thinking of weight can you get away with one battery in a van these days with a solar panel for free camping. I would thi k a second battery would weigh a lot and we could always put an extra one in the car I guess
hako said
08:50 PM Mar 31, 2015
I didn't know people carried 2 house batteries....it would be more efficient to use 1 larger capacity I'd imagine.
Good Luck.
Grumpytoo said
09:08 PM Mar 31, 2015
It depends on what you want to run. If its only lights then 1 battery is enough. If you want to run a compressor fridge, satellite tv, microwave etc then a second battery might be needed. But there will be a weight penalty and you will need somewhere for it o fit etc.
Bruce and Bev said
09:24 PM Mar 31, 2015
I thought most vanners that free camp regularly carry enough solar power panels and therefore have the need to carry 2-3 batts - I have two (220 amh) and it keeps the tv and lights going for the night. Fridge is a 3way and runs on gas when free camping. I also carry a genie in case of long term bad weather, when solar wont work and so far only used it once in almost a year, but glad I had it otherwise it would have been candles or portable battery lights at night
Aus-Kiwi said
12:10 AM Apr 1, 2015
As long as you have enough battery to start generater ..
A bridge to engine battery to start on emergencies is nice ..
Well in mine if controller switches off .. There's no power for generater ..
Have to switch relay to motorhome batteries..
Dougwe said
05:56 AM Apr 1, 2015
Still on topic and I am asking here as it might help JB.
B&B, is the 220amh batteries right or is it 120amh?? I only ask due to the weight of batteries. If 220 what Solar do you have to keep those two beasties charged up.
As for your genie, I have a 20i and I keep gene chained up out of sight until I let her out to hive me a charge, um, van a charge sorry.
wasn_me said
08:18 AM Apr 1, 2015
I have a 105 a/h in the tug running a 32 lt engel. It is charged form a ctek 250s dual when driving. In hot conditions it will drop to 12.5 volts after 24 hours. I'm picking up a 100 watt portable solar panel to keep it topped up when camped.
I have a 105 a/h in the van running a 32 lt waeco, 15"tv, led lights, 300 watt inverter which charges laptop battery, camera battery, phone. It is charged from 180 watt solar panel, flat mounted on the roof, through a steca 15 amp regulator. I has never dropped below 12.5 volts.
Cheers Pete
Radar said
08:31 AM Apr 1, 2015
Hi All
Caravan.
120 amp battery
120 watt solar
C Tec charger
A lead on a Anderson plug to recharge or to boast the car's second battery a 95 amp. I will replace this in to a 120 but not until it dies.
3 way refrigerator, lights, fan and some everyday phones, computers to run.
In the car I have a portable frig for picnics or when really needed as a back up, we don't over buy with chilled or frozen food.
We mix free camping and low cost camping.
Hope this is of some help, presently on a 3 month wander. Ralph
-- Edited by Radar on Wednesday 1st of April 2015 08:46:34 AM
NeilandRaine said
08:49 AM Apr 1, 2015
Whatever is right I wish I knew, have two very dead 100ah batteries in the van. well not quite dead the solar panels boost them through the day but they drop their charge to about 10 overnight.
Have to go out and replace them now. Always something to spend money on.
RodLainie said
09:08 AM Apr 1, 2015
We have 2 x 120ah with C tec charger and all was fine on our first lap
Bruce and Bev said
09:10 AM Apr 1, 2015
Neil - depending on the type of battery, you may be upv for replacing them. If you drop below a certain charge they can develop a "memory" and will not fully re-charge, not no matter what you do. Best bet is to get them tested by an auto-electrician (not Battery World or those sort of places who often will "write off" otherwise good batts and sell you new ones)
Doug. We have 2 x 110 amh batts and run 2 x 80w solar panels. I have a Honda 2 genie and it just fits inside the 'van tunnel where I keep it. When outside (and only the once) its chained up; along with my Baby Q and the 9kg gas tank I use with it. I also keep my 2 x 9kg 'van tanks chained onto the frame and fit a towball lock when stopped. Carry a ladder on the rear towbar so I can keep solar panels clean - padlocked. 2 x 25 lt diseal containers on rear - padlocked. Fishing rods in large PVC tube on rear - fitted with camlocks on end caps. Heard too many "I didn't think they'd want to pinch that" stories, so I trust no-one. Pretty much the only thing not chained down is the BOSS and no-one has pinched (yep - pun intended) her yet:(
I also have a Waeco 50 lt portable fridge (which had turned out to be not really needed). I keep it in van on 12v charge via the Anderson connection and if in a CP I padlock it outside to the 'van 240v plug and run it. We just keep our drinks cool in it. If we're free camping, it doesn't get plugged in to avoid battery drain and the drinks get warm. We've found out that we can keep enough soft drink, bottled water and soft drink in the 'van fridge not to need a portable 2nd fridge. I just keep reminding myself that I bought the bloody thing as a good package deal from Annaconda - fridge, insulation/protective cover, stand to keep it off ground, 2 x camping chairs (and the best of all - an Annaconda cap) all for $1050. Ive seen the fridge just by itself priced at $1400.
Diggings said
09:34 AM Apr 1, 2015
I have 2 x 120 amp Deep Cycle and can go 5 days without any charging, I am in the process of fitting a 185 amp Solar panel to the roof of the van so should be set.
Happywanderer said
10:52 AM Apr 1, 2015
Not sure what's going on with mine at the moment. I have 280w solar panel on the roof and 2 Full River Deep Cycle AGM batteries 105 in the van.
My fridge only runs on 12 volt. The last 3 nights Ive had to turn the fridge off in the middle of the night as batteries got down to 11.9 and fridge going on, off, on, off in quick succession.
Back at my sons now over eater, have turned fridge off and emptied it.
Van was in full sun during the day and got up to high 13 every day.
Batteries just over 12 months old and 2nd solar panel installed April May of last year.
Dougwe said
10:55 AM Apr 1, 2015
Thanks B&B, I thought you might have put a 2 and not a 1 mate. Naughty room stuff really cos of a bum steer
Interesting really as I have two 110ah batteries in the van with until recently 2x150w Solar Panels flat on roof and felt I should have bigger batteries at times. I have since put an extra 150w panel flat on roof, making 450w flat and also wired up for a portable 120w panel through a separate regulator connected to the two batteries.
I will be checking how the two batteries are actually connected and the gauge of wire etc maybe today if I can generate myself. Maybe I need to let gene out to generate me
NeilandRaine said
03:52 PM Apr 1, 2015
Thanks B n B will look into that
Bruce and Bev said
04:23 PM Apr 1, 2015
Marj. You may have a similar problem to Neil with his battery memory. It happens very easily but can usually be fixed by a trained person. While your in your sons lazy boy chair, why don't you try to find a good auto electrician (does your son know or one or does he know someone like a mechanic who will recommend an honest one) and get the batteries checked. If theyre ok - then get him to check the rest of the electrics. But watch out, so many of these guys are keen to flog off new batts on you when theyre not needed
Happywanderer said
04:58 PM Apr 1, 2015
Thanks for that. There is a great auto Elctrician here in Hervey Bay. I used him twice last year. Will pop in and see him straight after Easter.
He's really good and not that expensive.
Dougwe said
06:19 PM Apr 1, 2015
Marj, you might remember when in Tassie early 2014 I had a battery problem in the Prado and the auto elec in Devonport said it was a faulty battery. When I got back to the mainland and home I found out there was nothing wrong with the battery after all. So be careful.
Happywanderer said
07:55 PM Apr 1, 2015
Note taken Doug. I Cant afford a new battery at the moment anyway so it won't be any good trying to talk me into buying one.
I was thinking I needed to see a solar expert but this gut was good last year with replacing the fuse box which was causing the fridge to play up. They also installed a couple ofextra 12 volt plugs for me at a ddifferent time.
Will go get it all checked there and see what he advises.
Bruce and Bev said
10:10 PM Apr 1, 2015
Marj - if you know and trust the auto sparkie you've used in the past - stick with him.....unless hes got a new BMW parked out the front of his place LOL. Some solar guys are really professional and ethical, but there are a lot of rip-off guys out here in this sort of business
Radar said
10:30 PM Apr 1, 2015
And what thoughts do jbrinks have on the responses, did we help or did we go off line.
jbrinks said
08:16 AM Apr 2, 2015
Radar . Yes I have been reading the replies , not sure if I have a decision on one or two batteries. Think we will try one and see how we go . We are not big uses no generator or need to use big electrical items. Basically lights and TV usually . Just trying to get the weight right and a second battery adds quite a bit
gandk said
08:43 AM Apr 2, 2015
Really like this forum stuff. This has been something else I have been wondering about 1 or 2. When we bought our 2nd hand Jayco Sterling it had 2 solar panels on top, 1 battery (not sure what ah thingys) but unfortunately the previous owners had installed a 24v/12v external shower. When we tried the free camp thing and used 12v it drained the battery in seconds (not using that again)and now I think it did what B&B said and has a bad memory like its owner and wont charge. It must be about 6 years old so thinking of getting new one - help what sort.
Two Strays said
06:03 PM Apr 2, 2015
Hello All
We have 2 x 120 amphr batteries, backed up by a 130 watt solar panel and a Honda 20i generator.
The navigator requires a CPAP machine. When she uses the humidifier, together with the lights, TV, Sat,
water pumps and if ice has formed outside the gas heater the batteries can replenish themselves on a sunny day.
If it cloudy the generator may be required to bring them up to fully charged.
At times an extra battery would be handy. However, the extra weight [32kg] makes it hard to justify.
I would go for two batteries always.
Cheers
Radar said
07:40 PM Apr 2, 2015
Hi jbrinks
Yes a second battery to the van will add weight, We can not afford the extra weight, my van is near it's gross weight and I don't run a TV which helps a little.
My second battery in the car is my back up, so 12 weeks, then 6 weeks follow by 4 weeks and now we are 4 weeks into another 12 week trip so far so good, I very pleased with my set up in 12 months, I mostly run out of water first.
We use free camps, show grounds with power where available and when desperate the odd C/P.
Our van is single axle without the en suite, portable tent for shower and we really enjoy ourselves. Ralph.
JayDee said
09:56 AM Apr 3, 2015
We like many would love to have a second battery.
But!!!!! Yes weight is the only deterrent. If we should and a big ifffffy we would wait until we have to replace our current battery.
This decision is based on the above comments which makes perfect sense to us.
Jay&Dee
03_Troopy said
10:58 AM Apr 3, 2015
Actually Deep cycle AGM and Gel batteries don't suffer from memory effect like NiCd's do. From the Ritar Battery site
It totally depends on what size batteries you are talking about.. the difference in weight between a 50AH and a 250AH is huge... What is relevant is what your battery consumption is going to be and fit batteries to suit. Or stay in powered sites only.
Actually I decided one battery was too much so fitted 2 batteries instead. That is, one 200AH deep cycle at 66Kg was just too big and unwieldy to fit where it needed to go, but two 100AH batteries fit in easily..
gandk said
07:26 AM Apr 5, 2015
Thank you Radar for your input. I think I will do as you, and use our external ensuite and a 12v shower and try with one battery. See how we go.
thinking of weight can you get away with one battery in a van these days with a solar panel for free camping. I would thi k a second battery would weigh a lot and we could always put an extra one in the car I guess
Good Luck.
A bridge to engine battery to start on emergencies is nice ..
Well in mine if controller switches off .. There's no power for generater ..
Have to switch relay to motorhome batteries..
B&B, is the 220amh batteries right or is it 120amh?? I only ask due to the weight of batteries. If 220 what Solar do you have to keep those two beasties charged up.
As for your genie, I have a 20i and I keep gene chained up out of sight until I let her out to hive me a charge, um, van a charge sorry.
I have a 105 a/h in the tug running a 32 lt engel. It is charged form a ctek 250s dual when driving. In hot conditions it will drop to 12.5 volts after 24 hours. I'm picking up a 100 watt portable solar panel to keep it topped up when camped.
I have a 105 a/h in the van running a 32 lt waeco, 15"tv, led lights, 300 watt inverter which charges laptop battery, camera battery, phone. It is charged from 180 watt solar panel, flat mounted on the roof, through a steca 15 amp regulator. I has never dropped below 12.5 volts.
Cheers Pete
Hi All
Caravan.
120 amp battery
120 watt solar
C Tec charger
A lead on a Anderson plug to recharge or to boast the car's second battery a 95 amp. I will replace this in to a 120 but not until it dies.
3 way refrigerator, lights, fan and some everyday phones, computers to run.
In the car I have a portable frig for picnics or when really needed as a back up, we don't over buy with chilled or frozen food.
We mix free camping and low cost camping.
Hope this is of some help, presently on a 3 month wander. Ralph
-- Edited by Radar on Wednesday 1st of April 2015 08:46:34 AM
Have to go out and replace them now. Always something to spend money on.
Doug. We have 2 x 110 amh batts and run 2 x 80w solar panels. I have a Honda 2 genie and it just fits inside the 'van tunnel where I keep it. When outside (and only the once) its chained up; along with my Baby Q and the 9kg gas tank I use with it. I also keep my 2 x 9kg 'van tanks chained onto the frame and fit a towball lock when stopped. Carry a ladder on the rear towbar so I can keep solar panels clean - padlocked. 2 x 25 lt diseal containers on rear - padlocked. Fishing rods in large PVC tube on rear - fitted with camlocks on end caps. Heard too many "I didn't think they'd want to pinch that" stories, so I trust no-one. Pretty much the only thing not chained down is the BOSS and no-one has pinched (yep - pun intended) her yet:(
I also have a Waeco 50 lt portable fridge (which had turned out to be not really needed). I keep it in van on 12v charge via the Anderson connection and if in a CP I padlock it outside to the 'van 240v plug and run it. We just keep our drinks cool in it. If we're free camping, it doesn't get plugged in to avoid battery drain and the drinks get warm. We've found out that we can keep enough soft drink, bottled water and soft drink in the 'van fridge not to need a portable 2nd fridge. I just keep reminding myself that I bought the bloody thing as a good package deal from Annaconda - fridge, insulation/protective cover, stand to keep it off ground, 2 x camping chairs (and the best of all - an Annaconda cap) all for $1050. Ive seen the fridge just by itself priced at $1400.
My fridge only runs on 12 volt. The last 3 nights Ive had to turn the fridge off in the middle of the night as batteries got down to 11.9 and fridge going on, off, on, off in quick succession.
Back at my sons now over eater, have turned fridge off and emptied it.
Van was in full sun during the day and got up to high 13 every day.
Batteries just over 12 months old and 2nd solar panel installed April May of last year.
Thanks B&B, I thought you might have put a 2 and not a 1 mate. Naughty room stuff really cos of a bum steer
Interesting really as I have two 110ah batteries in the van with until recently 2x150w Solar Panels flat on roof and felt I should have bigger batteries at times. I have since put an extra 150w panel flat on roof, making 450w flat and also wired up for a portable 120w panel through a separate regulator connected to the two batteries.
I will be checking how the two batteries are actually connected and the gauge of wire etc maybe today if I can generate myself. Maybe I need to let gene out to generate me
Thanks B n B will look into that
He's really good and not that expensive.
I was thinking I needed to see a solar expert but this gut was good last year with replacing the fuse box which was causing the fridge to play up. They also installed a couple ofextra 12 volt plugs for me at a ddifferent time.
Will go get it all checked there and see what he advises.
And what thoughts do jbrinks have on the responses, did we help or did we go off line.
Hello All
We have 2 x 120 amphr batteries, backed up by a 130 watt solar panel and a Honda 20i generator.
The navigator requires a CPAP machine. When she uses the humidifier, together with the lights, TV, Sat,
water pumps and if ice has formed outside the gas heater the batteries can replenish themselves on a sunny day.
If it cloudy the generator may be required to bring them up to fully charged.
At times an extra battery would be handy. However, the extra weight [32kg] makes it hard to justify.
I would go for two batteries always.
Cheers
Hi jbrinks
Yes a second battery to the van will add weight, We can not afford the extra weight, my van is near it's gross weight and I don't run a TV which helps a little.
My second battery in the car is my back up, so 12 weeks, then 6 weeks follow by 4 weeks and now we are 4 weeks into another 12 week trip so far so good, I very pleased with my set up in 12 months, I mostly run out of water first.
We use free camps, show grounds with power where available and when desperate the odd C/P.
Our van is single axle without the en suite, portable tent for shower and we really enjoy ourselves. Ralph.
But!!!!! Yes weight is the only deterrent. If we should and a big ifffffy we would wait until we have to replace our current battery.
This decision is based on the above comments which makes perfect sense to us.
Jay&Dee
Actually Deep cycle AGM and Gel batteries don't suffer from memory effect like NiCd's do.
From the Ritar Battery site
6. Does the deep-cycle battery have a "memory"?
No. The performance of deep-cycle batteries will be reduced over time, but deep-cycle batteries do not suffer from "memory effect" such as NiCd batteries do.
Thank you JayDee, yes it's eco way to go. Ralph.
Actually I decided one battery was too much so fitted 2 batteries instead. That is, one 200AH deep cycle at 66Kg was just too big and unwieldy to fit where it needed to go, but two 100AH batteries fit in easily..