Electrical minimalists

[USExplorer]

Personally, when I am on the road, I try to minimize the use of electronic devices. The sum total of my electrical mods:

1. A 200 watt inverter super glued to my center console, plugged into the 12 volt port
2. A 12 volt extension cord to the trunk area, for fan use
3. A rear-facing bumper-mounted LED spotlight, controlled by a center console toggle switch
4. An ancient GPS ghetto-mounted on my dashboard
5. A large 12 volt computer fan with wire hanger, wired for both 12 volt and 5 volt input

I only use #1 when pirating fast food restaurant WiFi connections from the comfort of my drivers' seat. I avoid doing so when possible.
As the cord on computer fans is not designed for tension, the soldering broke and I threw the fan (#5) away. I normally sleep in my tent in warm weather instead of using the fan in my truck anyway. Thus, #2 is never used
#3 I impulse purchased over a year ago, haven't used it in ages, thinking about dismantling it as it prevents the back hatch from being opened.
#4 GPS is for emergencies only, I prefer paper maps and following signs.

My internal sleeping area is coffin-sized, roughly 2 feet by 6 feet by 3 feet. My driver's seat is my internal living/dining area. I know y'all vandwellers have a whole lot more space and thus like to add a whole bunch of luxuries like refrigerators and mattresses, but I view my truck as a refuge and not a home.

Are there any other electrical minimalists out there?

 

[Iggy]

I am. I have a cargo van. I use the same size inverter for rare computer charging, a couple battery operated ceiling lights, a headlamp for reading, extension plugin to cigarette lighter for phone charging and DVD player. I might use 3 AAA batteries per week if I'm reading a lot in the evenings. I wouldn't mind finding a quality, quiet oscillating fan for the few times per year that I need the air movement. I like my minimal setup, since I'm almost exclusively in cities. If I were boondocking, the solar panels, deep cell batteries, TV, fridge, etc, would eventually be needed. This setup has worked two years and counting.

 

[SternWake]

I sometimes look back fondly on when My van was new to me and my electrical needs were simple.

Actually it was my electrical knowledge which was simple, and there is bliss in ignorance.  I killed way more batteries back then with my 'minimal' needs, as I viewed the alternator as many do, an instant magical battery charger whose power was free.

I got Solar mainly for the fridge, mainly so I could freeze Fish I caught in Baja, so I could park for 3 weeks or a month, however long my drinking water would last.

I quit going to Baja, but still loved the solar power.
 Years later I have a finely dialed system with a single hard working but happy high$$ AGM and only 90 AH capacity total to run house loads and start the engine. I consume 35 to 65AH from it 4 to 5 nights a week.  No giant capacity buffer needed.  Living on the edge

 

[jimindenver]

For as much power as we use now, the rig can go on a diet if needed. We dry camped for decades with little power, mostly lights and a radio/TV and all ran on battery. Out first trailer had one bulb and a fan I added. We heated it at night with the gas lantern before bed. In the morning it was coffee and breakfast.

I didn't like the gas lantern in tents when we went to them so I got a twin tube florescent that takes four 6v batteries. They last years and it's bright enough to light up a site.

The first trip to the boonies with this trailer we used it like a hard sided tent aside from the fridge, showers and the furnace when it was below freezing. We used the blue HF puck lights instead of the incandescent bulbs. Music was a mp3 player with FM tuner on a pair of self powered speakers. No OTA up there but we did use a 9 inch portable DVD player a few times. I didn't charge the trailers single battery for three days and could have gone a fourth.

That was the hardest part about getting the solar and then the big solar. We had gone with out power for so long that we would forget we could use it. No issues with that now. I simple can't live without my 200w bathroom heater.

 

[Healthy Van Dwellers]

Vandwelling 3 months with very minimal needs. I moved up to this from a small hatchback and to that from a 56L backpack. I charge a cell phone. AAAs run puck LEDs on the celing as well as a headlamp for occassional reading. A 12v oscillating cheap fan was run in the summer a bit, but is not necessary now. Intentions for compressor fridge and roofvent/fan when it heats up again are the plan so things will change a little in the future. 

Laptop stays in my work studio along with an electric tea kettle. Would sell the e-kettle (have a regular one for propane in the van) and get a 12v adaptor for laptop if I didn't have studio access.

I am a minimalist in most aspects of my life, not just electrical needs though.

 

[Theadyn]

I'm pretty minimal on my electrical. I am not a full timer. So far most of my trips have a lot of driving, so I have been able to charge things while driving. I have an inverter for the ciggy plug that I can charge anything with a household 110 plug, but really don't have anything in the van that needs 110, I stick with either USB or 12v needs.

Battery wise, this is what I have:
I have a jumper/starter battery pack that has a 12v plug, USB plug and 110v plug. I can recharge it while driving.
I have a smaller jumper pack that has a USB port available. I can recharge this while driving.
And, have a new smaller just battery pack that has 2 USB's available. I can recharge while driving.

Power needs are:
12v fan
USB fan
2 battery operated small fans
Solar rechargeable lantern
Battery operated puck lights
Head lamp with batteries
Phone to recharge through USB
Tablet to recharge through USB

I have a small portable DVD player able to run off 12v but found it too small and haven't found a good setup for it yet. I took it out of the van. Prefer reading anyways, for which have the kindle app on my tablet and there's always free ebooks off Amazon. Books I can find cheap at thrift stores, and keep a few in the van.

I haven't really boondocked for any length of time, and drive most of the time I'm able to go, so this setup works for me so far. With the RTR coming up I am having to rethink how to keep my things charged and have been contemplating just a small folding dashboard type solar panel for the USB recharging needs, saving the jumper/battery pack as much as possible (takes a long time to recharge driving).

Now, if I were full time, needs would definitely change. Would like to add compressor fridge and enough juice to run a laptop, for example. But for now, this works for me.