Off Grid Electrics

[B J G]

I can,

I'm a bit bemused by some of the answers though, using a double electric hot plate when off grid, when you have a gas hob specifically designed for that seems a bit strange.

Also why carry a generator? I can understand a bigger inverter if you must have a 240v microwave & then rather than a noisy generator just start your engine to top up the batteries.

Noisier than todays inverter generators plus not as environment friendly. 2ltr engine to power an 80 Amp (ish) alternator?

 

[andyinluton]

It’s a 250A/H alternator
Environmentally friendly - you are having a laugh, the damage is already done building the generator & lugging it around, the difference in use is minimal.

I thought the fun of going off grid was working with what you’ve got. I really don’t see the point in cooking on electric.

 

[ShmBK]

I’m probably changing my cali for a grand cali, I’m looking to boost my battery capacity and be able to run a nespresso (1300W) to keep the missus happy off grid.

i will have solar on the GC but don’t think draining the leisure batteries will be a great idea. Upgrading them to lithium or LiFePo4 and charging them on solar sounds great, but being in parallel, preventing freezing seems like a headache. I’m in a european centric GC Facebook group and it seems they have all sorts of great ideas for boosting the electric.

 

[Wannabecamperman]

It’s a 250A/H alternator
Environmentally friendly - you are having a laugh, the damage is already done building the generator & lugging it around, the difference in use is minimal.

I thought the fun of going off grid was working with what you’ve got. I really don’t see the point in cooking on electric.

If it comes into the LiPo 4 batteries or powerbank via solar PV, then it's free and clean. Some people (myself included) simply don't wish to carry gas onboard and love the plug-in induction hobs that I choose to use.

 

[andyinluton]

If it comes into the LiPo 4 batteries or powerbank via solar PV, then it's free and clean. Some people (myself included) simply don't wish to carry gas onboard and love the plug-in induction hobs that I choose to use.

It's not free & clean, you've just moved the emissions away from the point of use, & paid a hefty sum upfront for solar panels & batteries.

 

[Wannabecamperman]

It's not free & clean, you've just moved the emissions away from the point of use, & paid a hefty sum upfront for solar panels & batteries.

Andy, you could apply that (odd) logic to anything with a manufacturing process!

At the point of (repeated and continued) use, the investment and emissions during manufacture are history, so it is indeed free and clean.

I also happen to prefer induction cooking as opposed to gas for many reasons.

 

[Velma's Dad]

Andy, you could apply that (odd) logic to anything with a manufacturing process!

At the point of (repeated and continued) use, the investment and emissions during manufacture are history, so it is indeed free and clean.

Yes you could apply it to anything but the point of putting PVs on a van is that you then don't have to run the engine to charge the leisure batteries and hence you avoid burning fossil fuel for that purpose. So you'd presumably want to be confident that the carbon emissions involved in producing the panels does not exceed the likely total 'free' (in CO2 terms) usable outputs of the panels over their lifetime.

I haven't seen any data for the lightweight panels that you'd use on a van roof, but for domestic PVs the carbon payback is typically of the order of three years. BUT... that assumes constant consumption - or export to the grid - of all the electricity produced. If you're only going to be using a campervan batteries (say) a few weeks a year to cook your meals in the wilds etc, it seems unlikely (to me) that PVs will pay back their CO2 production cost during the lifetime of the van/panels, unless you make some pretty heroic assumptions about your panels being re-used from van to van over several decades.

As said above, there are other reasons to want to have PVs on your van - eg to be able to keep the betteries topped up without having to drive the van or run the engine and those are very nice things to have - but I think you'll struggle to make a case for them on a "free and clean" assertion.

 

[andyinluton]

Yes you could apply it to anything but the point of putting PVs on a van is that you then don't have to run the engine to charge the leisure batteries and hence you avoid burning fossil fuel for that purpose. So you'd presumably want to be confident that the carbon emissions involved in producing the panels does not exceed the likely total 'free' (in CO2 terms) usable outputs of the panels over their lifetime.

I don't have a problem with solar panels & can see it makes sense for those that need it. It's the big banks of extra battery that seems a waste, they add considerable weight & take up valuable space.

Theres so many vlogs sponsored by the producers of the battery packs that it makes you wonder how people ever managed to camp without one. The manufacturers seem to have a pretty good marketing team, they give them to full timers to review to try and persuade the rest of us that they are essential.


If I told the wife I was going to spend £1k on a battery and another £1k on solar panels just so I could cook on induction rather than gas she would have me certified.

If we were actually living in the van rather than just holidaying I admit I may have a different view.

 

[yossarian]

If I told the wife I was going to spend £1k on a battery and another £1k on solar panels just so I could cook on induction rather than gas she would have me certified.

That's the meat and potatoes of it.

 

[Corradobrit]

If I told the wife I was going to spend £1k on a battery and another £1k on solar panels just so I could cook on induction rather than gas she would have me certified.

So many other practical uses for a power station. It provides some additional freedoms for off grid living. For me I need to charge an ebike battery. That requires 880W which far exceeds the internal inverter system.

 

[Wannabecamperman]

So many other practical uses for a power station. It provides some additional freedoms for off grid living. For me I need to charge an ebike battery. That requires 880W which far exceeds the internal inverter system.

I have the Bluetti AC200 Max and a 200w Renogy flexi panel. It allows use of everything from microwave to toaster and kettle usage, even the wife's hair straighteners!

It charges via a 12V cable when driving and from the flexi panel when parked up.

 

[Wannabecamperman]

That's the meat and potatoes of it.

I should mention the LiFePo4 Bluetti AC200 Max was a Father's Day gift at around £1500 (we upgraded from a Jackery 1000 as it wouldn't handle the kettle) and the Renogy 200w Panel cost less than £200 posted. It's not just the EHU savings, we also use at home with the panel hung on the washing line and all laptops, chargers, power banks, mobiles, drone batteries, lawn mower battery and vacuum batteries are all recharged using the Bluetti.

 

[Wannabecamperman]

...for those interested...

 

[erik.godderis]

EHU or gas, that's indeed the answer. Is there a particular reason you find 2 gasrings limited cooking? Even when cooking serious meals for guests at home Ialmost never seem to need more then 2 rings at a time.

We always bring a very small (backpacking-style) single-ring gas stove as a backup and a way of cooking outside (steaks, bacon, pancakes, etc).

Whe use the wock for a one recepied

Verstuurd met Tapatalk

 

[erik.godderis]

Whe use the wock for a one recepied

Verstuurd met Tapatalk

Recipe (sorry)

Verstuurd met Tapatalk

 

[Crasher]

Bit late to the party .
But I have just got round to fitting an additional battery ac180p and the charger 1 controller to my t5 cali.
Black friday 570 plus 250 for charger1 .Not bad considering I can now stay away and not need to charge the leisure battery etc .Also have 200 watts solar into leisure van battery .No good for days with no sun .
Can charge lipo4 battery from empty in 3hours whilst driving .Not bad and can plug into van if need to top up leisure battery which had to do this weekend .
Wired charger 1 from split charge relay to back off van installed in rear cabinet with leisure battery .wired a 230 cable to front of kitchen unit to plug kettle toaster heated blanket etc was -6
Very happy with van now not sure why the leisure batteries are not lipo 4 from factory with a proper high power inverter as it would be almost perfect for my needs then.Hope this info can help others.
Thanks to all who have posted here that has helped me fit my additions to benefit me.

 

[Jimmylondon07]

Bit late to the party .
But I have just got round to fitting an additional battery ac180p and the charger 1 controller to my t5 cali.
Black friday 570 plus 250 for charger1 .Not bad considering I can now stay away and not need to charge the leisure battery etc .Also have 200 watts solar into leisure van battery .No good for days with no sun .
Can charge lipo4 battery from empty in 3hours whilst driving .Not bad and can plug into van if need to top up leisure battery which had to do this weekend .
Wired charger 1 from split charge relay to back off van installed in rear cabinet with leisure battery .wired a 230 cable to front of kitchen unit to plug kettle toaster heated blanket etc was -6
Very happy with van now not sure why the leisure batteries are not lipo 4 from factory with a proper high power inverter as it would be almost perfect for my needs then.Hope this info can help others.
Thanks to all who have posted here that has helped me fit my additions to benefit me.

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Good to see a Bluetti install among all the Ecoflow warriors on here, I recently joined the club (albeit with the bigger brother as I have a bit more room for it in the GC). Fancy coming and giving me a hand with fitting the Charger 1?

 

[Crasher]

Good to see a Bluetti install among all the Ecoflow warriors on here, I recently joined the club (albeit with the bigger brother as I have a bit more room for it in the GC). Fancy coming and giving me a hand with fitting the Charger 1?

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Nice set up.Im in Wakefield so if close by I could give a hand.Not sure you setup in GC.Might be best with a auto electrician. I'm just a spark.

 

[mr pg]

I've almost finished fitting the Charger 1 to our GC680 to recharge our AC180P.
Most difficult part was trying to find a route from under the double seat to the battery box. Managed to get one cable behind the panel where the table stores, but the other had to come outside it and will be hidden inside a piece of trunking when it arrives.
I'd seen a number of reviews recommending fitting a fuse to the power cable at the battery end which I've done.
The charger is fitted in the electrical cupboard. I did have to extend the neg cable by about 300mm (to starter battery) but that could be overcome with a different postion for the charger. Our Bluetti battery sits beneath the outdoor shower.

 

[Crasher]

Good to see a Bluetti install among all the Ecoflow warriors on here, I recently joined the club (albeit with the bigger brother as I have a bit more room for it in the GC). Fancy coming and giving me a hand with fitting the Charger 1?

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If the GC has a true sign wave inverter may be best running an inverter then plug into your set up get more than 500 watts input then.my max is 500 watts solar input yours may be more.

I've almost finished fitting the Charger 1 to our GC680 to recharge our AC180P.
Most difficult part was trying to find a route from under the double seat to the battery box. Managed to get one cable behind the panel where the table stores, but the other had to come outside it and will be hidden inside a piece of trunking when it arrives.
I'd seen a number of reviews recommending fitting a fuse to the power cable at the battery end which I've done.
The charger is fitted in the electrical cupboard. I did have to extend the neg cable by about 300mm (to starter battery) but that could be overcome with a different postion for the charger. Our Bluetti battery sits beneath the outdoor shower.

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Neat .I did fit a midi fuse 60 amp .my cables would have been short if going into engine for starter battery.Thunk cables are a little short would purchase separate if installing again.The mcb and charger 1 I used velcro so everything could be removed and installed in a different van in future .leaving to signs of installation. Looking forward to the season now.

 

[Jimmylondon07]

I've almost finished fitting the Charger 1 to our GC680 to recharge our AC180P.
Most difficult part was trying to find a route from under the double seat to the battery box. Managed to get one cable behind the panel where the table stores, but the other had to come outside it and will be hidden inside a piece of trunking when it arrives.
I'd seen a number of reviews recommending fitting a fuse to the power cable at the battery end which I've done.
The charger is fitted in the electrical cupboard. I did have to extend the neg cable by about 300mm (to starter battery) but that could be overcome with a different postion for the charger. Our Bluetti battery sits beneath the outdoor shower.

View attachment 131877

Interesting to see you installing it in the electrical cupboard, as my batteries are at the back I was planning on following a similar route to the below video, with the unit mounted in the back cupboard on the left. The chap in the video also had issues getting his cable through from under the bench seat as well, I need to find out if the Bluetti Charger 1 cable is the same diameter as the Ecoflow one.

 

[Crasher]

Interesting to see you installing it in the electrical cupboard, as my batteries are at the back I was planning on following a similar route to the below video, with the unit mounted in the back cupboard on the left. The chap in the video also had issues getting his cable through from under the bench seat as well, I need to find out if the Bluetti Charger 1 cable is the same diameter as the Ecoflow one.

Can tou not take it off the incoming isolator I see in the cupboard and fuse it accordingly. Check supplie and capacity etc first.