junk rv parts

i was thinking of going to a rv place to get the eletronics that i need for my off grid system was thinking a 12 volt system for the lights and the water pump. but, i want it to be as efficient as i can get it. should i be looking in to a 24v or 36v system im not sure? i would plane to get lights for my house there to because thay are dc or maybe car lights with diffrant globs i was thinking i could get the 12volt system all from the rv store or was thinking about buying a whole rv that was wrecked or work something out with somone that wants to have one gutted im trying to get all the stuff for my house and all my systems for cheap and recyled items and im still gathering material im hoping to build my whole house out of recyced material or as much as i possable can.because it is the right thing to do and im cheap.

thecheapguy

Hi funny I was just watching a video on youtube that a guy had used many parts from a rv in his tiny home. Here is the link maybe he will answer you if you have questions.  Or give you some ideas too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FacIm3bHbYc

They even make flourescent lights for RVs (12V DC).  You'll get a lot of light out of a good battery charge.  Boating supply stores also have a lot of 12V stuff, but the word "yacht" automatically doubles the price.

get 6 volt batteries to make up what you need, they will last longer. I don't know why, but this is what my hub did for our trailer and they do hold more of a charge and last longer than the previous 12 volt combo.

Most of my small cabins use the propane stove/oven from trailers.I experimented with the propane lights too but didnt really like the fire risk(subjective).I wouldnt bother with 12v incandecense light bulbs because they are ineficient.12V water pumps can be useful and fuse box stuff can be transfered too.

The reason that 2,  6 volt batteries last better than one 12 volt is the amps.  The 2  6 volts have more amps combined than 1  12 volt.  Use the deep cyle batteries and not automotive batteries. The automotive ones are designed for cranking power and not for being charged and discharged often.  Normally your car is always fully charded and never discharges completely.  The 6 volt are commonly used in Golf carts,  the 12 volt deep cycles are used in Boats and RV's.  It is the amps that do the work,  when someone says amps,  you think power for your pump etc.  You can discharge deep cycle batteries to about 1/2 charge with out hurting them.  If you discharge them 100% and then recharge them fully you can do that maybe 100 times.  If you take them down to 1/2  [  maybe 75% max ]  and recharge them you can do that about 1000 times.  You can use wet batteries that require a bit of normal maintainance,  adding water from time to time.  The gel batteries use the same lead acid tech but you cant add water,  so they are no maintanence.  The cost more than the wet and dont last as long.  I have thought about a system like you are taking about and wondered about using a fuze box from a car,  maybe a wrecked Caddy with alot of options.  Most RV's use a 12 volt system.  Good luck with your project. 

of note when designing 12v systems is that the resistance loss along the wiring is greater so you want to pay close attention to the length of wires 24 and 36 volt systems are more efficient, but you can't get cheep 36 volt bulbs appliances and all from truck stops

most trailer house are around 20' ad if i use a 12volt system and place my system in the right place and not have long runs of wire will this be better? is their a big diffrants going from 12volt to 24volt what are the pros and cons thanks for all the help

I like 12V because so many things are easy to run off it - laptop, cell ph, camera batteries etc - you can get 12V car adaptors for all those easily. You can pick up the female sockets easily secondhand.

How big is your house? You could centralise eg put the batteries in the middle and run wiring from there. Or if you are going for a larger system, get two panels and battery banks running separately.

I agree that incandecent lights are inefficient but the wireing can be used and the fuse box.Water pump and propane stove.I just completely dissasembled a 30ft one and that is no joke!I want to makeva you tube video about how to do it but basically,I recomend a methodical approach.1st remove windows and doors.2nd pull off siding.3rd remove insulation.4th remove wiring and appliances.the rest is a combo of sledge hammer and sawsall.Oh yea,and it goes easier if its been allowed to rot in the rain a few years as they were not thinking about how to tear one appart when they built it.

a lot of solar pioneers went with a central buss when they were still doing 12v.
You want to use the largest stranded wire you can get, for wiring everything to that. i prefer the old landscape wire from the low voltage lights before LEDs came out. was typically 12g.

Biggest, thickest hunk you can get, going straight down length of house, and running wire off that.
Is good to NOT have batteries in the center of the house.

Trailer plumbing fixtures are the lowest quality junk on the planet.
Propane stuff is pretty good.
The trailers were usually abandoned BECAUSE of electrical problems.
Learn how to make your own LED lighting, isn't hard to solder these things, and you will have to figure line drop when you are putting together your resistor at the end of a run.

Definitely good skill to have in the future.
Is nice to be able to build your own dummy loads, power boxes, load controllers, fix radios, etc.

make my own led lights i seen that on youtube some where i think i will do that

John Polk wrote:They even make flourescent lights for RVs (12V DC).  You'll get a lot of light out of a good battery charge.  Boating supply stores also have a lot of 12V stuff, but the word "yacht" automatically doubles the price.

Where are you finding yacht parts for only twice the price?? LOL

True yacht stuff is probably 10x the price, but at least 10 times the quality as well. Look CAREFULLY at the yacht stuff specs and try to find the true manufacturer and model--then go search for it from other sources. Sometimes you can find it from a good off-grid shop for a better price (sometimes even MORE markup).

Look at the overlanders and boondockers for efficient RV stuff--they are the ones trying to camp their RV as long as possible without restocking (including fuel).