Computer CRISIS!

[Munted]

Hey guys

The landlord has cut AC power to my mobile home - BASTARD! I am now on DC and writing this on an Asus EEPC which runs on 9.5 volts DC.

To the techs on the forum I will ask this question.

I have two 12v batteries. One battery I am using now. When this battery's terminal voltage gets down to 12v I will then switch the battery in my car with this battery I am now using. I will then use that battery from my car for my house power until it too is depleted to 12v. By which time my original battery will be charged via my car alternator and will be ready for house service. So I will swap again & the process continues until the time a battery does not start the car. Then it will be time to throw that particular battery.. Is this a good plan?

[Davis Knowlton]

Wouldn't a better plan be to sort out the problem with the landlord?

[david44]

Pay the Old Bill

and Dr Bob's yer uncle

[bsnub]

Wouldn't a better plan be to sort out the problem with the landlord?

Umm yes.

[Munted]

It's complicated. The setup here is that the power supply to five leased units is routed through one of them

The one s refusing to pay the power charge.

The dispute is between the landlord and the one but the others downstream don't get any AC until the dispute is solved.

[Latindancer]

Theoretically, car batteries are fully charged at 12.6 volts. But if you take it straight off a charger and test with a multimeter it might read 13 volts.

When they are discharged, they are about 12.2 or 12.3 volts. More than 12 volts, anyway.


They don't like being fully discharged repeatedly. If you want to do that, you need to buy a special type of battery called a "deep cycle" battery. This is the type that people with solar power use.

The way to get around this is to swap the two batteries between car and caravan as often as possible : perhaps once a day (depending on how much you have used / drained the battery in your caravan, which you can check with your voltmeter).
This is so you are only draining it by something like a fifth (just a figure off the top of my head) and not "cycling" it up and down too much..

If you don't use your car every day you, one alternative might be to find a local person with a battery charger and mains power to put it on charge (for an hour or 3) and pay them a few bucks at the end of the month. But this is not so practical....you'd have to put it on charge often.

[Davis Knowlton]

It's complicated. The setup here is that the power supply to five leased units is routed through one of them

The one s refusing to pay the power charge.

The dispute is between the landlord and the one but the others downstream don't get any AC until the dispute is solved.

If you live in a civilized country, you could sue the landlord for breach of contract, along with all the others who are being wrongfully denied power due to a conflict not of their making.

[ENT]

Hey guys

The landlord has cut AC power to my mobile home - BASTARD! I am now on DC and writing this on an Asus EEPC which runs on 9.5 volts DC.

To the techs on the forum I will ask this question.

I have two 12v batteries. One battery I am using now. When this battery's terminal voltage gets down to 12v I will then switch the battery in my car with this battery I am now using. I will then use that battery from my car for my house power until it too is depleted to 12v. By which time my original battery will be charged via my car alternator and will be ready for house service. So I will swap again & the process continues until the time a battery does not start the car. Then it will be time to throw that particular battery.. Is this a good plan?

Get a 12v solar panel.

Euros 15.51 on e-bay.

[Davis Knowlton]

^Or a small generator.

[NZdick1983]

AC power to my mobile home - BASTARD! I am now on DC

[Davis Knowlton]

^Helpful......

[Munted]

Yes I have a monitor on the terminals which will alert me when the voltage is 12 V. I will then switch this battery to the car ( and expect it to start the car at that terminal voltage). The charged battery from the car then goes gets plugged into the house supply. And so forth until one or the other fails.

Question. Will I save money doing it this way or will I be best to buy a deep cycle battery which will sustain more recharge cycles in the long run?

[Latindancer]

I'm not an expert but I think 12 v is too low to let it go. Keep it up as far as possible.


A solar panel is actually probably the best. It would recharge during the day, for free.

You can buy cheap ones from some electronics outlets.

Here in Oz we have Jaycar. You might be surprised at how cheap they now are.


Surely the issue will be resolved soon ? If so, you will then be lumped with a deep cycle battery.

[Munted]

If you live in a civilized country, you could sue the landlord for breach of contract, along with all the others who are being wrongfully denied power due to a conflict not of their making.

I do live in a civilized country, at least I like to think so. I am about to engage Mr Warwick Reid who definitely has the balls to harass this arsehole. But it is a civil case which in the meantime means I have to make do...

[ENT]

Yes I have a monitor on the terminals which will alert me when the voltage is 12 V. I will then switch this battery to the car ( and expect it to start the car at that terminal voltage). The charged battery from the car then goes gets plugged into the house supply. And so forth until one or the other fails.

Question. Will I save money doing it this way or will I be best to buy a deep cycle battery which will sustain more recharge cycles in the long run?

I used to have two deep cycle 12v batteries to start my bus and kept them topped up with a 12 v solar panel off road. Never a problem for years.

Had a 50 Htz petrol driven 240v generator too, that'd fire up for the washing machine, run power tools and charge the batteries if need be.

[baldrick]

12 v is too low to let it go

12 v is too low

if you are outside Thai , ( with its excessive customs ) , and you intend to live in the mobile humpy for a while , an extra battery , solar panel , regulator and maybe a 12v battcharger could take care of your needs

I was looking at a bat charger / 500 VA inverter combo today for 2600 baht which would work well in a place with intermittant power supply

[Munted]

I used to have two deep cycle 12v batteries

Sure I have a $K readily available right now


I am forced to my solution though I hope the batteries will fail before the warranties are expired.

[ENT]

Just use the batteries you have and get a cheap solar panel, well under $300, buying in Thailand.

[baldrick]

you have and get a cheap solar panel

and regulator - 20 dollars
and wire and lugs - 10 dollars

[terry57]

Here is my Deep cycle Battery which sits in the back of my Wagon. It is wired into my Alternator and charges when ever the motor is cranked. It's only job is to run my old Engel fridge which draws 1.5 A-H when running. The battery is 120 A-H, come with a 5 warranty which is now 4 years in no problems. $ 280 4 years ago. Sits on a trickle charge when I'm here in Thailand. I also carry a 120 Amp Solar panel which I'm yet to use. Run your little Asus for 15 years I recon. . Well worth investing in a Deep Cycle battery if ya guna use it.

[terry57]

It runs this.

[slackula]

Do you have a land-line phone?

You can nab electricity off that in a pinch but I can't remember how much voltage is available.

[baldrick]

is available

I thought I have measured before 70-75 DC , but not sure on the current

How to Get Emergency Power from a Phone Line

[Neverna]

How do you plan to use the battery from your car for your house power?

[david44]

Dear Khvn Munted where do you live, we could send the illuninati round but they haven't much presence in the Land Of Bungs.

Do you really plan to live of grid for months solar is the way if you think the costs and technology are in your grasp

Plan B a tire iron often clarifies your position