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WHEN TO USE DC 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
RECHARGE
NICAD & NIMH BATTERIES
FROM AC OR 12VOLT
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AS FEATURED IN HOME POWER MAGAZINE, ISSUE 86,
"THINGS THAT WORK"
size: 6"W x 8"L x 2-1/2"H |
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A voltmeter shows the progress of charge
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.
| A-NICADCHARGE:..............shipping
$8......... $45 |
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12
VOLT BED WARMERS
All but the Twin size has been
discontinued.
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.
| MODEL |
SIZE INCHES |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
BUY NOW |
| A-Bed T36 |
36 x 60 |
Twin Bed |
$65 |
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AC only models available, special order - call for price
SHIPPING $8 EACH
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.
A-DC ISOLATOR:
$40
The A-Spike lightning arrestor (below) highly recommended for use
with this DC Isolator. |
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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.
| A-SPIKE: Lightning
Protector: $32 |
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Minimum shipping $8 per whole order covers all items when no shipping listed
BRAUN POCKET
TWIST PLUS 370 BATTERY SHAVER
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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
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Solar Power
Radio Controlled
GATE OPENER

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) |
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| A-MULE FM502 as above, but has two actuators for dual swing gates:
$890
(Shipping $55) |
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| A-MULE PV solar panel kit with mounting & wire:
$160 |
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Extra accessories to enhance security and convenience
A-MULETRAN: Extra pocket transmitter (one comes with kit): $32 |
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| A-MULEKEY: Key chain mini-transmitter: $32 |
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| A-MULELOCK: Electric bolt lock secures against forcing: $185 |
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| A-MULEDIG: Digital keypad with changeable 3-18 digit code: $56 |
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Minimum shipping $8 per whole order covers all items when no shipping listed
EVAPORATIVE COOLERS
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Stainless Steel Construction
Solar Chill DC Motors Use Less Energy12 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.
State if 12 or 24 volts when ordering. (48 volt available
by special order)
Shipping: 14 or 18 inch go UPS $75,
*24" model ships truck freight,
to be determined when we process the order
| A-COOL CONTROL: powder coated
metal enclosure with thermostat, on-off switches, wind up timer, and
clean out pump which provides fresh water before each start up. This
control panel is optional but highly recommended. |
12 volt Control: $144
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24v Control: $154
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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.
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POWER BUBBLES is a 12 volt DC air
pump kit with two 10 foot air hoses, check valves, and emitter stones to
oxygenate the water. Run full time with no inverter. Reduces algae
growth and improves water for frogs and fish. Only 1/4 ampere on 12 volts.
Can aerate up to 10 gallons. In smaller aquariums, a resistor or voltage converter can be used to
further reduce power use for less vigorous bubbling. Electronic vibrator
pump is durable. 1 year warranty.
|
| A-BUBBLES: Aquarium/Pond Bubbler Kit...... $45 |
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