12v or 240v

JPOSH
JPOSH Forum Participant Posts: 131
edited March 2016 in Parts & Accessories #1

Am I right in thinking ,if on a sight with low ampage or metered electric would it be more beneficial to run the tv via 12 volt circuit to ease the pressure on the power at hand and cheaper to run if metered? 

Comments

  • Boff
    Boff Forum Participant Posts: 1,742
    1000 Comments
    edited March 2016 #2

    You still need to generate the electricity some how.  If you run on a battery you will be using the metered ehu to charge the battery.    You don't get nothing for nothing, unless you fit a solar panel. 

  • Metheven
    Metheven Club Member Posts: 3,987 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #3

    It can't be less and it may be more with losses from the charging unit.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,311 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #4

    As stated, unless you are generating your electricity by other means, the cost on a metered supply will be similar. As far as load is concerned, just been to check my TV and the maximum load on the input side of the transformer is 1.5 amps and that would
    probably only be on start up. So unless you are on a 6 amp supply, or less, it probably not going to be a consideration.  As on 10 amps for instance, you could still run your TV, fridge, battery charger and heating on 1 kW with no problems. Turning off the
    heating to boil a low wattage kettle or using the toaster.

  • Merve
    Merve Forum Participant Posts: 2,333
    1000 Comments
    edited March 2016 #5

    JPOSH! Can I do you a favour and steer you to the thread , How to survive a non EHU site' in the Tips on making caravanning cheaper section. Its a good long read but I think you will get something out of it. As already mentioned by Boff, a panel may be your answer.  I don't now, have to worry about such things as I produce my own power through a 135w panel into 2 x 110ah batteries and run my Avtex on 12v. Never had a problem with it. On top of that I run a 240v Microwave, toaster and vacuum through a 2000w PSW inverter. I could of course run the TV on 240v but it would use more juice as I would have to run the inverter to do it. I am on site now. I am as comfortable as I ever was with EHU and at a fraction of the site fees I used to pay. Just a thought......... 

  • JPOSH
    JPOSH Forum Participant Posts: 131
    edited March 2016 #6

    Cheers Merv

    We do use  the basic Cl's and commercial sites without EHU

    And am comfortable now with our set up just not savvy with  the maths of caravan electricity .

    As we are off abroad in 5 weeks and have had experience with 6 amp sites I was wondering if using the tv on 12 volt may  ease the pressure on the mains supply. 

    Drawing from the battery and allowing the battery to charge up in the small hours.