Well we bought our Roma caravan brand new from Perth. After 2 years of fobbing off and delays the cracked bench top was going to be fixed, ( what a joke again oops we have been sent the wrong part after the sales person measured it and assured us it was all ordered). So we still have a crack in the bench top.
Then the batteries which have not held charge since we had it and for the 20th time we then get told oh you need solar pannels as the fridge takes all the power the car puts out.
The question is what pannels are the best??
We are taking this thing back to Melbourne where we took it the year before last and got great service.
jimricho said
07:24 PM Nov 28, 2011
Re the battery problem Ken, what they've said about the fridge is quite so. You will need to run separate circuits from your vehicle's battery to the fridge and to the battery. I would suggest 8 gauge minimum for the battery wiring. I have seen 6 gauge advertised on Ebay and that would be better still.... note that is 6 gauge not 6mm, they are two very different sizes. (the lower the gauge number the thicker the wire)
You will need to have a relay or solenoid switch installed in each of the circuits (two in total) to ensure that there is no interconnection between the fridge circuit and the van battery circuit except at the vehicle's battery and then only when the engine is running. Your auto electrician may suggest that a "smart" relay as used in dual battery systems would be a better option for battery circuit and there's no argument from me on that one. The usual way to connect the battery circuit to the van is via an Anderson plug.
You should also consider installing a "smart" charger in the van so that whenever you're on a powered site your battery will be recharged. If you are not planning to do much free camping away from power a solar panel would not be necessary. If you are it's a different story however.
-- Edited by jimricho on Monday 28th of November 2011 07:26:24 PM
ozjohn said
09:20 PM Nov 28, 2011
Bought our Roma Elegance in Melbourne and had it built to our own design. The service from the planning stage, to building, delivery and after sales has been fantastic. Ozjohn.
Then the batteries which have not held charge since we had it and for the 20th time we then get told oh you need solar pannels as the fridge takes all the power the car puts out.
The question is what pannels are the best??
We are taking this thing back to Melbourne where we took it the year before last and got great service.
Re the battery problem Ken, what they've said about the fridge is quite so. You will need to run separate circuits from your vehicle's battery to the fridge and to the battery. I would suggest 8 gauge minimum for the battery wiring. I have seen 6 gauge advertised on Ebay and that would be better still.... note that is 6 gauge not 6mm, they are two very different sizes. (the lower the gauge number the thicker the wire)
You will need to have a relay or solenoid switch installed in each of the circuits (two in total) to ensure that there is no interconnection between the fridge circuit and the van battery circuit except at the vehicle's battery and then only when the engine is running. Your auto electrician may suggest that a "smart" relay as used in dual battery systems would be a better option for battery circuit and there's no argument from me on that one. The usual way to connect the battery circuit to the van is via an Anderson plug.
You should also consider installing a "smart" charger in the van so that whenever you're on a powered site your battery will be recharged. If you are not planning to do much free camping away from power a solar panel would not be necessary. If you are it's a different story however.
-- Edited by jimricho on Monday 28th of November 2011 07:26:24 PM
Bought our Roma Elegance in Melbourne and had it built to our own design. The service from the planning stage, to building, delivery and after sales has been fantastic.
Ozjohn.