yobarr wrote:

---

Ron-D wrote:

---

yobarr wrote:

---

Kebbin wrote:

---

Terry can I ask you a question? Why is it that you rarely post on any other subject other than about your business concerns? This post is a good example in that you only ever mention Lithium batteries because that is what you deal in, why not mention AGM,Gel etc? They are much cheaper and more affordable for most.Is it because it's not profitable maybe? Have you read forum rules point 5?

---

          A possible reason that Lithium batteries are often mentioned by Terry is that they are so far ahead of the

          other options that they are lonely! They seem to take a charge more quickly,and have a much larger

          usable capacity than the others.Just saying.....Happy travels.

                                                                                      Cheers

 

---

 Your probably right but has this thought occurred to you most people have standard batteries fitted and are happy with them ,why change every thing at great expense,Lithium is probably top dog in the battery world but most here I think would be more interested in posts that are about what they have fitted to there rigs....

 

 

Hi Ron....if it interests you,I have 1520 watts solar and 540 AH of Lithium batteries in

the van.This allows me to run my 2.5kw MHI Air Con any time I like in the bush.

Never will I stay in a van park,which will save me a small fortune.

The car has 190 watts Solar and one 90AH Lithium battery.I run my Engel 24/7 at

-18 degrees,so I have a nice freezer with enough room to throw in a few stubbies for

a quick chill when I get thirsty! 

I carry 540 litres of water,have a diesel heater for both air and water,and the fridge

is a 175 litre Evakool 2 door.I have done a lot of research,and I spent much time and effort

setting it up correctly so I am legal on ALL axles at 6500 GCM.....DO35 hitch and no WDH.

                                                    Cheers

 

---

 Thanks for your reply Yobar you have a great set up and good onya,but its not for us were happy with our simple set up it works for us ,as for Terry no doubt his promoting his business but also helping people understand whats involved with lithium..

Hi

I am not getting into the new discussion but will point this out to the OP.

If you want to use power then you have to make it first and perhaps store it for later. The people who reply to the lithium debate usually show they have lots of solar panels.

Ron-D has 1520W + 190W for his fully freecamping rig. That is well in front of the usual 150 - 200 watt folding panel some think will suffice for their use, almost 10x more. However we and other modest users are happy with this much but some find it is not as good as they expected for their usage.

My point being, more solar IS GOOD and has no side effects. Works well no matter what battery you have. Panels are cheap now, get 'em up there.

Jaahn

Phillipn wrote:

---

Jaahn wrote:

---

Hi

I am not getting into the new discussion but will point this out to the OP.

If you want to use power then you have to make it first and perhaps store it for later. The people who reply to the lithium debate usually show they have lots of solar panels.

Ron-D has 1520W + 190W for his fully freecamping rig. That is well in front of the usual 150 - 200 watt folding panel some think will suffice for their use, almost 10x more. However we and other modest users are happy with this much but some find it is not as good as they expected for their usage.

My point being, more solar IS GOOD and has no side effects. Works well no matter what battery you have. Panels are cheap now, get 'em up there.

Jaahn

-- Edited by Jaahn on Friday 19th of January 2018 09:43:42 AM

---

Generators are great when needed, but not all hours of the night. Like the fellow at Yunta who started his generator at 3AM.

You forgot to mention that solar is great when the sun shines, but what if their is a lot of cloud and rain for days and days. The pure solar systems would be "up the creek without a paddle" or should I say no power.

 

---

         Hi Phillip.......I also carry a Yamaha 2800i generator,but I doubt very much that I ever will use it.

         People think Solar runs best on a hot day,but the biggest enemy of Solar is actually heat!

         A Solar system always will make more power at 25 degrees C than it will at 45 degrees.

        Many of the colder countries,such as Germany and Austria,have huge numbers of Solar systems

        in place.

        Solar runs of  light,or,if you get pedantic,UV rays,and I have NEVER seen a day where nothing is produced,but

        this is why I have installed such a high capacity......covering the options!

        The generator is kept as insurance in case something damages the Solar system,or if I want to

         power tools or a pump away from my rig. Safe travels.

                                                                          Cheers

Hi John....I think you may have got Ron-Ds solar configuration confused with mine,

unless,by some strange coincidence,we have the same set-up?

                                                                           Cheers

oldtrack123 wrote:

---

 

Why do so many think they need all the bells & whistles of a modern home ,unless the van is their long term  home or have health problems?????

I wonder what happened to the days of rough bush camping that my wife & kids enjoyed so much

 Without doubt  a  well designed  lithium set up [Terry's], is ideal for those who live on the road, want ALL the comforts of home AND have sufficient roof area for the solar panels to maintain the power usage

BUT many do not fit into that category  & THAT should be considered when giving recommendations/Advice

Horses for courses

 

---

 Hi Ralph....there is a very simple reply to your question Why do so many think they need all the bells and                           whistles of home...... A good number of us prefer to live in the bush,but I for one have no need to relive my                          days of rough bush camps. I enjoy a bush shower,and carry water for same,and I enjoy a few beers,so have a                        big enough fridge to allow me to do this.Because I cannot be bothered with the hassle of gas bottles etc,I have                         a Diesel heater for my water,and it doubles as a heater for the interior of the van on cold nights.Although we                       have electric frypans,a slow cooker for stews and curries etc,and an Airfryer,which cooks anything from roasts                         to potato chips,we also have a camp oven and various grilling plates that we use regularly. I also have a                           4.5kg gas bottle and a gas cooker to use if I feel like it!  I cannot see the point of being uncomfortable simply                         so I can say Ive been rough bush camping.I reckon sleeping well in an air-conditioned van surely beats tossing                        and turning in something akin to an oven? And your comment about having sufficient roof area for Solar panels                       to maintain the power usage cannot go unchallenged.I have 1520 watts of Solar,a satellite TV aerial,my 4 seasons          hatch,the lid above the shower and toilet that opens up to about 45 degrees,and a couple of scupper vents,all on                       a 196 van,and there still is room to spare.One other benefit of having a roof covered in Solar panels is that they                 keep  the sun off the roof,so the van is always much cooler.                                                                                              Like you,I enjoyed my time in bush camps,but I certainly prefer having a choice.Happy Camping!

                                                                                               Cheers  

On the other hand, I have learned much about AGM systems from many on here as well as most of what I have learned about Lithium setups is from what TI Terry has posted so I am grateful to have had that. I thank the many, and I also thank TI Terry.

Cheers, John

Aus-Kiwi wrote:

---

Got that exactly right . Just run into a guy whoâs invested in over $250k . His Mrs doesnât want to go with him anymore !! Sheesh !!

---

        Do you think that perhaps he is better off without her????

        Seems they have vastly different ideas on what they want from life!

        Good luck to him......

jules47 wrote:

---

Got to agree there yobarr, we were in a free camp - mid/old couple in nice little van, all the bells and whistles, arrive for their three week holiday. A nice camp, but not spectacular, no view, and they sat there, every day, apart from shopping. He spent his day watching satellite TV, she sat out the front and knitted. She hates the caravan, won't go anywhere but this place - screams if someone comes next to them driving on the road.

---

 And they could have done all those things at home! (Except,maybe,the screaming?)

I think the main problem well for us with owning a generator is the weight and haveing to carry fuel ,to be honest the good quality genies dont make much racket,and if you havent got some idiot camped next door running the thing all the time destroying your piece and quite no problem ,they are handy at times and if used responsibly respecting other peoples right to enjoy there camp    site there no problem...