Hi, Solar panels are new to me, can you buy a solar panel that takes a 3 pin plug, for example can you buy a solar panel that you can plug an electrical heater into Thanks
Unfortunately solar panels aren't that good, most generators wont even power a heater. Most affordable solar panels will only keep a battery topped up and will only just bring a used one back up to charged state, They're not the sort of thing that you can use to actually 'power' appliances straight off, you generally power off the battery and top this up with a solar panel.
------------- Doing as little as possible for as much as possible...
oh right, thank you for the insight. I have just booked my first winter pitch, the c'van will be onsite for 6 months and I will be visiting the c'van when I can, the gas heater/heating system in the c'van is great but does take time to heat up the c'van, so I use an electric heater in the interim, however I am on an electricity meter, and the electric heater will run up a large electricity bill, any ideas to overcome this would be appreciated thanks
either way it's gonna cost you to heat your van up either by gas or electric, would be best to try and work out the most cost effective method for you, cheapest way is to wrap up in plenty of layers and move about a lot
------------- -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
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I'd consider buying one of the oil filled radiators, these cost less to run than a fan heater and can be left on a low setting to keep the chill off rather than using gas or electric on higher settings for a short time to get warm,it depends on what the electric meter has been set at but I reckon gas would be the cheapest way to heat the van. Obviously though nothing should be left on when you're not there.
------------- Doing as little as possible for as much as possible...
I use a couple of tubular heaters in my motorhome, they do an excellent job of providing a nice background heat, I have fitted mine in the back of my seat bases so the warm air comes up behind the seat backs, also have another in the washroom I have 2 x 120 watt ones and a 60 watt can be obtained from either screwfix or toolstation.If you just want to keep the chill off even when you are not occupying the caravan I would leave a 60 watt one on all the time even when you are not occupying the van, leave all your locker doors open and a little ventilation (most roof vents will allow airflow even when closed, and of course there will be floor vents) this will also help prevent condensation / damp etc
------------- here today , where tomorrow?
yet another full timer,
It could be done with solar panels but you'd need thousands of pounds worth and a monstrous inverter. Stick with gas or the metered electricity. The electric heater is probably cheaper to run than the gas.
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Topic: Solar Panel with 3 pin
