The Big Balance: Power, Water and Holding
When our RV is fully hooked up, the balance between power, water and holding is a non-issue. When we’re boondocking, that’s when the balance between power, water and holding takes on meaning.
When we’re dry camping, we can rely on battery power for several days. With the addition of a 12-to-120 volt inverter, we can use the lower voltage electronics we have aboard such as the television, CD and DVD player. That’s when we forego using other electrical devices such as the microwave and hair dryer. They pull too much power.
By adding a Yamaha ef2400is generator to our mix, we can use other appliances, including our single 13.5 air conditioner. By running the generator we can also re-infuse the house batteries with power easily and quickly. The generator, because of its weight and exhaust, lives in the truck bed where it can be locked away when it’s not in use.
The use of the microwave during dry camping provides an example of this three-way balance. The generator lets us use the microwave for cooking. This in turn enables us to cook food on paper plates or bowls. Paper cookware minimizes the amount of water we need for cleanup. So, more power means we need less water.
When we have plenty of water and a way to drain it, we cook in pans and use plates and flatware. During those times when dry camping the best available option, having disposable bowls and plates and plastic picnic ware helps us conserve water. Whenever possible, we use paper products made from recycled paper.
Also, using disposable plates and tableware conserves water, but the trade is that we create more trash. If the campground provides a fire pit, then the paper trash at least becomes burnable. If not, then the balance tips toward more trash created as a by-product of water conservation.