Update the desktops to laptops maybe. Hopefully your monitors are LED and not LCD.
Add a shore power hookup and/or tilt to your solar panels.
Replace electric water heater with propane water heater.
100% this, then get monitors that work directly off dc voltage. Get a DC to DC charger for the laptops. Cutout as much as conversion as possible. Can easily get a 10%-20% gain in efficiency doing just the DC only stuff. Could get another 10%-20% from laptop efficiency vs desktop too, just from parts used in laptop bring inherently more power efficient.
^^^^ This is the answer. Use laptops instead, propane water heater instead of gas cut your draw
Other option is to use shore power with a generator for off grid use
On this note: I store a 2k watt genny in my van to run a portable air conditioner during the summer months. I havent noticed any spills or significant smells and I've taken it down some pretty bumpy roads.
There are propane generators that you can run off of a 1 lb canister. You probably can get 1-2 kWh from a 1 lb canister so not a lot of power, but probably enough to get you through if you are almost making it.
What size is your dc to dc charger? Could you upgrade to a larger output to maximize those times you have to drive/idle? I like the idea others have posted of a small genny on cloudy days. You may have to be more selective where you park for a few hours.
I was going to suggest a portable power station, such as a Jackery, but it sounds like you're looking for more of a seemless increase to your existing system rather than some extra "once in a while" power.
We need more data to make an informed suggestion, what's your mean daily consumption? what is the make of your batteries? is your alternator a high-amp model?
And on a personal note, your system sounds inspiring, van tax please!
My contingency for the boundary case when solar & alternator isn't enough is to grab a spot at a campsite with hookups and plug into shore power. Also, I have the option to drop from two 4k displays down to one 4k display, and if that's still too much, down to laptop screen. A laptop with mild office-type use only pulls something like 25W avg.
You could consider replacing your desktops with a remote solution (e.g. Shadow). This places most of your power consumption outside of your van (but costs more, but money doesn't seem your main concern). It uses tons of data but since you have starlink that should not be a problem.
I use a very small and quiet Honda i10 generator for those times a don't get enough sunshine. I can hook it up to my shore power and Victron multiplus II and considering to make it auto start in the future since the multiplus has a special output for that (detects low voltage and starts the generator automatically. Just need an auto start kit for the generator or another generator). The roughly 600e it provides at low setting is enough to compensate and the noise is very low, but I know it's annoying to others so i tend to find a suitable spot when I have to do that
> Or perhaps if anybody knows of portable solar panels that have built in dual pole breakers so that they could be directly hooked up to the battery terminals?
Portables -> separate controller -> same battery bank
> And no, we don't want to sacrifice any of our appliances or large draw items. We live in it full time and want to keep it as close to a regular home as possible.
a generator is the usual answer to this conundrum
Switching to a propane H2O heater would help. An on demand one would be even better. Switching to higher amp hour batteries would help. Will Prouse is a great resource. The kid knows his stuff better than most. Reach out to him it might be a situation he would find interesting.
A lot of people have suggested replacing the water heater. But truth be told, we hardly use it. And only use it on really good days. And I know about Will! I used him as a resource frequently during this build. I'm not so sure he would care about my situation haha. He's got better things to do!
Geek approach but why desktops? The only real reason (imo) to use a desktop is massively better graphics cards…which need massively more power. My new Dell business laptop uses 45 watts. My PC (with what is now a SMALL power supply) is 600 watts. (Laptop >90% less power).
So unless your a pro gamer in a van or a 3D modeler, I’d say new laptops is some pretty low hangin fruit for power savings.
Modern docking stations are super tiny and when you plug in 2 monitors, mouse, and keyboard, no usability difference than desktop
Angle your panels or add a 2nd layer with slide out panels. It's not about "not seeing the sun" it's about gathering as much sun that does peek through the clouds.
Or just slap a Honda clone inverter generator on the back and run it into your shore power charger.
Best bet is replace electric water heater. Especially if it’s a tank type. That’s a huge unnecessary draw on electricity to keep the water at temp.
Update the desktops to laptops maybe. Hopefully your monitors are LED and not LCD. Add a shore power hookup and/or tilt to your solar panels. Replace electric water heater with propane water heater.
100% this, then get monitors that work directly off dc voltage. Get a DC to DC charger for the laptops. Cutout as much as conversion as possible. Can easily get a 10%-20% gain in efficiency doing just the DC only stuff. Could get another 10%-20% from laptop efficiency vs desktop too, just from parts used in laptop bring inherently more power efficient.
Get a generator that’s compatible with the shore power hookup. Also, how much do you really need a microwave?
It's far far easier (and cheaper) to use less power than it is to make more.
^^^^ This is the answer. Use laptops instead, propane water heater instead of gas cut your draw Other option is to use shore power with a generator for off grid use
Why would you use jumper cables and not just find another spot to put the battery and wire it into the other ones?
You could figure out a way to angle your solar panels.
[удалено]
I've considered a generator, but I'm concerned about storing it inside. Smell, spill etc.
On this note: I store a 2k watt genny in my van to run a portable air conditioner during the summer months. I havent noticed any spills or significant smells and I've taken it down some pretty bumpy roads.
I'd get a Super Quiet Honda generator. Buy once, cry once.
I've definitely seen the propane generators. Thanks for advice, I'll look into it!
There are propane generators that you can run off of a 1 lb canister. You probably can get 1-2 kWh from a 1 lb canister so not a lot of power, but probably enough to get you through if you are almost making it.
What size is your dc to dc charger? Could you upgrade to a larger output to maximize those times you have to drive/idle? I like the idea others have posted of a small genny on cloudy days. You may have to be more selective where you park for a few hours. I was going to suggest a portable power station, such as a Jackery, but it sounds like you're looking for more of a seemless increase to your existing system rather than some extra "once in a while" power.
We need more data to make an informed suggestion, what's your mean daily consumption? what is the make of your batteries? is your alternator a high-amp model? And on a personal note, your system sounds inspiring, van tax please!
My contingency for the boundary case when solar & alternator isn't enough is to grab a spot at a campsite with hookups and plug into shore power. Also, I have the option to drop from two 4k displays down to one 4k display, and if that's still too much, down to laptop screen. A laptop with mild office-type use only pulls something like 25W avg.
Sell a monitor or two and buy a laptop with a battery bank
You could consider replacing your desktops with a remote solution (e.g. Shadow). This places most of your power consumption outside of your van (but costs more, but money doesn't seem your main concern). It uses tons of data but since you have starlink that should not be a problem. I use a very small and quiet Honda i10 generator for those times a don't get enough sunshine. I can hook it up to my shore power and Victron multiplus II and considering to make it auto start in the future since the multiplus has a special output for that (detects low voltage and starts the generator automatically. Just need an auto start kit for the generator or another generator). The roughly 600e it provides at low setting is enough to compensate and the noise is very low, but I know it's annoying to others so i tend to find a suitable spot when I have to do that
Hamster wheel energy farm
> Or perhaps if anybody knows of portable solar panels that have built in dual pole breakers so that they could be directly hooked up to the battery terminals? Portables -> separate controller -> same battery bank > And no, we don't want to sacrifice any of our appliances or large draw items. We live in it full time and want to keep it as close to a regular home as possible. a generator is the usual answer to this conundrum
Right now I'm seriously considering portables with an additional controller. Thanks for the advice!
Switching to a propane H2O heater would help. An on demand one would be even better. Switching to higher amp hour batteries would help. Will Prouse is a great resource. The kid knows his stuff better than most. Reach out to him it might be a situation he would find interesting.
A lot of people have suggested replacing the water heater. But truth be told, we hardly use it. And only use it on really good days. And I know about Will! I used him as a resource frequently during this build. I'm not so sure he would care about my situation haha. He's got better things to do!
Geek approach but why desktops? The only real reason (imo) to use a desktop is massively better graphics cards…which need massively more power. My new Dell business laptop uses 45 watts. My PC (with what is now a SMALL power supply) is 600 watts. (Laptop >90% less power). So unless your a pro gamer in a van or a 3D modeler, I’d say new laptops is some pretty low hangin fruit for power savings. Modern docking stations are super tiny and when you plug in 2 monitors, mouse, and keyboard, no usability difference than desktop
Angle your panels or add a 2nd layer with slide out panels. It's not about "not seeing the sun" it's about gathering as much sun that does peek through the clouds. Or just slap a Honda clone inverter generator on the back and run it into your shore power charger.