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Old 05-02-2012, 06:32 PM   #13
Ran D. St. Clair
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 212
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As far as electrical, can you give us more of a hint. Does this thing need to boondock, meaning run on batteries? If so you need batteries, a battery charger/inverter, and probably a transfer switch. If it's more of a plug it in design then the electrical is more of an elaborate extension cord, or cords, probably with some circuit breakers. You might still need a transfer switch, or you might keep things simple and manual, like plug it into shore power or plug it into a generator.

Lots of people in the RV world would recommend a power management system that checks for miswired inputs, high voltage, low voltage, etc. Some will also recommend an auto-transformer that boosts low voltage to avoid blowing things up with motors and compressors like refrigerators or air conditioners. You probably know how good or bad your power sources can be.

Speaking of such. Will you have an air conditioner or possibly 2?

Modern high efficiency residential AC powered refrigerators are suitable for RV use. For short trips you can just keep them closed while you travel. For longer trips you would need batteries and an inverter.

You can run some things off of the 12V truck starter batteries, but that's problematic. Starter batteries are not deep cycle batteries so if you draw them down much powering an inverter you will soon be replacing batteries. That and you can easily find youself unable to start the truck. Depending on just the alternator to charge the starter batteries when they are also the house batteries is probably not going to work unless you drive a lot and pull current from the batteries very little.

The possabilities are many, so give us more information about your off grid needs.
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