12 Volt Led Boat Lights
Prudent RVer says, Live 'Off-grid "Solar Energy Using LEDs
LED lighting is vital when you live "off-grid 'in a boat or RV. Outside the network means to live in a self-sufficient manner without reliance on one or more public services such as electricity, natural gas, water, or waste. RVers research, often to a sustainable life, going outside the network, thinking it's a cheap way to live.
Living off the grid is not necessarily cheap, nor is simple and easy. Prepare to do a lot of planning and work, and do not be surprised by the necessary investment. To be successful sustainability, we must reach a balance. The need of LEDs is a good example.
In many boats and RV coaches with incandescent and / or fluorescent lighting, the lighting installed uses more than half the total load of 12 volt DC battery. When you include the added burden conditioners air to remove heat generated by lights, is even greater. When you are on-shore – or camped in an RV park – it's no problem, but when your primary source energy is solar energy from the sun, the energy consumption becomes an immediate concern and overuse can make the difference between staying out as long as you want, or back to the beach to find a refill (or running the generator).
My choice of life is a good example. The Prudent RVer is an Internet retailer that operates when, even when Boondocking in the desert. Our simple business, you still need two hours of connectivity of each day. This usually requires 25 amp-hours each day to the power of TV, DirecTV Receiver, Internet Access, modem, router, two laptops, and occasionally the printer.
Previously, before we had LEDs, which typically 06:56 burnt 921 fluorescent lamps and one that produced about 1,600 lumens of light for five or six hours in the winter months. This required about 8 amps for 6 hours, totaling 48 amp-hours. I had to plan our total consumption, therefore, Boondocking to 73 amp-hours per day.
My machine has only 240 watts solar panels using a solar boost controller. On average, I would expect to recharge my batteries with up to 45 amp-hours on a good day sun. This meant I could be 28 amp-hour short at the end of the first day, plus 28 amp-hour walking the second day and so on for each day thereafter, until my batteries dried.
But when I switched to LED lighting for my, I only required to produce 2 amps at 1,600 lumens, ie I just needed some 11 amp-hours each night. Now my solar system only has to replace 25 plus 11 or 36 amp-hours each day, and 240 watt panels can do this even on a cloudy day. I can even surf the web a little more each night.
Of course the big guys will have more sunlight, but they also have more toys and more lights. The even balance is required irrespective of their size when running 'Off-grid'. "It comes down to the use of LEDs, if you really want to get off the grid with solar power.
I am the Prudent RVer, and my experience tells me so.
About the Author
Since 2006 Sam Penny has developed and sold LED lighting developed and manufactured in the USA at the
Prudent RVer & Boater
website. Penny offers advice, support, and the most reliable LED products for those who pursue a prudent existance with low-energy lighting, both in their RV and their home. See the
ZL1
, the smallest, fully regulated 21-lumen, 12-volt zipLED lamp available.
camping lights
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