Glossary

This glossary is a quick reference for terminology used on this wiki.

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Showing 73 terms:

4-wheel drive

All-wheel drive

The voltage the battery bank is held at until the Absorption stage is completed. Abbreviated Vabs.

An instrument used to measure the current in a circuit.

The Bureau of Land Management, a Federal agency in the United States.

Battery Management System

Sewage, or water that is heavily contaminated with human waste, pathogens, or other hazardous material.

Parking your vehicle for free on public lands or other areas without any connections to the power grid or other utilities, and not in an established campground. Also known as dispersed camping or free camping.

In a vehicle, a wall or partition that separates the front cab (driving area) from the cargo area, living area, or passenger seating area.

A Chinese Diesel Heater, a term for a generic or inexpensive brand of parking heater.

The current obtained when solar panels are producing their maximum power, abbreviated Imp.

Diesel exhaust fluid, required in some regions to reduce harmful diesel engine exhaust emissions.

How low a deep-cycle battery is taken between full charges.

Parking your vehicle for free on public lands or other areas without any connections to the power grid or other utilities, and not in an established campground. Also known as boondocking.

Facilities where sewage may be emptied from a vehicle's black tanks.

The Fill Factor, a measure of the efficiency of a solar panel.

The efficiency of a solar panel cell: a ratio of its Maximum Power Point to the product of the Short Circuit Current and the Open Circuit Voltage.

The Gross Axle Weight Rating of a vehicle.

The Gross Combined Weight Rating of a vehicle, trailer, occupants, and payload.

Gross Trailer Weight, the combined weight of all trailers connected to a vehicle.

The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of a vehicle.

Water that has been used for a non-sewage purpose, such as showering or washing dishes, and which may contain contaminates like soap, dirt, and grease.

The combined weight of all trailers connected to a vehicle. Abbreviated GTW.

The distance between the ground and the lowest point of the vehicle other than the tires.

Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning

The Intensity at Maximum Power, which is current obtained when solar panels are producing their maximum power.

Electrical current, expressed in Amps, and abbreviated as "I" in Isc and Imp.

Intensity of Short Circuit, or the Short Circuit Current in an electrical system.

An abbreviation for "LiFePO₄", or lithium iron phosphate, a popular battery chemistry.

Long-Term Visitor Area operated by the Bureau of Land Management in the United States.

LiFePO₄ is the chemical symbol for lithium iron phosphate, a popular battery chemistry.

Maximum Power Point Tracking, a method used by solar charge controllers to increase the solar harvest from solar panels.

Modified Sine Wave, which refers to a type of AC (alternating current) power output from an inverter.

The maximum amount of power a solar panel can deliver during its standard test condition.

A technique used with solar panels to maximize energy extraction as solar light changes throughout the day.

Parking for free on property owned by someone you know, and connecting to or using their utilities and facilities.

The National Park Service, a Federal agency in the United States.

A lifestyle characterized by moving from location to location. In the context of this wiki, nomadic living includes residing in a vehicle instead of in a conventional house or apartment.

Water which is not known to be clean and safe enough for human consumption.

Pure Sine Wave, which refers to a type of AC (alternating current) power output from an inverter.

Pulse Width Modulation, which refers to a type of Solar Charge Controller.

A vehicle layout which allows a person to reach the cargo or living area of the vehicle from the driving area, without a solid wall or other obstruction between.

Maximum Power Point of a solar panel.

Maximum Power Point of a solar panel.

Water which is clean and safe for human consumption.

Recreational vehicles, which includes motorhomes and travel trailers.

Solar Charge Controller

A configured number stored in a device which guides the device's behavior, such as charging voltages in a solar charge controller.

An electrical connection to the conventional power grid. This term is borrowed from marine use, referring to a docked boat connected to power.

The value of the current when the positive and negative terminals of a solar panel are connected to each other through an ammeter in series.

A tool that allows you to open a tamper-resistant water valve, such as a water spigot on the exterior of a commercial building.

In the United States, used school buses that are converted for nomadic living.

People who travel to warmer climates during the winter and to colder climates during the summer.

The moment when the Sun reaches its highest position above the horizon, when shadows cast by sunlight are at their shortest for the day. It is usually not at 12:00 noon.

The ability of a vehicle to pass for an unoccupied, non-residential vehicle when needed, to allow its owner to park and sleep in plain view in the city without attracting undue attention. Also known as urban camping, stealth camping, stealthing, and stealth parking.

A conventional dwelling, such as a house or apartment.

A derogatory reference to low build quality of many RVs.

Tire Pressure Monitoring System

Tongue Weight, the amount of weight a towed vehicle puts on the hitch ball of the towing vehicle.

In an insulated wall, a material such as a metal fastener or rib that will conduct heat or cold quickly, degrading the overall performance of the insulation.

The amount of weight a towed vehicle puts on the hitch ball of the towing vehicle.

The US Forest Service, a Federal agency in the United States.

Parking and sleeping in a "stealthy" vehicle in plain view in the city. The vehicle appears from the outside to be a non-residential unoccupied vehicle.

Vehicle Identification Number, permanently attached to every motor vehicle.

The absorption voltage, which is the voltage the battery bank is held at until the absorption stage is completed.

The overall height of a vehicle, including the height of anything mounted on the roof like roof vents and solar panels.

Voltage at Maximum Power, the highest voltage a solar panel can supply under standard test conditions.

Voltage at Open Circuit of a solar panel without connected loads.

The unit of electrical potential, electric potential difference (voltage), and electromotive force. Abbreviated "V".

The voltage available when a solar panel is connected to a load and is operating at its maximum capacity under standard test conditions. Abbreviated as Vmp.

The voltage as checked with a voltmeter across the output terminals of the solar panel module, without connecting any load. Abbreviated as Voc.

The process of removing particulate matter from water, such as dirt, sand, and other visible contaminates, but does not remove pathogens and other very small particles that can make you sick.

The process of removing or killing the germs, bacteria, and other contaminates in water that can make you sick.