Hi People

Looking for some expert advice from you all

I am looking at using either AGM batteries or Lithium to run all 12 volt appliances

My plan was to keep a solar blanket connected to the batteries [ Keeping them charged ]

Then connecting my Inverter to the caravan allowing me to use the power points to then connect the adaptors for the appliances

Some one told me that the inverter would draw too much out of the batteries converting to 240 volt then reverting back to the 12 volt adaptors and  maybe I should just wire most of my appliances direct to the batterie's

Can any one give me the best solution or advice

MUCH APPRECIATED

Tezza

Hi Terrence 

If you want to run 12V appliances, which is mostly what I do, then just set up the sockets for that directly connected to your batteries. Then get a good solar regulator to run the solar into the batteries. That is as efficient as you can get.  I might suggest using fixed panels on the roof as cheaper. 

Using an inverter just looses possibly 20% or more to losses and changing it back loses the same again so there goes a lot of your solar power gone no where useful !

Jaahn   

I only use 12v. The only expensive thing I had to buy was a battery charger for my Canon DSLR. We use Braun 2 x AA battery tooth brushes (I did a review on these). Fridge & charging phones are the main things. Use rechargeable torches. Use metho for cooking.

You just have a different set of issues with 240 volts. First one is safety. It would be best to have a voltage & current RCD.

Then if you don't want the setup size to get out of hand with large wattage appliances, look at sill cooking with gas or metho.

You can't keep a blanket always connected. Better some fixed panels on the roof.

Depending on your style of camping, if you move regularly a smaller solar set up & large DC-DC charger may be more logical.

If you want to run air conditioning then you will need a very large battery capacity. Then do you have the payload.

I would read thoroughly through the solar thread discussions. When you have a clear picture of what you want to run 12 & or 240, how long off grid & what you may run on alternative fuel then you will be in a far better position.

Weight the caravan for a start so you know how much payload you have to play with. You may be able to avoid the expense of lithium, & avoid cheap lithium. There are discussions on that issue.

Redesdale10 wrote:

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Hi People

Looking for some expert advice from you all

I am looking at using either AGM batteries or Lithium to run all 12 volt appliances

My plan was to keep a solar blanket connected to the batteries [ Keeping them charged ]

Then connecting my Inverter to the caravan allowing me to use the power points to then connect the adaptors for the appliances

Some one told me that the inverter would draw too much out of the batteries converting to 240 volt then reverting back to the 12 volt adaptors and  maybe I should just wire most of my appliances direct to the batterie's

Can any one give me the best solution or advice

MUCH APPRECIATED

Tezza

  

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Hi you have not really given much info what your set up is and what size inverter you want to run but I can give you some basic information on a medium setup.

Firstly good quality lithium are the best they charge quick are lighter than agm batteries and can use up to 80% of the battery without voltage drop compared to agm where you can only use up to 40% without damaging the battery.Downside is alot more expensive and will need a lithium charger.If you want to run all your power points in van you would be best to buy a quality inverter hard wired by an electrician and put inside your van where easy to turn on and off and at least 2000 watts so you could run low wattage appliances such as toasters or 1200 watt hairdryer but not high wattage appliances like kettles.

Normally when off the grid you only turn inverter on when using it and off when not as it does draw power but only minimal unless you have left something on and you are better to use during the day so as your batteries can be recharged by solar your vehicle or a generator.

Your battery storage for a 2000 watt inverter should be at least 200 amp lithium or 360 amp agm with enough solar to keep batteries charged but that depends on your usage.

Cheers

IF it is of assistance - here goes.
A) I am NO expert
B) our van was designed as follows
- 3 AGM 120 AH Batteries
- 3 125W solar panels
- 1800 w pure sine wave inverter

We have had it since new 2005.
Currently we run the following when needed
- all lights (being changed over to LED when fluoro's fade away), water pumps and power for 12v compressor unit fridge

- use the inverter for fan when needed, TV through 12v power pack - very rare to use it, cook plate occasionally, electric blankets to take chill of bed clothes when required, any 240 v power tools including whipper snipper, drill, chain saw we may have packed dependent upon the planned route taken.

BUT now most importantly - Sally's CPAP machine for a condition recently come to the fore and so it runs ALL Night.

We rarely get below 71% battery capacity even when off grid in the boonies.

For very cloudy weather we have a generator, but have run it for 4 hours on only 2 occasions over the last 4-5 years.

And we have a dual battery set up which is "Hot wire" between van batteries and auxiliary car batteries to charge van as we drive or keep car topped up when stationary 

Yes we are heavy to tow, but it is all within the designed specs and we get out and about to enjoy our land of beauty and serenity.