12 volt

[Alwims]

We are in the beginning stages of installing solar to supplement and to boondock occasionally. That being said, I was checking my 12 volt fuse panel to see what ran what and when I pulled a certain fuse my main ducted 110v air conditioner stopped. I put the fuse back in and the air started back up. I'm confused as all get out. What part of my central air would be running off 12 volt? I'm assuming it has something to do with the thermostat, but have no idea. If that is the case, is there any way of getting around this as I'm going to need all the voltage I can get to the inverter and 12 volt system?

[Art-n-Marge]

You are right that it's not the A/C running on 12v and the thermostat must run on 12v since it also controls fans and heat and this is probably why the A/C quit. I believe the fuse you found was for the thermostat, not the A/C.

You shouldn't have the A/C turned on when boondocking and the thermostat itself uses little 12v power and when boondocking while is known that it's difficult to get an A/C to work you'll need the thermostat for the lower powered heater (running on propane for heat) I don't think you have to worry about needing too much power being used by the thermostat.

If you don't even want to use the 12v thermostat for turning on the furnace, then you can leave it turned off, too and preserve even more power from the solar panels (actually the reserve from the batteries that are being recharged by the solar panels).

Just remember that the solar panels only work when there's lots of sun light. So if the weather is inclement, very cloudy or you are parked under trees, you might want to have a small generator as a backup, and hopefully others way smarter than me can tell you how to do this.

P.S. I like your sentiments. I will always support the troops. Those that don't should go live somewhere else, please! We won't mind, really! It's those same troops that preserve your right to say "I don't support the troops". How ironic.

[1retired06]

X2 on the thermostat. That 12 volt is also required for the refrigerator, hot water heater, and depending on model, the stove igniters as well.

[kdeiss]

quote:Originally posted by 1retired06

X2 on the thermostat. That 12 volt is also required for the refrigerator, hot water heater, and depending on model, the stove igniters as well.

X 3

[DQDick]

X4. 12 volt to control the propane functions except most stoves.

[jwedell]

Also the 12 volt lighting and exhaust fans. You must consider all of of this when you size the battery bank for boon docking. Boon docking is all we do for now.

[Alwims]

I figured it was the thermostat. Guess I need to figure in the igniters also, forgot about them. I'm getting a splitting headache trying to figure all this out, but by golly, I'm determined to tell these RV Parks down here in So Texas to stick their 18 to 21 cents per Killowatt, or at least some of it.