still a bit confused but am starting to get it..... 200 watt solar panals charge a 200 amp hr bank at 50% in how long full sun? Variables I understand, but on average....?
Bob, I’ve spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to explain mobile power to folks. In fact just attended the RTR looking for inspiration in this area. You have NAILED it! This is the best analogy I’ve come across yet and will help many to understand the world of mobile power. The next question people will have is how to know how many amps (quarters) their device will use (cost). I know you aren’t a big proponent of a battery meter, such as a Trimetric, but I am. With a Trimetric, they could turn on their device and know exactly how many amps they were using at that moment. A Trimetric, or similar, is the only accurate way they have to keep track of how many Amps (quarters) they have taken from their bank. Using a voltmeter to gauge battery level is like trying to determine how much gas is in your car by reading a fuel pressure gauge. You need a gas gauge, and that is a Trimetric or similar. And, again, thank you for this. You did it. You actually simplified what was a foreign and complex topic for many.
I'm in the planning stages of a van build and I was so confused by all this. Your videos are a huge help. The charitable work you do is amazing too. When I buy all the gear for my conversion I'll be sure to buy via amazon using one of your links. These videos and all the other work you do is really worth while. Your're a good man, Bob. Thank you.
Thank you so much. After all the researching I've done and people I've talked to, no one had been able to get it to connect with me until this. Forever grateful.
Hi! This video is totally awesome! For first time I could understand what u nomads are always talking about so easily, using words none of which made any sense to me. I loved this tutorial; succinct, easily applicable, and just gave me more confidence as I contemplate this lifestyle in my retirement and tentatively get my feet on the ground, living solo. Living female solo. ( I added the female part only to say I am one of those females who knows literally nothing about maintaining vans/Class B, C rigs. Know nothing about repairs, etc.). But very willing to do the homework, take on-line classes I’ve seen by other nomads, research and just gain as much knowledge as possible, recognizing I will mostly learn by ‘doing’ once I’m actually on the road. felt overwhelmed with all I need to learn before embarking on my adventure so have watched various nomad videos for this last year to gain needed knowledge. However, this was an area I was just totally confused about and yet felt it was an area of critical importance . Loved loved loved this “Amps/Watts/Volts/Solar 101”. You truly spoke in language I could understand and correlate to present life. Also made me aware of what to look for when purchasing my new home. I was so excited realizing I understand you! Before, it was like a foreign language when you and different nomads interviewed other nomads and spoke about all you’d done to increase power and battery life. I just didn’t get it. I hope you continue these types of ‘101’ series of various subjects. There are so many of us out here who just need certain issues simplified, pros and cons, that typical ‘homework ‘ just doesn’t answer. Again, thank you. I’m smiling big cause I just learned a new skill. Lauren
THANK YOU!!!!! Finally explained so that I get it! My husband was an electrician and it was all jibberish to me! Can't wait for the upcoming videos, you explain things so clear. I really believe you have helped a lot of people today!
oh my bob thank you so much me and my fiancé are trying to learn as much as we can before we start our journey and your videos have been the biggest and most informative help that we have to learn the ins and outs in the simplest way.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I am building a barn and I want to use solar just for some tools to be recharged and a couple of fans and led lights. I will have to watch this a couple of more times so I can get it. This has been the best explanation I could grasp hold of because I don’t have a clue about electricity or solar.
I have tutored for electronic technician's school. This is a great way to teach it. Thank you for including and stressing that batteries should be kept above a level to improve longevity. I'm looking forward to you next video in this series. This is one criticism though: Encourage someone who still doesn't understand to ask more questions. It is the teacher thing in me.
Thank you Bob. You broke it down to make a complex topic understandable. Throwing in Ohms Law provided the core info we need. I hope you'll pin this video!
You have given the very best simplistic explanation of amp hours . I took electronics courses many years ago . Bob: thank you for a down to EARTH 🌎 explanation of electricity and a common sense approach to electricity
Beatiful analogy. So here is the thing I learned: Lead-acid batteries can only be discharged up to 50% before irreversible damage occurs. However that's not how other batteries work. But lead acid do work that way. Thank you for sharing that important information :)
Thank you SO much for explaining! I've read articles and the analogies for volts, watts and amps too yet your visual presentation with the bank/currency analogy just seems easier to absorb. Perhaps it's because more people have a closer relationship with money as it's so crucial to our everyday lives? It's more relatable. Well, who cares?! It helps! And the rest of tbe knowledge will come with time! Thank you, thank you!
What a great explanation and math lesson! Bob, you are so helpful to all of us, thank for giving us knowledge to build on and to make informed decisions.
I don’t know what kind of magician magic you just pulled!! but I absolutely loved your video. I have been struggling with this manner for a long time and you have successfully helped me!!! Thank you!!
I really enjoy hearing you talk Bob (seriously!). You explain things in a way that many can latch on to, and that's key to education. Thank you for sharing your time and knowledge.
I am amazed how you can talk solar in layman's terms. I am a performance engineer for a major communications company. Your series is right on. Thanks for sharing. With a little investigation everyone can customize their solar. People go small travel trailer or go truck camper! The boondocktor. LOL
Looking for my first Class C to go full time. Almost have everything ready to go. Just can't find that perfect RV for me yet!! I WILL FIND ONE!! :) I plan on being at the next WRTR and then RTR. I will get solar and composting toilet and still learning how to get all that but see by your videos IT CAN BE DONE. Thank you for all your very informative videos. Hope to meet you one day. :)
I’m launching in August! Can’t waitFYI: I was searching for class C and opened my search...... found a 26’ Class A. Very sweet. I love the big view out the front
THANK YOU!! I've tried to understand electricity so that I can understand a solar system and have run into the analogy of water running through a hose. Nothing stuck. But you've just explained things in an exactly perfect way for me to understand my power usage. Again, thanks! I appreciate the time you took explaining this!
Ok so now I know I want 200w panels with 2/100amp batteries in a bank to be able to run a 12v fan at night and charge my phone for the next day. I can have a Lucy lite for daily solar charging. It would allow me to watch vids on my ph at night. Then there's no worries of running the batteries dead. This really helped. Thanks so much.
Louise I see you are in Fla. Me too so I thought I would tell you something incase you haven't heard. I don't know what kind of solar you may be installing but Lots of people have tried the flexible panels on top of their vehicles here in Fla. They have failed due to the excessive heat and not enough ventilation when people put them on the roof of a vehicle. Just letting ya know. Have a great evening.
@@wherewomenwander2921 hey thanks for that info. I travel mostly in Missouri-Arizona. I think a grate under them would solve that problem. Shouldn't cost much for someone to weld something together for that problem. Good luck... TC ATB Louise
thank you Bob. off to a good start learning about amp hours to charge our devices and run our appliances. Understanding the electrical system is vital to rv living.
Bob - I love your videos and your general approach to all things cheap RV living/van life. I’m working on not making my van conversion so complex I never leave home! I can’t wait to get my tail out there and meet you!
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I finally get what everyone is talking about in their videos when they are discussing their batteries, inverters and solar! The inverter was the main thing I could not grasp!
I'm glad you made this subject clearer. Once, way back, I had asked how many amp hours? You had kept referring to your new battery bank as 6 golf carts while live streaming you and Jim / Denver. It's so very important to know how many amp hours. I have rejuvenated a friends wheelchair batteries. They are 40 ah each. I have purchased 400 watt system from new powa last winter and nearly blew up my new used batteries. The expanded and I had acid (AGM) on the floor of my van. Baking soda took care of that mess. My batteries still work. Hopefully, live and learn. Thanks for sharing.
This is one reason, among others, why I decided to use Lithium batteries. Lithium batteries can be drained down to 10% vs 50% without damaging them. They also have over twice as many cycle times over lead acid deep cell batteries Yes they cost more but they just last much longer and can even be stored for ver a year and retain their charge to 80%. Nice video Bob. Thanks
Thank you for a perfect explanation of how the battery works. That analogy helped me to understand for the first time in my life! You made me so happy! I appreciate all your videos so much.
Good video that I believe addresses a real need for many people. I do have some quibbles, however. I would have used Watt-Hours instead of Amp-Hours. Devices are most commonly rated in the number of watts they consume. Solar panels are most commonly rated in watts they produce. Also, I would have started with the printed equation relating watts, volts, and amps near the beginning, with written examples. Using watt-hours instead of amps-hours also lets you directly compare battery capacity between batteries of differing voltages. In addition, watt hours are more technically correct because watt-hours ARE a measure of total energy consumed. Amp-hours work in your example because you assume that the voltage is constant. In addition, your constraint that you don't want to use more that 50% of your battery's capacity does not apply to lithium iron phosphate batteries which are becoming more common. Also, I would warn people that a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing. Electrical systems need to be engineered by people who have a solid understanding of the principles involved. Failure to do so can result in poorly performing and/or dangerous installations. Anyone of normal intelligence can learn the theory and application as it applies to RV electrical systems. It is not particularly hard, involves only basic math, and getting past the jargon is the first step.
@@milcotto4153 Amp-hours is, by definition, NOT a measure of energy capacity. A 12 volt 100 amp-hour battery has twice the energy capacity (aka watt-hours) as a 6 volt 100 amp-hour battery, for example. You can only use amp-hours to directly compare batteries when they are of the same voltage. Watt-hour is a measure of electrical energy. I know it seems like I am picking nits, but learning the correct meaning of terms helps understanding in the long run.
@@milcotto4153 The energy consumed by a device over time is watt-hours. Telling people that it is amp-hours is incorrect and makes it more difficult for them to further their understanding in the future. It is no more complicated to use the right term instead of the the wrong term.
Most deep cycle batteries are rated at a C20 rating. That means if you have a 100amp hour battery, the most efficient use of that battery will be drawing on the battery over a 20 hour period. This means that you really have 5amps you can use per hour. Thus you could draw from your battery over a 20 hour period of time. Now, if you are drawing 10 amps per hour, you might think you're going to get 10 hours. Unfortunately batteries dont work that way. You'll end up getting 5-7 hours. So be careful with how you load down your bank.
@@mscavsfan You run what down to zero? Hopefully not deep-cycle flooded batteries. If you do, they will have a short life indeed. If there's a mantra across the whole battery industry it's "never run your batteries to zero." That applies to pretty much all types, and certainly all types normally used in RV's.
...and in the event you ever need this info, volts x amps = watts. Most electrical devices will list the amp draw on its' label. Multiply that times the voltage and you have how much power the device uses (watts). For what it's worth. Great video!!
This was amazing!!! Thank u!!! I needed it explained this way!! I hope u have vids 2 explain everything in a van build cuz i know nothing!! Thanx again!!! ✌&💚
Thank you. Love the "buying power" analogy. I'm finally beginning to grasp - something! How can anyone watch the volume of videos I have and still be so confused? No need to answer that :)
Thank you, thank you, thank you 🙏 For once it makes sense. I am looking forward to your video on how to charge via my van battery in case the solar doesn’t work for some reason.
