When I bought the coaster it had one fitted battery and one loose in a cupboard, the fridge had two wires running from it with alligator clips attached so apart from the lights that was it for 12 volts. It came with a huge microwave oven and two electrical 240 volt filament heaters and an electrical 240 volt fan, all in all just about useless for free camping without the benefit of plug in power.
I have stripped the Hi Ace of all things 12 volt electrical and loaded them into the Coaster, direct wiring in the 120 watt solar, two anderson plugs, 12 and 240 volt fridge, a kill switch, tachometer, reversing camera with the GPS and fitted cigarette lighter sockets.
The configuration now is for the driving a 90AH battery with a 60AH battery as a back up separated by a kill switch so that I can charge either both or one battery whilst driving. I have two sockets and an anderson plug so that according to the current charge I can either use power or with the generator plus the battery charger charge up.
The set up for the camping side has the two deep cycle batteries 105AH and 115AH in parallel and again the anderson plug plus socket. According to the current balance of charge can either use or top up the power. The solar is wired into the camper side as is the 60ltr Engle fridge. I have made many changes whilst here in Hay and above is the current situation, all has been done with no funding by using available batteries and plugs.
I have no idea how it will work out but am guessing that if I need more charging I may buy a folding solar panel which can be added to either side as necessary. That would be the economical way to handle the situation a better solution would be to have a couple of solar panels fitted to the Coaster together with a good regulator but that would be a more costly operation needing an auto elec and drilling holes into the Coaster.
Off tomorrow after camping in Hay over a week waiting for my next pension but have no regrets it is a fine place to stop over for a few days. John
Howdyeeee Earthling, Wow,!!! John , have no idea wot u talking about , But,!!! I bet u r excited, about being on the road , again, we r off Wednesday to Blackwater, the rig going ok,?? might catch in a week or two, That rash u had between u legs , gone away yeat, hehehehe , Billeeeeeeee
John, our Coaster has two bus batteries and two house batteries. There is a lever by the bus batteries that allow us to "turn them off". It is a bit like the immobilizer we had on our old 4WD. It didn't take us long after buying it to realize that if the bus was parked up for more than a couple of weeks, without being immobilized, the batteries went flat. Don't know why - logic says they shouldn't. We even put in new batteries - same thing. Auto elecs don't explain it - just tell us to use the immobilizer.
Anyway, maybe that is something you might need to think about having on your rig?
I have a flat cranking battery in the Hiace and looking at an 80ah AGM with 575 cold cranking amps to replace it. Can use it for dual purpose and not much more expensive than a cranking lead acid.
You can get 200 watt solar panels non folding for close to $200 now a chap on another forum has a couple of rails on his bus and locking nutts and has just changed the older panels for newer stronger. I think the rails are sikaflexed to the roof.
-- Edited by jetj on Tuesday 21st of May 2013 11:27:56 AM
The reason I like the folding panels is that although they can be a pain to store, they can be shifted around to catch the sun. If you have them permanently attached to the roof, then it means you can no longer park up for awhile in the shade of a big tree. They will still charge as long as there's some sunlight around, but greatly reduced output if in heavy shade.
Another good thing about the folding panels is that you can sit them up on the bed so any sun coming in the windows is sufficient to keep them powering away and they're safer in the van/motorhome is you want to go for a walk. Less prone to damage from stones thrown up by passing vehicles or falling pine cones etc. Horses for courses I suppose.
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Proud owner of an 2006 3lt turbo diesel Rodeo. Van will be next!!
I have folding panels and like them for the same reasons. I am getting sick of finding somewhere to put them to transport and lifting in and out though. I would like some on the roof as well.
If you have sola set up right , the panels don't need to be moved to the sun. My panels still show some charge even in cloudy days. I got sick of moving and locking up panels just chasing the sun and storage is anotherproblem. With my fixed panels I can maintain battery voltage when towing and parking up to do a walk or such like, all while my 3 way fridge is sucking the amps cheers blaze ps if there is spelling error in this , I have just had some surgery on both eyes.
It's horses for courses and what suits you best. Folding or fixed it's up to you. One can only decide for themself what will be best suited to their own application. I have an 80w folding panel which suits me fine for the camper. I certainly don't find it too onerous to set up but that's just me.
If you're worried about drilling through the roof, a good marine chandler will have a thru deck fitting which can be totally waterproofed with a screw in bayonet type fitting to take wires from the outside to the inside, if that makes any sense. About $30 from memory.
Just got my new bible (Whitworth's catalogue) and now can't find it, but if you need more info I'll check an old one and find out details for you.
