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How
can energy be saved?
In smaller power systems energy can be saved by operating appliances
directly from the DC battery voltage (i.e. no inverter is required to
convert to 240vAC and therefore there are no inverter losses).
What are the advantages/disadvantages?
The advantage
(or disadvantage, depending upon how you want to look at it) of using
DC appliances is that they are generally low-powered. It is also necessary
to have a separate electricity cabling system in the house for the operation
of DC appliances and lights.
What appliances are available?
Many different appliances are available that operate directly from either
12 volt DC or 24 volt DC. Some of these items are very expensive because
the quantity manufactured is so small.
To give you a basic idea of what
items can be purchased to operate directly from a 12 volt DC power source,
have a look at the following list:
fans, lights (fluoros, CFL's, incandescent, halogen), appliance timers,
notebook computers, answering machines, stereo equipment, televisions,
VCRs, whipper snippers, household water pressure pumps, bore pumps,
refrigerators
The list of appliances that operate directly from a 24 volt DC power
source is less comprehensive and includes:
lights, timers, pumps,
fans and refrigerators
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