If you check out my website at http://www.konsk.co.uk you’ll find my email address there as well as more details of various things re low energy, permaculture design and the like. Please feel free to mail me if you want more information.

Secondly, hi David,

I’m thinking along the same lines as you, namely a 12 volt system for lighting (LEDs) and electronic equipment, for the same reasons- availability of equipment etc. Like you I power my laptop from a car adaptor/psu. If you find you need 240 volts for any reason (like compact fluorescent bulbs) you can always plug in a 12v/240v inverter which gives you a standard 240 volt AC power socket. I use a 120 watt inverter to power my router (Maplin, about £20).

My router is in fact a 12 volt model but I’ve not risked plugging it straight into my 12 volt supply, hence the inverter and router psu combination. This is a similar situation with many other peripherals (my scanner, printer and external hard drive for example are all 12 volts with AC power bricks) but I’m concerned about voltage regulation. My battery system varies from as low as 11.5 volts up to 14.5 volts so I need to learn a bit more about voltage regulation first. Each device may need something like a fuse, regulator and possibly a capacitor for protection.

Anyone out there an electronics wizard?

Hwyl!

Chris

I am considering haveing a PV array and wiring the house with a DC supply and battery back ups. The idea being to run all elecronic equipment, TVs and some dc lighting etc off this DC supply direct. The back up would be a bettery charger coming off the mains.

My question is what voltage is best for that DC system. I would think that 12 volts would be best as there is so much equipment around designed for caravan/car use with a 12 volt supply. (I already have an adapter/psu for my laptop that is designed for in car use).