need 24 volt applinaces [RE-wrenches]

[Allan Sindelar]

I would add that 24V offers several other DC applications that are more
difficult to do 12V:
* DC hydronic heating with small pumps - yes, 12V circulators and relays
are available, but on other than the smallest systems, voltage drop and
relay selection become issues.
* Water pumping, both submersible and pressure - greater range, smaller
wire.

Having said that, I agree with others - do everything AC except heat and
some water pumping applications. And less and less water pumping too.

Interesting you mention Windy, as he's the godfather of Positive Energy,
it having evolved out of his retail business in '97. I am often grateful
that he recommended 24V back then when many early systems were 12V, as
over the years we have upgraded many of these systems. 24V can be made
modern in all of the applications we've seen. 12V is too limiting for
modern applications.

We still get customers thinking 12V when they come in - usually old-time
DIYers, friends of DIYers, or the folks that buy their homes. We explain
that 12V was set as the early standard for no other reason than that
before efficient and reliable inverters were available, RV appliances
were the only way to accomplish certain household tasks: who wanted to
fire up a generator to make a smoothie? But good inverters came out in
1987, and 20 years later that perspective persists.

Allan at Positive Energy

-----Original Message-----
From: Ian Woofenden, Home Power [mailto:ian.woofenden at homepower.com] 
 
I agree with others who have suggested avoiding a 24 V system, and I 
live with one. I went with 24 V on RE guru Windy Dankoff's advice in 
the early 1980s. It was good advice then, before high-efficiency 
inverters were readily available, 48 V systems were almost unheard 
of, and PVs were much more expensive. Today's RE guru advice is 
usually to go with AC loads, unless we're talking about a very small 
system, in which case 12 VDC makes more sense.

That said, it's possible to find LED and CFL lighting in 24 V, as 
well as fridge/freezers, motors, and occasional audio stuff 
(especially from long-haul truck suppliers). But there are many 
things that you won't find in 24 VDC, which led us to use 12 VDC and 
120 VAC as well, leading to a very complicated system.

Today I recommend to almost all people that they decide between 12 
VDC and 120 VAC, and keep it simple.

Ian


- - - -
Hosted by Home Power magazine

To send a message: RE-wrenches at topica.com

Archive of previous messages: http://lists.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/read

List rules & how to change your email address: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquette.php

Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/

Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com
--^----------------------------------------------------------------
This email was sent to: michael.welch at re-wrenches.org

EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?bz8Qcs.bz9JC9.bWljaGFl
Or send an email to: RE-wrenches-unsubscribe at topica.com

For Topica's complete suite of email marketing solutions visit:
http://www.topica.com/?p=TEXFOOTER
--^----------------------------------------------------------------