Figuring out minimal electrical usage

Van Living Forum

Help Support Van Living Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

missgardenbee

Active member
Joined
Jun 25, 2017
Messages
25
Reaction score
0
Hello, all - 

I've been searching through the various posts and have gotten some information relative to my needs. I want to have a simple, basic electrical set up. I don't (and won't) have a tv, computer, microwave, or refrigerator. The items i will need electricity for are my phone charger, a 12 volt fan (or two or?) and a heater in the winter. We generally have high temps in the summer of mid 80's (though we're in a heat wave now and it's in the high 90's). The average winter temperature are lows of 15 to highs of mid 30's. Though last winter was the coldest in decades and got down to -25F a few times. Hopefully we will have a more normal winter this coming year.

I'm looking into painting the van roof white and adding the ladder racks and plywood that has been suggested in various posts and Bob's blog. I would like to be able to run these items while I'm at work if I end up living in the van (which would be a few months down the road), because I have my animals that would be staying inside the van during that time. Luckily I can park very near to work and go out and check on them frequently.

I know I need to calculate the total usage - what is the correct formula? Can I get by with just a standard RV type of battery? Or less than that?

Thank you for any suggestions or ideas.

Bee
 
So, you will be vandwelling solo?  I am not on the road yet, but I will be solo as well and the main reason why I have no intention to bring animals with me is the fact that I will need to work and be away from my vehicle for hours, probably all day long.  There is no way on earth I would leave an animal in a van all day long while I am not there.  If I had a huge RV or 40' bus, maybe.  But I think it's neither kind nor a good idea to leave animals in a van all day, and running A/C for hours seems impractical and costly.  

In addition to that, if people going by see animals left in a van, they could call the police to report you.  If the animals you have are dogs, they might bark for long periods while you are gone, and there goes any stealth.  Most nomad bloggers I follow who travel with pets are not leaving them inside their vehicle alone all day - they either do not go to work and spend most of the day outside or driving around with the animals, or they have someone with them who takes care of their animals.  

I could be completely wrong, and hopefully others will weigh in, but I think if you are nomadding in a van, you need a better plan than just parking it with them inside.  Perhaps you would be better off having someone pet-sit for you while you're at work and then you pick them up and bring them back to the van at the end of the day.
 
You mention electricity for heating, are you going to be parking where you have shore power hookups?

Plugging in to an outlet nearby is the only way you can heat with electricity, for any length of time anyway. 

So it sounds like you need 12v for a few items, and a 120v electrical hookup for a space heater....maybe you will plug that in at work...

Did I get that right?

Or maybe you meant your propane forced-air heater needs 12v and you will have propane.

Explain your situation a little bit more please.
 
you had a very cheap and simple system up until you said a heater. heating anything thing with electricity is very inefficient. highdesertranger
 
missgardenbee said:
I want to have a simple, basic electrical set up. I don't (and won't) have a tv, computer, microwave, or refrigerator. The items i will need electricity for are my phone charger, a 12 volt fan (or two or?) and a heater in the winter. We generally have high temps in the summer of mid 80's (though we're in a heat wave now and it's in the high 90's). The average winter temperature are lows of 15 to highs of mid 30's.
If you are away from shore power, any use of electric to produce heat is **heavy** usage.

Propane for space heat is more practical, best of all are the outside-burning "parking heaters" that can also burn diesel or petrol (US 'gas').

But that's another thread you can start.

A good fan that vents outside uses a fair bit, but phones hardly anything.

They may be overkill for you, but best value by far is Duracell (actually Deka/East Penn) GC-2 from BatteriesPlus or Sam's Club deep cycle golf cart batteries, 2x6V about $180 for 200+AH.

If size and weight are very important, then smaller batteries are available, but need recharging and replacing more often.

How often will you be plugging into shore power?

How do you plan to recharge otherwise?
 
Agreed, the heater is not a realistic goal, best to use propane for heat.

With your very simple needs, a single 100 watt panel might be enough, but I think better to get at least 150-200 watts.
 
CityWoman said:
So, you will be vandwelling solo?  I am not on the road yet, but I will be solo as well and the main reason why I have no intention to bring animals with me is the fact that I will need to work and be away from my vehicle for hours, probably all day long.  There is no way on earth I would leave an animal in a van all day long while I am not there.  If I had a huge RV or 40' bus, maybe.  But I think it's neither kind nor a good idea to leave animals in a van all day, and running A/C for hours seems impractical and costly.  

In addition to that, if people going by see animals left in a van, they could call the police to report you.  If the animals you have are dogs, they might bark for long periods while you are gone, and there goes any stealth.  Most nomad bloggers I follow who travel with pets are not leaving them inside their vehicle alone all day - they either do not go to work and spend most of the day outside or driving around with the animals, or they have someone with them who takes care of their animals.  

I could be completely wrong, and hopefully others will weigh in, but I think if you are nomadding in a van, you need a better plan than just parking it with them inside.  Perhaps you would be better off having someone pet-sit for you while you're at work and then you pick them up and bring them back to the van at the end of the day.

I've lived solo in a 5th wheel with my animals for the past 2 years. AC runs cold. I naively thought I could have the same AC factor in my van. 

I bring my dog to work every day. When it's too hot or too cold, I take her home where she is safe and comfortable. I live in a small town in a very rural area and everyone has their dogs with them all the time, so no concern about being reported. I'm not doing stealth and I'm not a nomad and won't be for several years. I live in an RV park and will continue to do so. 

When I am ready to travel, I will only take my dog and only go places she's allowed.
 
tx2sturgis said:
You mention electricity for heating, are you going to be parking where you have shore power hookups?

Plugging in to an outlet nearby is the only way you can heat with electricity, for any length of time anyway. 

So it sounds like you need 12v for a few items, and a 120v electrical hookup for a space heater....maybe you will plug that in at work...

Did I get that right?

Or maybe you meant your propane forced-air heater needs 12v and you will have propane.

Explain your situation a little bit more please.
I live in an RV park and have shore power. That's probably the easiest route. I have a sterno stove and a duel fuel stove coming and am going to practice with those to get used to using those fuels safely. I'm apprehensive about a propane heater, even after all I've read here.
 
missgardenbee said:
I've lived solo in a 5th wheel with my animals for the past 2 years. AC runs cold. I naively thought I could have the same AC factor in my van. 

I bring my dog to work every day. When it's too hot or too cold, I take her home where she is safe and comfortable. I live in a small town in a very rural area and everyone has their dogs with them all the time, so no concern about being reported. I'm not doing stealth and I'm not a nomad and won't be for several years. I live in an RV park and will continue to do so. 

When I am ready to travel, I will only take my dog and only go places she's allowed.

Ah, I see.  I was picturing you parking on the street to do this.
 
John61CT said:
If you are away from shore power, any use of electric to produce heat is **heavy** usage.

Propane for space heat is more practical, best of all are the outside-burning "parking heaters" that can also burn diesel or petrol (US 'gas').

But that's another thread you can start.

A good fan that vents outside uses a fair bit, but phones hardly anything.

They may be overkill for you, but best value by far is Duracell (actually Deka/East Penn) GC-2 from BatteriesPlus or Sam's Club deep cycle golf cart batteries, 2x6V about $180 for 200+AH.

If size and weight are very important, then smaller batteries are available, but need recharging and replacing more often.

How often will you be plugging into shore power?

How do you plan to recharge otherwise?
At this point in time, I'll be plugging into shore power daily. Right now I'm in practice mode and figuring out what will work for me in the future-which will probably be at least 5 years.
 
akrvbob said:
Agreed, the heater is not a realistic goal, best to use propane for heat.

With your very simple needs, a single 100 watt panel might be enough, but I think better to get at least 150-200 watts.

Thanks, Bob, and everyone. It's good to get this advice so quickly and thoroughly as I am pretty clueless with electrical matters. It sounds like I should just stick to shore power for now(solar too costly at this point in my life) and keep my 5th wheel so my critters can be safe and happy.
 
if your immediate plans are to stay in an RV park, I wouldn't worry about solar. I can't believe I just said that. highdesertranger
 
Yes that really simplifies your electric system, lower investment in assets - but of course much higher daily "rent" costs.

In fact no separate House battery bank needed!

Just use your Starter until it dies, save/plan for when that happens going to the minimal deep cycle bank I outlined above.

You can fit an adjustable "low-voltage disconnect" to make sure you never draw your bank down too low. While still using your current Starter, set it a bit higher than the point where there's any noticeable strain cranking/starting the engine. As that battery dies (maybe slowly over a year or two), every couple of months you may need to adjust it a bit higher.

IMO ideally IF your vehicle has room to put those 2 GC2s under the hood, just pay a welder/mechanic to put in a tray and hold-down bracket to suit.

That could be done in advance, your current Starter will fit. This will save living space and a pricy wiring job.

When you change over to the GC2s, you should adjust the LVD so it cuts off House loads when SoC gets down to a bit over 50%. Ideally you will also fit a good Battery Monitor, but that costs as much as the bank, so for sure not minimal :cool:

Buy a robust "porta pack" power bank cum jump starter like this

https://www.amazon.com/OEMTOOLS-24455-Personal-Source-Cables/dp/B00RI4467Y

now, keep it charged up from shore power and/or while driving.

That is your "belt and suspenders" backup if your Starter (now) or "Main bank" (later) goes too low to start the vehicle; this may never actually happen.

And it will charge your phones, other USB powered devices while you're away from the vehicle, has an emergency flasher, etc.

You will then be well-positioned to add Solar in the future if you ever want to wean yourself from daily campsite fees.
 
You will of course need a good shore power charger, appropriate for the largest bank you figure you may have over 10+ years, not a low-amp "garage style" unit designed for starters.

Batteries are consumables, but other more "permanent" infrastructure is worth paying for quality.
 
John61CT said:
You will of course need a good shore power charger, appropriate for the largest bank you figure you may have over 10+ years, not a low-amp "garage style" unit designed for starters.

Batteries are consumables, but other more "permanent" infrastructure is worth paying for quality.
Actually just using an extension cord to the shore power - not my starter at all (you did mean the van engine starter?) My dog and I are sleeping in the van, then hang outside until it gets too hot, then go into the air conditioned 5th wheel. I go back to work July 10th after a 6 week break and thought we'd keep practicing until it gets too cold to sleep in the van. Hope not TMI & blathering.
 
No, by "starter" I meant "starter type battery" which is usually not suitable for deep-cycling House usage.

But since your usage is low and less critical, you can make do until it's premature death, helps save $ by delaying the purchase of the proper House bank and free up the funds for investment in infrastructure needed to prepare it.

In any case you will need a proper charger to replenish your daily 12V usage, get the battery back to full from shore power.

Unless you're driving all day every day

Even drawing down only 20%, the later stages of charging a lead batt takes many hours in order to get back to 100% full, which almost all lead batts require for decent longevity.
 
highdesertranger said:
if your immediate plans are to stay in an RV park, I wouldn't worry about solar. I can't believe I just said that. highdesertranger


I can't believe you just said that either! Go back to the You Ain't Right room where you belong.
 

Latest posts

Top