$.80 solar panels
A while back, maybe months, maybe last year, someone posted a link to solar panels for 80 cents per watt. I've tried searching but can't find it. I've also looked around eBay and Amazon and can't fi...
Forum Discussion
BFL13 wrote:EldIr wrote:BFL13 wrote:
No way is that 3 amps with a 300w inverter. Something else must be going on there.
Eg using the 1000w inverter and a 120v CFL lamp I get a 2 amp draw showing on the Trimetric, vs a 3 amp draw with no inverter and one 12v two bulb lamp. The CFL lights up the whole place in comparison with the 12v lamp. ( I don't have the newer, better LEDs for the 12v lamps)
I won't be back to the cabin until the week after next due to work. I'll recheck the inverter manual and test the draw with my Fluke but I'd swear the manual said the inverter draws about 30w. It does have a cooling fan that runs any time it's on regardless of load and I know some of those aren't very efficient. It is quite old from before pure-sine inverters became all the rage. (back then, even the cheap modified-sine were still expensive not like the 30 dollar ones at the auto parts stores now.)
Back in the 90s :) they had 12v TVs etc so you didn't need an inverter and RVers got the idea that it was easier on the batteries to use 12v directly instead of wall warts on 120.
Now that is all "so yesterday" with switch mode mofset inverters and LED Tvs, CFL or LED lights. etc etc. Today you can do it all via inverter and get better TVs and other things to run off 120v and forget the whole 12v idea unless forced to.
New cabin in 2013? Do a 20yr upgrade from the old '93 cabin :)
A number of years back I purchased a small GoVideo LCD panel for the motorhome. I was surprised to find out that the AC adapter dropped 120VAC to 12VDC!!!!! I pucked up an adapter at Radio Shack and BINGO I have a TV that needs no inverter.
If the Go_Video marketing guys had their heads togeather they could hae advertised the TV as RV\Marine frendly and tagged another $100 to the price!
LOL
