More 12-volt Tweaks — Computer Power Supply

I mentioned last time that I wasn’t happy with the efficiency of the 12V power supply I installed for running the lights, water pump, furnace, and a few other smaller items.  How bad was it?  Well, putting out 2 amps at 12.3V, it was drawing 52W from the wall outlet.  That’s less than 50% efficiency,…

Cooking at the HDT Rally

It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything non-technical, and needed to share a few notes from a cooking seminar–geared toward cooking healthy foods in small spaces–I presented at the National Heavy-Duty Truck Rally in Hutchinson, Kansas a couple of weeks ago. First, let me start by saying that I’m no chef, by any stretch…

More Electrical Changes

Last time I talked about this project, I left you hanging with the lead acid batteries from the old house power system gone, and the generator connected to the chassis batteries.  But I didn’t have anything hooked up to power the remaining 12V house loads–things like the furnace, water heater, water pump, slide out motor,…

Which batteries should start the generator?

Ok–fair warning up front: this post is probably going to sound like a little bit of a rant.  One of the high-current 12V loads I needed to figure out how to power as part of the 48V lithium-ion project was the generator, and if you’ve been following the lithium house battery project, you already know…