During my long drive my thoughts roamed to...part 3 (1 Viewer)

JJ

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In my beloved Classic Hymer 660 which I use for my luxury holidays I have fluorescent lights over certain areas. I understand that these type of lights use quite a bit of current on the initial switch on before the "arc" fires up across the length of the tube but once alight they use hardly any current at all.

My question, Oh Wise Ones is... how long can you leave the light on before you are using more electricity than switching it off and then relighting it later?

Many thanks...

JJ
 

Peter JohnsCross MH

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Get some free used cooking oil, put some in an old glass jar, make up a wick out of discarded material like old socks, use a refillable cigarette lighter and not only do you have FREE light but a bit of heat as well.

SKINFLINT:ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
 

derekfaeberwick

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I'm no cheapskate, I bought my 5 wick candle from Lidl !:winky:

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Kon tiki

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Couldn't you connect an multimeter in the line & see how many amps it uses on startup & for how long, then see what it settles down to.

I think you are thinking too much, you ought to be thinking about getting to the sun :thumb: Wish we were off to Portugal but we can't get away until the end of February. Have to make do with a local MCC rally about 15 miles away then a trip over to Lincolnshire to get the first years service done :cry:.
 
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JJ

JJ

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Good idea Ed... the sun has been out here today and looking at the star lit night now I reckon it will good tomorrow...

the "skinflint" comments have been noticed :)Smile:) but anything that reduces the time my beloved Kipor is running must surely be supported by Funsters....

JJ
 

Scout

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Good idea Ed... the sun has been out here today and looking at the star lit night now I reckon it will good tomorrow...

the "skinflint" comments have been noticed :)Smile:) but anything that reduces the time my beloved Kipor is running must surely be supported by Funsters....

JJ
not really, we cant hear it, your in the stary south, were in the cloudy north

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Kon tiki

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We all have to do our bit to save the planet :winky: but more importantly save a bit of cash where we can. When the sun is shining we have a couple of the solar shower bags, have a couple of thermos flasks to put it in. It's surprising how hot you can get it, also bought a portable electric shower from Maplins that we can use with our free hot water :thumb:. We tend to wildcamp a lot & we try to save on gas, water & electric where we can. Thinking of making a Kyoto Box solar Oven, if we are getting global warming then lets make use of it.
Wonder if it's possible to use solar power to run a fridge? After all it works by gas heating up the coolant the condensing :RollEyes:
 

6pm Cowboy

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Isn't thinking like this when you are driving illegal ? bit like using a mobile, drinking tea ( or worse )
Rumour had it not long ago that they were going to ban thinking in cars....... and blond passengers in short skirts.
 
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To avoid excessive use of power the following may help.

When wild camping park below street light and keep curtains open.
When on site park close to neighbouring motorhome and keep curtains open.
When ready to cook food on site wait until neighbour has finished BBQ and borrow leftover charcoal.

On the other hand switch it all on and enjoy yourself :RollEyes:

Larry
 

Tiderus

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Many years ago a friend put a suggestion in the suggestion box at at Jaguar that they switch all the strip lights off during lunch hour to save money. They duly tried it and found that the startup took more electric than leaving them on. Rgd's G.

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madbluemad

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Many years ago a friend put a suggestion in the suggestion box at at Jaguar that they switch all the strip lights off during lunch hour to save money. They duly tried it and found that the startup took more electric than leaving them on. Rgd's G.

Did he get a Bonus :roflmto:

Jim
:Smile:
 

chatter

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me thinks JJ is thinking these thoughts in order to put of thinking about the hard physical labour he needs to do.
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how is widening the entrance comming along:Blush: so funsters (that dont have Hymers) :cry:can get in or hasnt it started yet?

What was that?:whatthe:
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You need to think about it first :thumb:
 

hilldweller

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Couldn't you connect an multimeter in the line & see how many amps it uses on startup.

Not with any multimeter he's likely to have. The startup surge will last at most 1/10th of a second. It's quite insignificant.

But on the other side, most wear on the tube is during the heating/cooling phase so switching on an off a lot is not the best thing.

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vwalan

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i have seen wild campers hook into street lights to power most of their leccy things. not recommended ,seems they go in with crocodile clips into the box at the bottom of the post. think it could be a punishable offence if caught. but inovative i must say.
 
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JJ

JJ

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An excellent and perceptive comment Chatter... I plan to start work at Quinta Majay on Saturday/Sunday.

I have cut away all the offshoots and Dougcumiskey got his large coachbuilt in but had trouble getting out as his front wheel drive kept slipping on even the slightest bump. So I need to do some raking away leaf mould etc and spread down some stone chips to solve this.

I hope water has returned to the well(s) too...

...but all in good time... mustn't rush things... now where is the kettle?

JJ
 
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JJ

JJ

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i have seen wild campers hook into street lights to power most of their leccy things. not recommended ,seems they go in with crocodile clips into the box at the bottom of the post. think it could be a punishable offence if caught. but inovative i must say.

You are right Alan. When I worked for the Cheadle and Gatley Council (street lighting division) in the sixties we had a key to the lamp posts and when it was tea break time we pulled the van up at the most convenient post, plugged in the kettle and brewed up!

I thought of having a spare lamp post door with a notch cut in the bottom for a cable allowing me to park my splitty next to a post, swop doors and run a cable into the van. Never was brave enough to actually do it though... I guess another case of thinking too much and doing too little!

JJ

PS. Yes you can run a fridge from solar panels... I've been doing it for years. Got a 12volt compressor fridge from CAK Tanks of Kennilworth. Now have three solar panels (with a planned space for one more)... Ice Cold Coke on the back of your throat saying "Hello Summer Time."

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vwalan

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just like jj. i run a 240volt fridge through an inverter. i use gas lights in evening light ,warm n kills midges n flies. still dont know why more dont use them .they have thermo cut outs now.
 

Stephen & Jeannie

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!!!!!!

JJ...Thanks for the informative reply to my e-mail !!!
However....upon reading this post..and the other 2, I really think that
you should get out more >>>> to this end I will attempt to show you the seamy side of life if I catch up with you in Portugal !!!
As Roger would say "hee hee"
Regards....Stephen....:ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO:

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JJ

JJ

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Well, I say Stephen... the thought of you being able to show me a seamier side to life than those I have already experienced fills me with wonderment and awe!!! Bring it on... ;-)

JJ
 

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