Why You Need DC Appliances Now!

When we built our off grid homestead we had long discussions about what type of appliances we were going to use. We opted for the DC (12 volt or solar) appliances and we are glad we did. We recently did a test run for a trip we are going to take in January to find out if our batteries were going to last if the solar panels get covered with snow while we are gone. Join us as we see how our system did during our simulated "black out". We compare our results with the average use of AC appliances.
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[@HikeBike-w9k]

Great video! Like you I’m also DC on almost everything. Use 48v and only step down to 12v when necessary. Main 3000w Inverter only comes on for a few minutes at a time. Also use 300w and 1000w inverters to reduce it even more. The comparison with the energy label on a 120v fridge isn’t apples-to-apples since while you were gone your fridge wasn’t being opened and closed nor was food going in and out. Still a good point though since 120v fridge would require an inverter to be on all the time.

[@ADifferentKindofQuiet]

Thank you and thanks for watching. It’s a good point that we were not opening the fridge. That’s something we didn’t think about. 😊

[@SeekingBeautifulDesign]

You can design a system to run freezer/refrigerators to run inverter 8h/day (during solar production time). Saves the inverter drain when not being used. Also using power during solar production is perhaps 10% more efficient than charging battery and running it down for the same power. DC fridge/freezer ~5x cost of AC mass market version. Sad, but can insulate mass market, have good control strategy and have inverter for only 2x vs 5x for better insulated, more efficient DC fridge.

[@TayoTheT1000]

I love the idea of running everything as efficiently as possible. But I'm also a sucker for oversizing my system. Realistically I'd rather get an extra solar panel or two to cover the idle consumption, and vertical bi-facial panels won't have snow buildup. They make 200Ah 12v LiFePo4 batteries for $500 now. I'm selling my battleborn batteries and getting them.

[@KrumriesCabin]

Nice video, thanks for sharing the information!

[@ADifferentKindofQuiet]

Thanks, I hope it helps

[@MyCabinLife]

Merry Christmas! New to your channel. About your trip options.. Take two 1 pint canning jars and lids. Fill 2/3 full and freeze. After they are frozen put a quarter on top of the ice and reclose the jar. If something happens and your power goes out while you're gone and your regular fridge freezer or your deep freezer thaws, the quarter will no longer be on the top when you get back even if it refreezes then you will know that your food is not safe. You could also just move the deep freezer outside during winter if you have freezing temperatures for most of the day/night. Enjoy your vacation and time with your friends in the New Year!

[@ADifferentKindofQuiet]

Thanks for the tip and thanks for watching!!

[@robertdknight]

Excellent information. Thank you very much. Merry Christmas

[@ADifferentKindofQuiet]

Thanks for watching!!! Merry Christmas

[@kirkdesmond]

Very useful. Merry Christmas to you guys.

[@ADifferentKindofQuiet]

Thanks for the encouragement!! Merry Christmas to you also!!

[@jws3925]

This is almost exactly our setup at our remote off grid cabin. The only difference is we went with a gas refrigerator. We do not live at the cabin and it is left unused for months at a time, especially in the dead of winter. We all 12v except, like you, our well pump. We rarely use the inverter and, like you, turn it off when not needed. It is refreshing to see someone else do a 12v living system. The big push nowadays seems to be you have to go 48v with a huge inverter and all AC electrical system. We do fine with 12v appliances, lights, pumps etc. We really see no need to go all AC which would involve more and larger solar panels, more battery capacity, bigger charge controllers and a huge inverter. I just don't see the need to do that. Thanks for the video which legitimized our system.

[@ADifferentKindofQuiet]

We haven’t suffered at all keeping everything at 12V and are very comfortable. We did upgrade our inverter to a 3000 watt but other than that we have no plans to change. Thanks for watching! 😊

[@jws3925]

@@ADifferentKindofQuiet What brand inverter did you go with? We have a 1250 watt Samlex that has served us well but, like you, we find it lacking in power for some of our AC needs.

[@ADifferentKindofQuiet]

@@jws3925 we went with Victron inverter/charger. First a 2000w then upgraded to 3000w which when we need to in the winter charges off the generator @1500w

[@OffgridwithJayandJen]

Great video and information Dan.....have you considered tilting your panels completely verticle while away for that trip?

[@ADifferentKindofQuiet]

It wouldn’t work for my current setup but that would be another option, thanks

[@timclark7507]

Much of the power used in ac refrigerators and freezers is the auto defrost. The dc appliances also have thicker insulation.

[@ADifferentKindofQuiet]

That is another good point. Thanks for watching!

[@JosEPh-zy3yr]

Useful

[@ADifferentKindofQuiet]

Thank you

[@terrellstewart4071]

Finally a real person living offgrid with realistic appliances and use good power management to keep the system running.😊

[@ADifferentKindofQuiet]

Thank you for the encouragement! One of the reasons we started this channel was to share what we learned along the way. 😊

[@sarahlyons6414]

Does the dc freezer you have outside operate properly year round or do you need to make changes to it when the temperatures get colder?

[@ADifferentKindofQuiet]

We don’t change anything but it runs a lot less during the winter. Thanks for watching!

[@Shudog99]

Who makes the best DC appliances?

[@ADifferentKindofQuiet]

We only have experience with what we use which is Unique for the stove and fridge and SunStar for the DC chest freezer. We have been very happy with both.

[@Sylvan_dB]

units matter - watts vs watt-hours. Painful.

[@ADifferentKindofQuiet]

Definitely

[@kimfella4770]

Thank you sir. I appreciate the video. Well done! :)

[@ADifferentKindofQuiet]

Thank you and thanks for watching!!

[@sleddy01]

What does a DC plug look like to you? A cigarette lighter?

[@ADifferentKindofQuiet]

All of our DC appliances are hard wired into the system so no plugs. Just wires. Thanks for watching. 😊

[@Yusufu-92]

Very but very interesting video. Thanks for the share and take care of yourself.

[@ADifferentKindofQuiet]

Thank you and thanks for watching! 😊

[@moto-rambler]

Thx for the video!

[@ADifferentKindofQuiet]

Thanks for watching and commenting! 😊

[@cleokey]

Much appreciated ... from California 😊

[@ADifferentKindofQuiet]

Welcome! And thanks for watching!!

[@pnowikow]

If I had 4 panels 195 watt each wires in series, could I hook them up to a charge controller and then charge a 12 v battery bank? Same question if I had a 24-volt array?

[@ADifferentKindofQuiet]

It all depends on your charge controller. All controllers have a rating on how many open volts they can take and your solar panels should be listed with how many volts they put out, in series you would add the voltage up and it can’t be over what your charge controller can take. Whether you have a 12 or 24 volt bank is dependent on your charge controller. Check out DIY solar with Will Prose on KZbin he has some very good videos on all things solar. Thanks for watching

[@pnowikow]

Thanks for the help. I appreciate it