[RE-wrenches] sources of DC equipment

[Joel Davidson]

There are at least 3 benefits when existing loads are changed from 12VDC to 
120VAC. Wire resistance drops. Some switches last longer. The same circuits 
can be used for 12VDC equipment if the inverter fails and during 
emergencies.

Shurflo and Thin-Lite are still manufactured in Southern California. See 
http://legacy.shurflo.com/pages/profile/more.html and 
http://www.thinlite.com/thin-lite%20profile.htm


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dan Fink" <danbob at hughes.net>
To: "R Ray Walters" <ray at solarray.com>
Cc: "RE-wrenches" <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Sent: Sunday, April 11, 2010 10:23 AM
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] sources of DC equipment


> Ray;
>
>  I concur on the Thin-lites for DC FL. Bomb-proof.
>
> I've had better luck than you on the Shur-Flo pumps it seems -- 3-5 years 
> each in full time service, then needing a diaphragm rebuild kit (cheap). I 
> think I have about 8 of these installed for customers (and myself) right 
> now. I always use a pressure tank for domestic, but my spring pumping 
> systems don't have that. Most customers just keep an extra pump on hand to 
> minimize downtime if there is a problem. I lost one DC Shurflo 2088 to 
> lightning, improved the grounding and it hasn't happened since.
>
> DC systems are a hassle for both the installer and customer. Price out a 
> 12-pack of 120 VAC CFLs at Home Depot vs. the same 12-pack of DC 
> CFLS....the difference would buy lots of 12-packs of beer! I have DC 
> circuits in every room of my house, in addition to AC....but as time has 
> gone by (since 1991) more and more of them on the DC side sit idle 
> anymore. Same with my customers.
>
> DAN FINK
> Buckville Energy Consulting LLC
>
>
>
> R Ray Walters wrote:
>> We've had the same experience with DC CFLs, about 50% return rate. They 
>> just can't handle voltages below 12 v, so we quit carrying them.
>> After years of working on DC wiring, just go to AC. You could wire all 
>> the lights on one circuit in 12 AWG. (instead of running 10 AWG or 
>> bigger, and then trying to pigtail down to 12, for the switch, and then 
>> trying to find DC rated switches.......ugh)
>> It's just plain faster, cheaper, and more reliable to use an inverter 
>> these days. I would only use DC lighting with LEDs, and only for very 
>> limited (1 to 2 light) systems.
>> If you do have to do DC fluorescents, at least use the Thin light long 
>> tube fixtures, they'll last a lot longer.
>> The only advantage to going DC I can see, is on RVs, because you can tie 
>> into the vehicle electrical system. Every small cabin remote cabin system 
>> I've worked on, eventually grew and got an inverter. If the wiring is 
>> already there, you'll be happier.
>> For pumps, I've had the FLowlights consistently last over 10 years in 
>> full time service. THe Shurflos have there place, but only last about 1 
>> to 2 years in full-time service.
>> For part time use cabin, the Shurflo would probably last longer, 
>> especially if you add an external pressure switch and pressure tank (and 
>> then the system would be ready for the upgrade to the FLowlight, after 
>> the SHurflo burns out)
>>
>>
>> R. Walters
>> ray at solarray.com
>> Solar Engineer
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