We may be entering the world of "RV'ing" and of course I started to look at home automation, even if the home moves. Maybe especially because the home moves.
For those that don't know, most travel trailers and mobile homes power the lights and many functions on 12VDC. Basically a battery powers the lights, then when you are at an RV park, 120VAC powers a converter that powers the batteries. Some RV's have inverters to give you 120VAC from 12V batteries. When there is no 120V power, solar panels can charge the batteries. Some power hungry devices only run on 120V when connected (AC, microwave), and some use propane, like some refrigerators.
The "trend" is going more electric than in the past. Many TV refrigerators run on propane, believe it or not, but the trend is going to 12V electric. Propane refrigerators have to be level to work, don't work great, shouldn't be used while driving, and require propane. "Duh" While 12V refrigerators do use lots of electricity, solar panels can usually power them. This is important because many people don't camp where there is power.
So what automation/security am I looking for? Burglar and fire monitoring, maybe temperature monitoring, maybe some remote control of the lights, and possibly a camera or two. Monitoring will need to be done by me, and probably cellular, which should be good enough. I probably will have some type of cellular hot-spot that it can use for connection.
Big "class A" RV's (the ones based on a bus chassis and costing $500,000+) do have automation systems, but usually not on cheaper ones. We are looking for a dog also (don't have one yet) but he might stay in it while were away, so temperature monitoring is important.
Has anyone else ever investigated this? I have seen single-tasker devices, like temp monitoring, but nothing bigger in scope. But it must exist out there? Right?
For those that don't know, most travel trailers and mobile homes power the lights and many functions on 12VDC. Basically a battery powers the lights, then when you are at an RV park, 120VAC powers a converter that powers the batteries. Some RV's have inverters to give you 120VAC from 12V batteries. When there is no 120V power, solar panels can charge the batteries. Some power hungry devices only run on 120V when connected (AC, microwave), and some use propane, like some refrigerators.
The "trend" is going more electric than in the past. Many TV refrigerators run on propane, believe it or not, but the trend is going to 12V electric. Propane refrigerators have to be level to work, don't work great, shouldn't be used while driving, and require propane. "Duh" While 12V refrigerators do use lots of electricity, solar panels can usually power them. This is important because many people don't camp where there is power.
So what automation/security am I looking for? Burglar and fire monitoring, maybe temperature monitoring, maybe some remote control of the lights, and possibly a camera or two. Monitoring will need to be done by me, and probably cellular, which should be good enough. I probably will have some type of cellular hot-spot that it can use for connection.
Big "class A" RV's (the ones based on a bus chassis and costing $500,000+) do have automation systems, but usually not on cheaper ones. We are looking for a dog also (don't have one yet) but he might stay in it while were away, so temperature monitoring is important.
Has anyone else ever investigated this? I have seen single-tasker devices, like temp monitoring, but nothing bigger in scope. But it must exist out there? Right?