| ▲ | turtlebits 2 days ago | |
Unless there is some space/weight constraint, adding additional battery capacity for idle draw and running an inverter is likely less expensive than trying to find 12v only equipment. OP is running sealed lead acid batteries, they could have 5-6x the capacity using LFP batteries with the same weight. | ||
| ▲ | FLHerne 2 days ago | parent [-] | |
Space for panels is very constrained, they already get in the way more than I'd like. I'll probably expand the battery bank at some point, but that only averages energy over a wider time period rather than increasing the total available. I've spent very little on 12V equipment - my router and laptop are easily run off DC-DC supplies and USB supplies/lighting/water pumps/radios etc. are widely available. The only thing that's powered full-time and would have been significantly more expensive at 12V is the fridge, and I got that for free with an easily-replaced failed thermostat. Doubling my present battery capacity would definitely cost more than I've spent on everything else. | ||