when i am not on EHU.. is it only the 12v funny looking tiny 2 flat pinned socket that works? not the normal looking sockets? so cant plug in a low wattage appliance still?
can anyone tell me how many showers (quick ones) you can get without EHU, on one stop. (ie. before recharging leisure battery through driving) with the water heater running too??
thanks
------------- tina xx
mum to 5 kids
DD-20
DS-16
DD-14
DD-9
DS-3 and a half!
and a large, daft, black dog!!
Yes, the "normal" sockets only work from the mains when the EHU lead is connected. The "funny" little sockets are for 12v appliances only - you can get an adaptor to convert this to a cigar lighter type socket.
I would be very surprised if the hot water for the shower can be heated on 12v, it is most likely just gas or mains. 12v just doesn't provide enough electric power for heating water and running heaters etc.
------------- Caz
If you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, just keep going till you go round the bend.
ahhhh... so i will have to work out how/if heater works on gas then!!!
what about the pump?? how many showers will it generate before we have to worry about conserving the battery??
------------- tina xx
mum to 5 kids
DD-20
DS-16
DD-14
DD-9
DS-3 and a half!
and a large, daft, black dog!!
Again Hi,That worked then...moving your post up from page 5. Little bit of history will always help anyone who can offer help you see. Wish I could find the first question...must have expired. Now, did you get any manuals at all with the van? IF not you can always google the van you have, and see if manuals are available for it. Alter your profile status to the vehicle you have...that will help, as folk will be interested if they have the same. They will be a good source of any techy things you need to know about. So make that alteration. Those people will have info a plenty up their sleeves to help you. Also, as I said I am no mechanic or an electrician. But would like to think others would help me if I need it. If you have not got manuals about any item , van or equipment, describe what you need to talk about. Tina, I cant imagine that nobody is out there to help with any issues you have...just keep asking, lovely folk will understand and respond...once again kid.....enjoy and good luck....fuel has gone down on mainland...so get over here, and at the moment....book a site on electric. Keep us updated plse.
the water pumps pull quite a bit of current, especially if having a shower. why not get a solar panel and not have to worry about it. I just fitted a 120w system to my dads new vehicle, he is well chuffied with it, keeps going in to see how much charge is being generated
Also to save on battery usage, change your lights to LED one, you will find that you can run about 5 LED's for the same power consumption as one normal one
I'd certainly go along with Andy on the solar panel suggestion.
We have done three weeks in the Hebrides with only three or four nights on hook up using only a 20 watt solar panel to top up the leisure battery. However, we are a couple and I assume you will have to cater for your children as well. The panel you have linked to is probably o.k. for keeping the engine battery floated, just keeping on top of the current drawn by alarms and the like, but if you want to look after your leisure battery without any fuss you will have to invest in a proper crystaline (blue) solar panel.
It's a job for any competent DIY person and there is loads of advice available on here and on at least one other motorhome wildcamping site that I know of. In a nutshell, you have to try and balance the energy demand on your leisure battery and the amount of current you can provide to meet that demand.I have a 120 watt panel sitting on the roof of our van and just let that get on with looking after the battery. A DIY job for a panel of that output should cost around £200, which is soon recouped if you are not paying for a leccy hook up as often as you probably will without one.
http://www.wildcamping.co.uk/
Loads of info on the above.
Best of luck.
------------- The smile you send out is returned a thousand times...
A shower can consume quite a lot of 12 volt power because the water pump is running constantly which also uses more water when it's not needed so the solution I found was to swap the shower head for a trigger type which cuts off the 12 volt power instantly when the top trigger is pressed. This way you not only save water but the temperature also remains constant without having to fiddle about with the taps wasting water and battery power trying to resume the same flow and temperature again. Even if you decide to purchase a solar panel you still need to conserve your energy and this little gadget is perfect for doing just that. I bought one about 3 years ago and I can highly recommend it although they have reduced in price since then as mine cost me near on £25. It's well worth the investment in more ways than one.
Hi Tina, Have any of your responders been able to help you? Hope so I am clueless when it comes to electrics. I f I post this, I assume it will take you back to the top. Hope so.
If you really need mains power for low wattage appliances when you are not on hookup you could consider an Inverter which converts the 12 volts dc from your battery to 230 volt ac mains. Lower power ones are not very expensive, look at Maplins.
You can fit a 2 pin plug to it that fits in the little two pin socket you mentioned for low power use. If you go for a bigger Inverter with more power output then you would need to connect it directly to your leisure battery with the clips supplied.
not really wanting much for the 12v appliance wise.. we have a 12v laptop charger... we will charge laptops as we drive, also the phones. youngest will need the car dvd player which will run directly to the 12v socket most of the time that he is in the van am presuming that it will be too hot in south france/spain in august to worry about him being inside much!
more interested to know if we can all have a shower (quick one) if we stop at an AIRE without EHU! maybe we will have to consider using a bucket for hair washing etc.
------------- tina xx
mum to 5 kids
DD-20
DS-16
DD-14
DD-9
DS-3 and a half!
and a large, daft, black dog!!
Tina I'm assuming that motorhome batteries will run similar to caravans, so your battery will be fine to run a few showers and lights for a couple of days, but to be on the safe side I would either do a test run before you go away or invest in a solar panel. We got one as we do rallies and it keeps the battery topped up the whole of the rally and we use a 12v tv too
------------- -x- Diane -x-
May 13 - Cala Gogo, St Cyprien (didn't go, hubby too ill to travel)
May 14 Ranc Davaine
August 14 Les Sablons
August 13 - Camping Playa Brava, Pals
also to save the battery don't leave any lights on that aren't needed as they do use a lot of power, we're slowly changing ours over to LED ones as they use a lot less power than the conventional bulbs fitted
------------- -x- Diane -x-
May 13 - Cala Gogo, St Cyprien (didn't go, hubby too ill to travel)
May 14 Ranc Davaine
August 14 Les Sablons
August 13 - Camping Playa Brava, Pals
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: please explain the electrics!!
