Hello, I am new and I have a solar math question...

[squirbel]

So instead of providing an answer, please help me by showing me how you got your result. I have a 12v device that consumes 1W in idle mode, and 5W in active mode. How many "amp hours" am I looking at over a 24 hour period (always on). I am looking specifically for amp hours... I don't understand the relation between amps and amp hours yet.


(I also posted this question to askmetafilter if anyone is a part of that community.)

http://ask.metafilter.com/239673/Electricity-math-Need-help-planning-for-solar

 

[psytechguy]

OK, I'll take a shot.

Assuming your high usage (always on) of 5 watts...

5 watts / 12 volts = ~0.42 amps

0.42 amps X 24 hours = 10.08 Amp Hours

So worst case, if your device was running full blast at 5 watts continuously all day long, you'd use around 10 AH worth of battery charge a day.

 

[squirbel]

Thanks a lot! This is for my cat's litter robot (as I make the conscious decision to live in a mobile dwelling, I cannot give up this luxury. I estimate the active would be 1hour total all day, and idle the other 23.

 

[Zil]

My litter robots were all failures of one kind or another. $ down the cat. I found a blue diamond product, walnut shell clumping litter. Hardly ever cat stink. I scoop every two days mostly, but sometime longer.

 

[squirbel]

Regarding the litter robots - I am talking about THE Litter Robot, not those sub 100$ deals. I've owned it two years and never had to touch refuse of any sort - I just pull the drawer out and take the trash bag full of refuse out. If you're interested, it uses 1w idle, 5w active. It is in active mode for 2 minutes multiplied by the number of times your cat uses the bathroom a day.



http://www.litter-robot.com/

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

We tried a litter genie thing back in the day, it did the job ok but the tray was too small on it and it often spilled.&nbsp; Im not saying it got over filled from lack of changing, i meant litter clumps would miss the tray or spill over side.<br><br>That thing looks awesome, i was worried about having a cat in a vehicle (i might get one in the future) but hmm if that works... <img rel="lightbox" src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" class="bbc_img">