Quote: Originally posted by the black fox on 23/7/2012personally i think your flogging a dead horse ,either invest in a electric hook up and pay the site fees or if your into wild camping invest in a 3 way fridge that will run on gas .,the other options will work for a while ,but it will ruin your holidays/camping to be always faffing about with batteries and chargers
I dont agree, I woudnt say it would ruin a holiday trying not to use EHU or gas to get a bit of free energy from the sun or wind. I would go for it, to make the effort to "live off grid" it is well worth the hastle and all part of the fun. If you have to be attached to a powerline you cant enjoy one of a real benefit a tent gives you, and that is to go to remote places away from infrastructure. If they can run a whole festival with stage, lights, amps, etc off solar then its easily possible
Bring this back to reality. We are campers with limited resource's. From carrying space for 55w panels big and heavy, expensive and not yet up to the job. Yes technology will improve but until then the poster needs a system that will work. So off grid, gas is the way to go.
------------- Yesterday is already a dream and tomorrow is only a vision, but today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Quote: Originally posted by oldham on 24/7/2012Bring this back to reality. ". From carrying space for 55w panels big and heavy, expensive and not yet up to the job. Yes technology will improve but until then the poster needs a system that will work. So off grid, gas is the way to go.
You can run out of gas but the sun is always up at sunrise.
Its feasible and not that expensive for the freedom it gives. Especially if the OP has to get a gas fridge. "
" We are campers with limited resource's" - well were a planet with limited resources so lets soak up the sun and make it work for us. Someone has to pioneer it
I know this is in Australia were the sun shines more than here, but look at his set up!
Charges the house when its at home and will charge as you drive to your campsite. I bet it will pay for itself in a couple of years with no EHU and providing some power to a house, but its not always about saving money. Its about having a project and feeling good about it. I know why people do this sort of thing and it should be commended not get negative reactions.
Go for solar and tell us how you get on.
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No as the penguin site says a 55 watt only good for opening fridge twice a day for 5 days and weekend surfers. Yes the panels are big and heavy.
No the sun is not enough, a week of duff weather can seriously lower your battery charge. Gas fridge cheaper that quality solar panel.
Have been solar for a few years now. Family on rally site as we speak not an EHU in sight. Nor will an EHU be seen for the next 6 weeks. I will always back solar as the way to go. But it is not suitable in this case, and threads like this do more harm to solar than good.
------------- Yesterday is already a dream and tomorrow is only a vision, but today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Solar is getting better all the time. It wont be long (5-6 years) before you will be able to get the top of your van printed or a film put on that will give you all the power you need. I agree perhaps its not quite there yet, but its getting better every year. I reckon its easily feasible to run completely self sufficient but of course its not always the easiest or the least expensive option but might be the most satisfying.
I'm a lighting electrician and have a couple of ancient electronics qualifications for a bit of a back ground.
As far as solar power is concerned I know a number of people that run solar panels with leisure batteries on their canal boats (6volts in series, x 2, so four batteries). They run fridges (small but I have no idea of consumption) as well as low voltage lighting for the evening (often 12volt filament). Generators for back up charging and water heating, etc.
It's obviously possible to achieve your goal technically but to belIeve that the equipment required to make it happen is cheap to buy and maintain could be a flaw. If its an eco project then go for it.
The thing that concerns me is that all you may want to achieve is to keep your stuff cold. I like the thinking but to have a reliable system may mean lugging around a load of batteries, inverter, cabling, large solar panels etc..
Personally, I'm buying a Coleman xtreme which is potentially as reliable at keeping things cold as a hook up, if I keep an eye on the ice every few days.
LED's obviously use a small amount of electricity and shouldn't always need inverting, depending on what you buy so missing out the inverter will miss out the conversion loss from DC ---> AC ---> DC. Running a small inverter with a moderate leisure battery and a solar panel will take you there, but again. A pack of AA batteries from a pound shop will last for days and days running an LED camping lamp.
Best of luck though. I'd hate to calculate your system without clearly knowing the equipment. All the equipment used will have different tolerances so you may be better looking for a 'kit' made for the purpose than hobbling some bits together.
I think it is all doable if you want to. worst case you could run two small batteries and charge one from the car when out and about. That way you have a reserve.
There are loads of ways to optimise this with the fridge being the biggest consumer this is the best place to start.
I have a waeco 12v compressor frige and it is really good, efficient too.
if you have the time and money it is a nice project. An EHU is the easy way out
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: who is good with electrics please?
Someone has to pioneer it
