Most vehicles are either 12v or 24v.
This is your crank batteries the ones that start your motor and run your on board stuff that come with it.
When you set up your house system then it is really up to you.
This is my understanding but I am a far from an expert on Electrics
It can depend on lots of different things what you select for your house setup.
24v if your vehicle is 24v can be easier as you can use your alternator easier to add to your solar charging etc, it enables the use of slightly smaller cables and some equipment can be cheaper.
You can still opt for 12v and use a dc - dc to get charge from your alternator.
There is more 12v equipment than 24v in the basic RV equipment but then if you choose Lithiums then the need for low power equipment is negated to a great extend as 240v equipment is a lot cheaper and more reliable.
12v in Lithiums are easier to manage but not enough to disregard it, it just needs a bit more care so I would not disregard it.
48v is more for larger setups as we see in house boats with massive battery banks on stand alone house setups etc where there is large amounts of power and the 48v allows for better management as far as cabling etc. Many house setups around supplying power to the grid are much higher.
For Rv setups I think all you need to consider is 12v or 24v
12 × 5 house boat moored at the present in Mannum Waters Marina.
Converting to LiFePo4 for float alone status
Yep! What he sez!
I went with 48V simply so I can charge up real, real quick if need be.
There is/was a 48V combo unit available that does everything except wipe your backside for you.
Solar charging, AC shore power charging, AC generator charging & inverter to create 240V AC power.
For sure 48V is much harder to keep cells balanced but one day someone will fly to Mars ..........
******************* BruceS
Mannum, SA
********************
G'day vik, solar can be daunting as there are so many different idea's and setups running round. My bus is 24v engine and 12v solar and run the big stuff through an inverter, on 480ah lifepo4 and 1kw solar. As to what voltage you should use, it can depend on many things and a couple of those are personal preference and cost. There can be quite a difference in cost between 12-24-48v and it will also depend on the distance from your batteries to the furthest thing you need to power.
My bus is 12m and runs a 12v water pump down the back of it easily, as well as a 12v hotwater heater. All my internal lights are LED 12/24v, that's because lithium provides 80-90% of your usable power between 13-14v and 12v led and some appliances can be overpowered, reducing their lives with lifepo4. They are designed to run between 13v and 9-10v, so getting 12/24v lights and other things, means you will benefit in the long run and the cost is negligible. The cost and availability of 24-48v lights etc, are a greater and don't have as big a range of things compared to 12v stuff. But you can save on some wiring costs with higher voltages, so there is a lot to consider and a good project to get into if you have the time.
Work out what you want to use when you make the change as well as every 240v thing you want to use, fridges, induction cooking, even A/C as lifepo4 will handle those things easily. Cost of installation, wiring and inverters. Do a comparison for 12/24/48v and you will get your economic answer.
First you need to work out what you want to use, get advice on all 3 systems so you have an understanding of what's involved with them all. Learn what low voltage systems are on line, there are sites with simple explanations, Then when you get the technical advice, you will have a bit of an understanding and what you're being told will make some sense.
There are a lot of people on this site that are running on lifepo4, the majority know how their setup works and have either built it themselves, or have been a part of the installation, which is where Terry can come in. Asking questions will get you lots of answers and they may all be right, for a particular setup and that may give you ideas which will suit your setup. I've yet to meet anyone with the same lithium setup, but know they are around and some are here. The majority we run into, have done it themselves, work excellently and change your life on the road, to great benefit.
Well that explains it in a nutshell you in the know folk... Thanks...!!! in other words, big volts for big rigs...
Just me and SWMBO ,has the three way fridge, so thats that...( BUT,,, thinking out loud, my beer ,dog tucker fridge if makin weird noises again, cost a packet last time to fix it; so should I turf it when it goes,replace the three way fridge in the MH with a compressor job and the three way becomes the new beer fridge ...???)
I have to know which road to take... Ok, so early days still,havent had the rig even a year yet, but looks like a new set up from Terry is on the cards and 12 volt Lithium with a decent set of panels etc...
I wont mess with it, old plumbers think they know all about electrics then it just ends in a shock...!!!
Glad Terry just lives up the creek from me...!!!
vik... very handy...
Merk 4x4 VF30 519 CDI 2020 LWB V6TD 3 ltr 6 wheeler ,Tenorite Grey ... yep, it's not white ...!!!
As has been said already, 48v systems are for long cable runs and big inverter requirements such as a machinery shed or an outback property. The off grid lived in 24/7 house we did on the NSW far south coast was 12v and they also now run a 7kW inverter split system air con from the same 700Ah lithium battery pack. It did require 2 x Victron 3000va inverters running in parallel to power the thing when it ramped up to full output but the batteries and 2800w of solar all controlled by a single Dingo 20/20 and multiple solid state relays handle the job fine.
So, anyone who says it can't be done without a 48v battery pack should be tagged as someone to smile at but avoid any actual "knowledgeable advice" when it is offered
T1 Terry
A person may fail many times, they only become a failure when they blame someone else John Burrows
Those who struggle to become a leader, rarely know a clear direction forward for anyone but themselves
We have a coach and an 800 ah Liths pack (24v) and also can run an aircon all night if required.
Even gone to a 240 oven now, only LPG is for barbie
Go far as much solar as you can fit, it is pretty cheap in comparison to the past
And get a quality inverter/charger, no point in skimping in this area.
William
Vanishing Point, almost ready to vanish
Suzuki GV more than ready to go NOW !
Thanks Busman, yep... gunna start afresh with the solar, get the latest of whatever Terry reckons is the go for our needs, or the battery's needs...!!!
Let him do the lot and make it goof proof pretty much, turn key and go...
I reckon it would be great if Dr Google had "Use By Dates" on all the old crap about Lithium etc ... To a new chum like me to it all ,I'm like a nervous ball boy at a fancy tennis match... dunno which way to turn... !!!
But the future looks good...
vik... if he ever gets back ...
Merk 4x4 VF30 519 CDI 2020 LWB V6TD 3 ltr 6 wheeler ,Tenorite Grey ... yep, it's not white ...!!!
To a new chum like me to it all ,I'm like a nervous ball boy at a fancy tennis match... dunno which way to turn... !!!