DC Powered Appliances

Our inverter chapter explains that AC power is more practical than DC when use are using lower cost quality appliances and conventional wiring. There are important exceptions where special DC powered appliances save lots of energy, money and/or avoid technical problems.

SOME DC APPLIANCES USE MUCH LESS POWER: Special DC designs of evaporative coolers, refrigerators, water pumps, fans, bed-warmers, plus re-chargers for shavers, flashlights, and cordless tools all use much less power with DC.

AC electric blankets use 200 watts; DC bed warmers use under 60 watts and avoid questionable AC magnetic field exposure. DC fans and evaporative coolers use less power than AC fans and don't hum. DC powered pumps use less than 25% power per gallon, pumping slowly with low wattage, and do not monopolize your inverter at unpredictable times. Advantages and disadvantages of AC and DC pumps are explained in the pump introduction pages.

SOME DEVICES MUST BE ON DUTY 24 HOURS A DAY. Motion sensing lights, telephone message machines and cordless phones, timers, intercoms, cell phones, and smoke alarms all need a trickle of power 24 hours a day. These would consume excessive power, keeping an inverter on full time. DC power, when possible, lets the inverter idle and uses only a trickle on power.

YOU MAY NOT NEED AN INVERTER AT ALL. Small weekend cabins, RV, and a life-style of simplicity, with fewer than 6 lights and appliances total, might use all 12 volt: TV, auto stereo, fan, vacuum, pump, and lights. But consider: AC lights and appliances cost less and are more reliable, so choose carefully. You may pay more in the long run if you wire just for DC

AS FEATURED IN HOME POWER MAGAZINE, ISSUE 86, "THINGS THAT WORK"
size: 6"W x 8"L x 2-1/2"H

RECHARGER for Nicad batteries. Size AAA, AA, C and D. Automatically discharges, then recharges to avoid memory effect. Designed for both charging Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) and Nickel Cadmium(NiCad) batteries. Comes with an AC adapter. Backwoods Solar adds a 12 volt DC power cord. One year warranty.

12 VOLT ELECTRIC BED HEATER PADS go on the mattress to warm you from underneath. We use ours if we come home to a cold house, running a half hour before bed time to preheat, then turn it off after entering bed. Low wattage heat takes a while to get hot, but given time it gets plenty warm. It runs full time during flu or colds where a good hot bed really makes a difference. We use one in the camper van on the road in winter. Heating pads are 50/50 cotton/poly, more durable than electric blankets.

Thermostat control responds to room temperature, cycling on and off to maintain the temperature setting. Conventional electric blankets use 200 watts, but these DC bedwarmers use under 60 watts and they avoid questionable AC magnetic field exposure. Running current is about 5 amperes on mid size pads, but actual thermostat controlled "power on" cycle is under 50% duty time. Current used actually averages 2 to 3 amperes. It can overheat if folded, so pick the right size for your bed. One year warranty.

12 VOLT WIRELESS PHONE ACCESSORIES

REGULAR CORDLESS & CORDLESS W/ DIGITAL ANSWERING MACHINE often have noise interference issues.

Our DC ISOLATOR will allow you to purchase
your own cordless phone with or without an answering machine and eliminate the noise that you may experience.
As of 2-2009, it is now rated at 300 ma and can support a 400 ma load.

Regarding phones and answering machines, Operation on 12 volt DC from your batteries means round the clock phone power without running the inverter. This saves the waste of converting to AC in the inverter, and then back to 12 volts in the phone. However most phone systems which Backwoods Solar has tested have a conflicting ground issue which causes unacceptable static on the line and even disables some phones. The DC ISOLATOR, as its name implies, isolates the ground that your battery system utilizes from the ground that the phone

company has in place. This isolation eliminates the static and allows you the purchase of the phone of your choice. This device works with base stations which accept 9-14v DC input from their 120v AC wall cube.
Tested to 400ma maximum load.

Lightning coming in the phone line may damage your phone as well as the DC-ISOLATOR as the lightning passes through them to easy ground path at battery, unless protector below is used.

PHONE LINE LIGHTNING ARRESTOR Lightning entering via your phone line, seeking ground, often damages phones, DC-ISOLATORS and message machines- especially when connected to grounded battery power. This spike suppressor plugs in between phone and wall jack. Connects directly to your ground rod to reduce lightning surges.

Very compact, slim design easily fits shirt pocket. Twisting cap extends shaver to a full size when open and protects foil when closed. Also has a pop out long hair trimmer. Works about as well as as larger model above.
Uses 2 alkaline AA batteries. Batteries INCLUDED!!

A-BRAUN: Battery Shaver: $20

MIGHTY MULE 500 Gate Opener activates with the pocket transmitter from 50-100' (weather-permitting), or an optional keypad digital lock. The gate can be set to remain open until a second signal from the operator, or can be set to automatically close after adjustable time from 1-120 seconds, so you don't need to worry if you closed the gate. And it can be released for manual operation in emergencies.

If the gate hits an object while opening it stops, or while closing, it stops and backs off.

Gate can be from 3 1/2 to 16 feet in length, wrought iron, chain link, pipe etc, weighing up to 350 pounds. The gate swings to maximum 110 degrees. Because of wind load, it is not recommended for large solid surface gates.

Power is from an internal 12 volt 7 amp hour gel cell, charged from either an AC outlet, or an optional 5 watt solar module on site. Use 2 modules for model 502 or in low sun areas. Up to 100 cycles per day with AC charger, 4 to 25 cycles a day with solar charge depending on the season. LOCK accessory is an electrically operated pin that secures gate against forcing. DIGITAL KEYPAD mounts near gate, activating when number combination is entered. With illustrated instructions and a help line 800 number.

A-MULE FM500: Opens and closes single-pull-to-open gate (inward opening). Factory list price is $675:

A-MULE FM500 with 1 transmitter, receiver/control box, opener mechanism, battery...$580 (Shipping $30)
A-MULE FM502 as above, but has two actuators for dual swing gates: $890 (Shipping $55)
A-MULE PV solar panel kit with mounting & wire: $160
Extra accessories to enhance security and convenience A-MULETRAN: Extra pocket transmitter (one comes with kit): $32
A-MULEKEY: Key chain mini-transmitter: $32
A-MULELOCK: Electric bolt lock secures against forcing: $185
A-MULEDIG: Digital keypad with changeable 3-18 digit code: $56

EVAPORATIVE COOLERS
		Stainless Steel Construction Solar Chill DC Motors Use Less Energy 12 and 24 volt models

High efficiency DC motor operates on just 1 or 2 solar modules, or 50 to 80 watts, 12 or 24 volts (48 volts special order) DC power direct from the house battery uses much less energy than AC induction motors.

Using between 1 and 7 gallons per hour brings 8,000 BTU cooling per gallon water used. Has evaporation pad 6" thick. A DC water pump keeps water flowing through the pad, and a separate motor runs the fan. Propeller fans used take less energy than usual squirrel cage fans. Installation with minimal or no duct work gives lowest wattage requirement. Warranty is 5 years on stainless, 1 year on mechanics.
To help size unit appropriately divide CFM of unit by 3 to get approximate square footage of room.

Catalog number	Outside Dimensions HxDxW	Fan Size	Solar Watts Used @ 12v / 24v	CFM Air 12v/24v	Price 12v and 24v	Buy Now
A-COOL14hp	19.5 x 21 x 24	14	52/42	1000	12v $830
					24v $830
A-COOL18hp	24.5 x 23 x 23	18	73/60	1500	12v $870
					24v $870
A-COOL24hp*	36 x 22 x 36	24	120/150	3000	12v $1180
					24v $1180

Shipping: 14 or 18 inch go UPS $75, *24" model ships truck freight, to be determined when we process the order

Solar watts used and CFM figures are provided by SW Solar and are estimates. These figures are subject to change without notice per SW Solar.

AERATOR-BUBBLER for large Fish Tank or small Garden Pond
Uses just 4 watts at 12 volts.