...
It is fused too- (from my apprenticeship days in the railways as an elec fitter) this is the spare main fuse.... over 40 years old lol
So yes they exist and are around (its why I have a bit of a giggle every time someone says you can't go over 2kw on 12v lol) you most certainly can....
Although yes I agree 24v or higher is a better choice, I can't understand why people push for 48v in motorhomes (RV's here in Australia)- makes a lot more sense to run 24v so you can use the native charging system from the engine to keep the house battery bank topped up while driving, or as an 'emergency generator' (you will only find 12v systems in caravans (travel trailers) being towed behind a 4wd ute- pretty much all trucks and buses here are 24v charging systems (apparently many US trucks (semi trailers, tractor trailers?) still use 12v???- crazy- anything over about 4 tonnes here (8000lb) is pretty much guaranteed to be 24v)
8kw continuous, 16kw peak
I didn't originally buy it, I bought a 5kw one, but it failed in the middle of a job under warranty, and as I needed it urgently, and the store I bought it from didn't have another 5kw in stock- they offered me the 8kw as a replacement if I 'split the difference' in price with them (I bought a lot of stock through them doing offgrid and marine installs, so they were wanting to keep me happy lol)
One of these...
Although 7 years in the back of the ute made mine look a little battered...
And yes- they NEED those twin input posts- I run two 'truck starter motor' cables - two positive leads and two negative leads in parallel...
It is fused too- (from my apprenticeship days in the railways as an elec fitter) this is the spare main fuse.... over 40 years old lol
So yes they exist and are around (its why I have a bit of a giggle every time someone says you can't go over 2kw on 12v lol) you most certainly can....
Although yes I agree 24v or higher is a better choice, I can't understand why people push for 48v in motorhomes (RV's here in Australia)- makes a lot more sense to run 24v so you can use the native charging system from the engine to keep the house battery bank topped up while driving, or as an 'emergency generator' (you will only find 12v systems in caravans (travel trailers) being towed behind a 4wd ute- pretty much all trucks and buses here are 24v charging systems (apparently many US trucks (semi trailers, tractor trailers?) still use 12v???- crazy- anything over about 4 tonnes here (8000lb) is pretty much guaranteed to be 24v)
I flat LOATH aims but here you got 10,000 watts continuous output inverter that runs on 12v.
$1149.00 ouch.
My old 8kw Powerjack only cost $400Au back in 2014...
Amazing- they are still sold today, and even available in the US lol
$800 US, 12v 8kw, and in the US 120v (mines obviously a 230v model being used in Australia lol)
https://www.ecrater.com/p/8536808/power-jack-inverter-16000-watts-max-8000
I must admit I am very impressed with mine- 10 years old, offroading and being bashed by tools etc in the back of the ute for seven of those years, running grinders, cutoff drop saws and even the welder, then its basically been running 24/7 for the last three years running the shed/caravan, running the kitchen (electric cooking), plus the van, the mig, air compressor and plasma cutter- all off 12v...
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I would love to see a usage test done on that inverter.
How many watts do ya think it is used with? What can it output continuously? Powerjack isn’t known for realistic claims. That 8k likely peaks around 8, and can run constant around 3 or so. Which is PLENTY for the average tool use at a job site… but 8k? Unlikely.
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