Electrical Advice
What is Electricity?
Energy is around us in a variety of forms, which include to name just a few, petrol, running water, light and electricity. We often transfer energy from one form to another, for example, when an automobile uses the chemical energy in fuel to move. Some types of energy are easy to store (i.e. chemical) and others are easy to move from one place to another (i.e. electricity and light). Electricity is one form of energy that we have harnessed in the past 100 years. By definition, electricity is the energy available from the movement of electrons within a conducting material. It is analogous to water flowing out of a hose; the electrons are like drops of water. Enough electrons with force behind them can be used to do useful work.
AMP Hours and WATT Hours...
In power systems we describe the total amount of energy consumed over a certain period in either amp hours or watt hours. A one amp draw for 4 hours has used a total of 4 amp hours (AHr) of current. A 100 watt light bulb over 24 hours uses 2400 watt hours (WHr) or 2.4 kilowatt hours (kWHr) of energy. Note: a kilowatt equals 1000 watts, and a kilowatt hour equals 1000 watt hours.
AC versus DC Current...
Just to make things interesting, electrical energy is moved from place to place in two ways. Alternating current (AC) is the most common form; utility power arrives to us at high voltage AC current. Alternating current is like water sloshing back and forth in a bath, the same electrons doing the work in one spot. Solar panels and batteries produce direct current (DC), which is easier to store. DC current is usually used at lower voltages, i.e. 12 or 24 volts.
Advantages of Higher Voltages...
In all power systems we have to move the electricity from one place to another. The transfer is not 100% efficient, and we must take care to minimise the power losses en route. In wire, the loss of electrical power is a factor of the resistance of the wire, and the amount of current going through it. If we use higher voltages, our current is less, so power losses will be lower.
The Difference Between Volts, Amps and Watts...
The common units that are used to measure the quantity of electricity are:
Volts: Electrical force of pressure behind the electrons in a circuit. Analogous to water pressure or PSI, it tells us the system voltage (12, 24).
Amps: The number of electrons flowing past in a second. Like litres per second in a pipe, it defines the electrical current in a wire.
Watts: Total amount of electrical energy, per second.
The formulae to convert from one to another are:
Watts = Volts times Amps
Volts = Watts divided by Amps
Amps = Watts divided by Volts
Take an example of a 60 Watt light bulb...
At 12 Volts: 60 Watts divided by 12 Volts = 5 Amps
At 220 Volts: 60 Watts divided by 220 Volts = 0.27 Amps
This demonstrates that at a low voltages (i.e. 12 Volts) more current is required to do the same work and therefore the wire carrying this current must be of a larger capacity (i.e. thicker) than at higher voltages.
Checking the Charged State of a Leisure Battery
The approximate charge state of a leisure battery can be obtained with the use of a voltage meter (preferably one with a digital readout which can indicate fractions of volts). The measurement should be taken with no charging and no current drain on the battery, if in doubt disconnect the battery (always turn off the charger or remove hook-up first before disconnecting). Also it should not be checked until at least 4 hours after any charging taking place.
Battery voltage indications:
12.7 Volts or more = 100% charged
12.5 Volts = 75%
12.4 Volts = 50%
12.2 Volts = 25%
12 Volts or less = Discharged
Battery Types
Flooded: These are so called wet batteries, filled with sulphuric acid. They are manufactured with lead plates which are designed to handle high starting capacity for automotive use, or plates designed for deep cycle leisure use, but Not both. Even leisure types can be easily damaged by deep discharge.
Carbon Fibre: The Elecsol range are a type of flooded battery with carbon fibre reinforced lead plates. This gives more power for less weight and better cycling performance. Unlike normal leisure batteries, they offer dual purpose, both deep cycle for leisure use and high starting capacity for automotive use.
GEL: The Exide GEL range are absolutely maintenance free, clean and environmentally friendly with no release of acid vapours. Extremely low gassing for use in closed compartments. Constant cold cranking performance over the entire service life. Minimal self discharge. Extremely high cycling capability. 100% leak proof. Deep discharge proof. Unlike normal leisure batteries, they offer dual purpose, both deep cycle for leisure use and high starting capacity for automotive use.
How to get the most out of your leisure battery
There are a number of tips for making the energy stored in you leisure battery go further whilst enjoying the same or enhanced levels of comfort. Here are just a few of them.
1) Change to 12 Volt Low Energy Lamps.
This will reduce your power consumption by between 50% and 80% for
the equivalent light output.
Eg. a 10 Watt Halogen lamp produces the same light output as a 20 Watt standard bulb but uses about half the power and a 7 Watt compact fluorescent lamp gives the same light as a 40 Watt standard bulb but consumes only 20% of the power. Both have standard bayonet fittings and can therefore be used in "off the shelf Table Lamps directly on 12 Volts simply by replacing the mains plug with a 12 Volt type. We also stock a range of LED replacement lamps, in fitting types which directly replace most halogen bulbs.
2) Upgrade your TV to a modern TFT/LCD model.
We have available a range of 12 Volt LCD Colour TV's that are inherently low consumption and lightweight.
3) Invest in a Solar Panel.
A modest solar installation can easily provide self sufficiency in the electrical sense for most of the year, thereby reducing Hook-up costs. The unenlightened normally consider a minimum of 75 Watts of Solar to be appropriate but if you take steps to reduce energy usage, as in 1) and 2) above, a Panel as low as 36 Watts could easily suffice. An added bonus inherent in Solar Installations is the extra protection afforded to leisure batteries from the continuous trickle charge which the Solar Panel provides. This can considerably extend the life of your leisure battery.
We are always happy to advise on these and other matters relating to energy efficiency. Please don't hesitate to call.
Energy is around us in a variety of forms, which include to name just a few, petrol, running water, light and electricity. We often transfer energy from one form to another, for example, when an automobile uses the chemical energy in fuel to move. Some types of energy are easy to store (i.e. chemical) and others are easy to move from one place to another (i.e. electricity and light). Electricity is one form of energy that we have harnessed in the past 100 years. By definition, electricity is the energy available from the movement of electrons within a conducting material. It is analogous to water flowing out of a hose; the electrons are like drops of water. Enough electrons with force behind them can be used to do useful work.
AMP Hours and WATT Hours...
In power systems we describe the total amount of energy consumed over a certain period in either amp hours or watt hours. A one amp draw for 4 hours has used a total of 4 amp hours (AHr) of current. A 100 watt light bulb over 24 hours uses 2400 watt hours (WHr) or 2.4 kilowatt hours (kWHr) of energy. Note: a kilowatt equals 1000 watts, and a kilowatt hour equals 1000 watt hours.
AC versus DC Current...
Just to make things interesting, electrical energy is moved from place to place in two ways. Alternating current (AC) is the most common form; utility power arrives to us at high voltage AC current. Alternating current is like water sloshing back and forth in a bath, the same electrons doing the work in one spot. Solar panels and batteries produce direct current (DC), which is easier to store. DC current is usually used at lower voltages, i.e. 12 or 24 volts.
Advantages of Higher Voltages...
In all power systems we have to move the electricity from one place to another. The transfer is not 100% efficient, and we must take care to minimise the power losses en route. In wire, the loss of electrical power is a factor of the resistance of the wire, and the amount of current going through it. If we use higher voltages, our current is less, so power losses will be lower.
The Difference Between Volts, Amps and Watts...
The common units that are used to measure the quantity of electricity are:
Volts: Electrical force of pressure behind the electrons in a circuit. Analogous to water pressure or PSI, it tells us the system voltage (12, 24).
Amps: The number of electrons flowing past in a second. Like litres per second in a pipe, it defines the electrical current in a wire.
Watts: Total amount of electrical energy, per second.
The formulae to convert from one to another are:
Watts = Volts times Amps
Volts = Watts divided by Amps
Amps = Watts divided by Volts
Take an example of a 60 Watt light bulb...
At 12 Volts: 60 Watts divided by 12 Volts = 5 Amps
At 220 Volts: 60 Watts divided by 220 Volts = 0.27 Amps
This demonstrates that at a low voltages (i.e. 12 Volts) more current is required to do the same work and therefore the wire carrying this current must be of a larger capacity (i.e. thicker) than at higher voltages.
Checking the Charged State of a Leisure Battery
The approximate charge state of a leisure battery can be obtained with the use of a voltage meter (preferably one with a digital readout which can indicate fractions of volts). The measurement should be taken with no charging and no current drain on the battery, if in doubt disconnect the battery (always turn off the charger or remove hook-up first before disconnecting). Also it should not be checked until at least 4 hours after any charging taking place.
Battery voltage indications:
12.7 Volts or more = 100% charged
12.5 Volts = 75%
12.4 Volts = 50%
12.2 Volts = 25%
12 Volts or less = Discharged
Battery Types
Flooded: These are so called wet batteries, filled with sulphuric acid. They are manufactured with lead plates which are designed to handle high starting capacity for automotive use, or plates designed for deep cycle leisure use, but Not both. Even leisure types can be easily damaged by deep discharge.
Carbon Fibre: The Elecsol range are a type of flooded battery with carbon fibre reinforced lead plates. This gives more power for less weight and better cycling performance. Unlike normal leisure batteries, they offer dual purpose, both deep cycle for leisure use and high starting capacity for automotive use.
GEL: The Exide GEL range are absolutely maintenance free, clean and environmentally friendly with no release of acid vapours. Extremely low gassing for use in closed compartments. Constant cold cranking performance over the entire service life. Minimal self discharge. Extremely high cycling capability. 100% leak proof. Deep discharge proof. Unlike normal leisure batteries, they offer dual purpose, both deep cycle for leisure use and high starting capacity for automotive use.
How to get the most out of your leisure battery
There are a number of tips for making the energy stored in you leisure battery go further whilst enjoying the same or enhanced levels of comfort. Here are just a few of them.
1) Change to 12 Volt Low Energy Lamps.
This will reduce your power consumption by between 50% and 80% for
the equivalent light output.
Eg. a 10 Watt Halogen lamp produces the same light output as a 20 Watt standard bulb but uses about half the power and a 7 Watt compact fluorescent lamp gives the same light as a 40 Watt standard bulb but consumes only 20% of the power. Both have standard bayonet fittings and can therefore be used in "off the shelf Table Lamps directly on 12 Volts simply by replacing the mains plug with a 12 Volt type. We also stock a range of LED replacement lamps, in fitting types which directly replace most halogen bulbs.
2) Upgrade your TV to a modern TFT/LCD model.
We have available a range of 12 Volt LCD Colour TV's that are inherently low consumption and lightweight.
3) Invest in a Solar Panel.
A modest solar installation can easily provide self sufficiency in the electrical sense for most of the year, thereby reducing Hook-up costs. The unenlightened normally consider a minimum of 75 Watts of Solar to be appropriate but if you take steps to reduce energy usage, as in 1) and 2) above, a Panel as low as 36 Watts could easily suffice. An added bonus inherent in Solar Installations is the extra protection afforded to leisure batteries from the continuous trickle charge which the Solar Panel provides. This can considerably extend the life of your leisure battery.
We are always happy to advise on these and other matters relating to energy efficiency. Please don't hesitate to call.