Mid life crisis Cali Swamper!

[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

Got a link for those? been skiing a few weekends this winter and the floor does get hellishly cold. I'm using a mat now, but once I do Lithiums a heated matt would just be plush

You can probably get 4x280Ah 3.6v cells by now, for anyone that knows a bit of electronics and is so inclined. And I think those will fit under the passenger seat. I built a 100Ah battery in my pre-cali days (B grade cells, 86Ah effective as tested by me, to run electrics while camping in my previous car) and that was a bargain at the time at under 300chf. Still going

Price has gone up slightly as they released a new heated version:

AUTARKING Philipp Lithium Batterie 12.8V 100Ah / Verbraucherbatterie mit Bluetooth

Die Lithium AUTARKING Batterien haben einen sehr hohen Ausgangsstrom sowie Ladestrom. Lithium Batterien mit einer bis zu 20-mal längeren Zykluslebensdauer und eine fünfmal längeren Lebensdauer als Bleisäurebatterien.

shop.autarking.ch

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[Nand0]

@Webbah_in_Switzerland I only need space for the 4x cells, a BMS (which is quite thin) and DC-DC charger. Solar installation was done in the back cabinet already

When I measured last year I figured I could also install it in the battery compartment under the fridge, which would otherwise be empty, but not sure where I would install the dc-dc charger (not much airflow in there)

 

[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

@Webbah_in_Switzerland I only need space for the 4x cells, a BMS (which is quite thin) and DC-DC charger. Solar installation was done in the back cabinet already

When I measured last year I figured I could also install it in the battery compartment under the fridge, which would otherwise be empty, but not sure where I would install the dc-dc charger (not much airflow in there)

I have the largest 100A BuckBoost charger. I wanted to max out charging while driving if required and the only way to do that with adequate cooling was to mount it under the seat with the fan in the back area. Works great!


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[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

@Webbah_in_Switzerland I only need space for the 4x cells, a BMS (which is quite thin) and DC-DC charger. Solar installation was done in the back cabinet already

When I measured last year I figured I could also install it in the battery compartment under the fridge, which would otherwise be empty, but not sure where I would install the dc-dc charger (not much airflow in there)

I should also point out that to avoid voltage drops and other issues you need the shortest cables between devices and the batteries, and to balance you should use bus bars. All of that is easier under the seat.


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[Nand0]

woah, prices really have dropped

LiFePO4 - Wiederaufladbare Batterien: 280Ah - 305Ah | NKON

280Ah - 305Ah

www.nkon.nl

I have the largest 100A BuckBoost charger.

Ah, I think I'd be perfectly happy with a 20Ah charger. Actually my van already has a Votronic 30A dc-dc charger (the original charge relay was replaced with this, should come like this from the factory really). I don't think I'd replace that

 

[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

woah, prices really have dropped

LiFePO4 - Wiederaufladbare Batterien: 280Ah - 305Ah | NKON

280Ah - 305Ah

www.nkon.nl

Ah, I think I'd be perfectly happy with a 20Ah charger. Actually my van already has a Votronic 30A dc-dc charger (the original charge relay was replaced with this, should come like this from the factory really). I don't think I'd replace that

I had a 30A previously and if the batteries are low that requires 2 or more hours to charge. I don’t do many long drives daily. With 100A I can charge at 1,200 watts to the batteries. Less than an hour with typical daily usage for me.


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[kave]

I would install lithium and forego the solar.
I think solar is over rated for vans. Eventually you need to empty toilets and rubbish. You as well charge up the Lith and have another 5/6 days of power…

I think the opposite, with 240w of solar I can be offgrid forever even in early spring with my AMG 80ah battery. To me the LifPo market still has a way to go until I replace my AGM battery.

 

[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

I think the opposite, with 240w of solar I can be offgrid forever even in early spring with my AMG 80ah battery. To me the LifPo market still has a way to go until I replace my AGM battery.

The solar struggle is real in Winter months. December through mid February but more reasonable starting from Mid March. Solve for Winter and any season is a breeze.

 

[kave]

Even in middle of Sweden it worked out ok last weekend.

 

[Nand0]

Even in middle of Sweden it worked out ok last weekend.

That's because you don't run a hot tub like @Webbah_in_Switzerland does on the back of his Joker

 

[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

Even in middle of Sweden it worked out ok last weekend.

The point is that everyone needs to calculate their usage first. Your definition is different than mine of what off grid means. And that’s ok! For me it means I can do anything I want as if I were hooked up on EHU. Nespresso, Air Fryer, charging e-bikes, laptops, iPads and phones, having dashcams and a permanent hotspot.

Solar irradiation drops significantly in the winter months. Panels are rated with summer irradiation of an average of 1000. In Winter this can drop to less than 200-400 for less hours in a given day versus spring and summer.

So to solve for Winter you need 3-4X the power you would in Summer with Solar. And that’s assuming it’s a sunny day.

Solve for Winter and any other season is a breeze.


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[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

Here’s a live chart from my van showing the solar irradiance for today and the forecast for tomorrow. This takes into account weather as well. As you can see it hits about 500, but only for a short window of time with about 2-3 hours of charging at decent rates.

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[soulstyledevon]

Interesting stuff.
I always had the issue of stuff on the roof. Which meant no solar whilst surfboards and roof boxes were mounted. Great when they weren’t there, but for my use I would ditch the sunny cells and increase the Lithium capacity.

 

[soulstyledevon]

On another note.
Everyone is safe and well.

Might need a new wing mirror though…

 

[wildslammer22]

Just got back from a trip to Brecon Beacons, proper Swamper country. I actually scraped my new front skid plate (which was oddly satisfying) on a (clearly seldom driven) backroad and that’s with the AT’s and lift kit giving me c.50mm more ground clearance than a standard Cali.


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[Californication69]

On another note.
Everyone is safe and well.

Might need a new wing mirror though…

View attachment 119634

Sorry, but I did LoL when I saw their insta. They were so chilled about it. Like £100k motor and oooopppps !

 

[Californication69]

Just got back from a trip to Brecon Beacons, proper Swamper country. I actually scraped my new front skid plate (which was oddly satisfying) on a (clearly seldom driven) backroad and that’s with the AT’s and lift kit giving me c.50mm more ground clearance than a standard Cali.


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I like the Oddly satisfying bit.
I’d be gutted if my plastic under engine tray was ripped off.
Bit to hear a rock scraping on the metal that is there to protect. Heaven !

 

[soulstyledevon]

Sorry, but I did LoL when I saw their insta. They were so chilled about it. Like £100k motor and oooopppps !

They’ve taken it quite well.
In all fairness, the Hymer didn’t look that bad considering 4.5t went sideways…

 

[wildslammer22]

They’ve taken it quite well.
In all fairness, the Hymer didn’t look that bad considering 4.5t went sideways…

At least they had some nice flat sides to land on. Actually what is more expensive - repairing metal body panels or replacing broken box panels?


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[soulstyledevon]

At least they had some nice flat sides to land on. Actually what is more expensive - repairing metal body panels or replacing broken box panels?


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Either doesn’t sound particularly cheap.
The interior is gonna need some work. Looks like the guy is fairly handy and he’s getting things back together.
Good on him…

 

[CamperFam]

Was there any view on Wolfrace by the way from a brand perspective? Linked an image rather than site, as my norton AV is throwing up some concerns on the site.

 

[wildslammer22]

Was there any view on Wolfrace by the way from a brand perspective? Linked an image rather than site, as my norton AV is throwing up some concerns on the site. View attachment 119761

Can’t comment on the quality but they look nice!


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[CamperFam]

Can’t comment on the quality but they look nice!


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@Jimmylondon07 just pointed out the trustpilot reviews...https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.wolfrace.com

Coupled with Norton blocking the installation of a file every time i visit their website....i'm pretty sure it's a no.

 

[wildslammer22]

@Jimmylondon07 just pointed out the trustpilot reviews...https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.wolfrace.com

Coupled with Norton blocking the installation of a file every time i visit their website....i'm pretty sure it's a no.

That’s a hard no then!


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[CamperFam]

That’s a hard no then!


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Harder than their alloys apparently.