I would like to hear about the difficulty and cost of installing a 240 volt inverter and portable solar panels on my 19 ft Grant tourer (built by Creative prior to liquidation of the company)
The van has 2 x 100amp batteries which are now 4 years old and appear to be in reasonable condition. I would like to fit a 240v inverter and maybe a 180 watt suitcase type portable solar unit. My aim is as follows.
Charging of battery to extend stay in free camps.
Use battery/solar to power small coffee machine, microwave, and washing machine. only one of these units would be used at a time and the highest wattage is 2200. The coffee machine would be used twice per day @ 450 watts. Washing machine twice per week (a lemair top loader couldnt see any wattage on that). And microwave 2000 watt maybe max
10 minutes per day.
What size inverter would I need.
Would a 180 watt solar panel be enough.
And what is the likely cost of items needed.
I hope I have covered all issues and I thank any member that can help with some details inc cost.
Thanks in advance
Allyoops
1
macka17 said
10:15 PM Jul 20, 2017
Well.
I think I'd go the Fixed on van roof panels.
You'll get around 240\250w fir the price of those folding.
Bloody heavy awkward things.
Decent 30A Regulator. Make you choice.
To increase you panel load when you realise what's what.
Sorry mate.
And a generator for your Air Cond. Wash Mach etc.
The Coffee mach. Wash Mach. Microwave.
Will use more than your quoted solar will even touch the edges of.
Microwave, Around 1.3kw to start with.
Go from there.
It's not the time of use of those items.
More the LOAD they require,
starting them up then running them.
Lotsa Electrical use.
Genny's ARE a mans best friend.
Bagmaker said
08:19 AM Jul 21, 2017
I reckon your battery will be on its limit to supply what you are hoping to, at 4 years old.
Try doing what you want with an inverter off ebay (Allow $300) and a short extension lead into the van, not using the van wiring.
Run the appliances how you wish to whilst observing the battery, the inverter and checking for any hot spots.
If its all working out OK at the end of that then consider how to properly fit the inverter (sparky),what size and where to fit a regulator and consider filling up your roof with panels.
Genny's ARE a free campers worst enemy.................
LOL
Jaahn said
08:20 AM Jul 21, 2017
Hi Alloops
Have you read the other parts of this forum the Techies' section and there is a sub section there Solar Power up the top. Your questions may have been asked and answered already and a bit of reading will give you a general idea of what is required. Perhaps your questions would get more answers there too.
cheers Jaahn
Allyoops said
08:58 AM Jul 21, 2017
Thanks all, I will read techies section.
Ally
Aus-Kiwi said
09:52 AM Jul 21, 2017
Having said that about geny. A QUIET geny is fine . During day hours . Just the old days with cheap 2 stroke and rattley cheap sets gave them a bad name . Don't run them st night !! Ten minutes to run coffee machine with solar should charge batteries for your other appliances . Not AC though ! Fixed panels are set and almost forget as long as you don't park in shade . Portable get stolen and pita after a while ! Just my opinion . Need a little more inverter wattage wise than appliance you are using !!
macka17 said
01:36 PM Jul 21, 2017
A Microwave alone. Will take twice it's current to start up.
Most need around 2 kva. Kettle are 1.5 x 2. Coffee makers.
(He said 450?) Wash MAchine, Loaded? x 2.
You'll need a much larger Inverter and a heap more current.
With quick draining of battery Storage.
Generators were around/ LONG before these "Free" campers were.
And will be long after they've gone too.
Some of them, are just another branch of the bloody Greenies.
I was using one 50 plus yrs ago.
Genny's are the only Practical 100% power supply in all clime's.
EVERYWHERE.
Apart from a 240v wall plug that is.
I always carry a 4 1\2 in Grinder, and 1\2 in drill in my tool box for the whingers.
It shuts them up real quick.
Yrs ago. Nicely parked. quiet. Just me and genny. Others far way at other end.
This Frog came along, Parked outside my door with a whizz bang.
5 min's. Knocked on door and said "turn your generator off. It's too noisy.
Yea. Move then.
Closed door.
'Nother 5 or 6 min's Knock. Knock again.
Same thing.
"Piss off". Closed door.
Nother 10 min's he started towards my door.
Out with grinder. Coupla touches on switch.
HE moved.
I was there first.
If others already there. WITH genny's. Not a prob.
Sans Genny's. I go Other end of park.
We ALL entitled to park there. With. or without. Genny.
Some need to accept it.
Eventually. They will.
Bagmaker said
05:20 PM Jul 21, 2017
Eventually you will die out like the dinosuars and the new flock will recall generators with laughter as they sit about their smokeless fires watching their grey and black water tanks fill up.
Some need to accept that too but as an old man myself, admitting I was wrong is an increasingly difficult mindset.
macka17 said
10:48 AM Jul 22, 2017
"ere we go.
Wait till you get a week or more of cloudy weather or rain. Cold.
I got both. Solar and genny. and after 50 odd yrs, use both.
House. Boat. Caravan. and UTE. As do a lot of other people.
We aren't ALL wrong yet. To be practical and efficient. EVERYTHING (in technology), comes into it.
SOME. Just haven't been around it long enuff to realise.
and I'm too polite to call people what they are.....
When travelling. you can't carry enough Solar\Battery's unless having a huuuge van roof or motorhome. WITH Large pocket for these new tech Battery's.
So unless you plug into a power point. you will NOT have enough power 24\7. 365 a yr.
Many of us have tried. Hence the genny's. Including my Wind Genny in shed.
It's sorta, a little bit of common sense to keep missus happy.
Genny. 3 pin plug, or majorly reduced power consumption.
IE.
Home. MY solar runs home completely when sun shines. PLUS gives cash returns over the 12 months. (3 out of 4 bills. The CLOUDY ONE)
Complete home. Pool Pumps. AIR COND, and cash into pocket. When sun at home.
Sun goes on Holiday. I want same service. Hellooooo Grid. (Our battery bank)
Our Genny's are the grid\Battery bank,
in a mobile environment.
Anybody who wants their full power supply when sun on holiday. HAS to have the Genny or 3 pin. Believe me.
We've been doing it a lot of yrs.
Show me a motorhome WITHOUT a genny built in. (Off the shelf.) Most carry panels too.
THEY know. End of story.
-- Edited by macka17 on Saturday 22nd of July 2017 10:49:55 AM
-- Edited by macka17 on Saturday 22nd of July 2017 10:52:57 AM
C00P said
10:19 PM Jul 22, 2017
Some rough calculations based on coffee machine 450W for 10 minutes (twice) microwave 1000W for 20 minutes (once) and washing machine 1200W for half an hour, gives a total consumption of about 100 Amp-hours. This makes no allowance for start-up currents and assumes 100% efficiency in the inverter.
The total is half your nominal battery capacity (200Ah).
A 180W solar panel would produce a nominal 15 amps at 12V, so on a good day with say 8 hours of good sunlight you would get 120Ah input.
So, theoretically you could do it, but you would have to have good sunlight and very efficient inverter. Any day when there was less than bright sun for most of the day and your battery charge would start to decline. Two days with minimal sun and your batteries would be completely flat- a very undesireable outcome as it would dramatically shorten your battery life.
These are all rough figures, and somewhat optimistic. REally, what it shows is that your plan is unrealistic. Battery powered inverters are not really a good way of powering major 240V appliances unless you want to add extra batteries and solar panels (and add lots of weight to your van). (Domestic systems powering homes are much bigger and more robust.)
Hope that's useful,
Cheers
Hi All
I would like to hear about the difficulty and cost of installing a 240 volt inverter and portable solar panels on my 19 ft Grant tourer (built by Creative prior to liquidation of the company)
The van has 2 x 100amp batteries which are now 4 years old and appear to be in reasonable condition. I would like to fit a 240v inverter and maybe a 180 watt suitcase type portable solar unit. My aim is as follows.
Charging of battery to extend stay in free camps.
Use battery/solar to power small coffee machine, microwave, and washing machine. only one of these units would be used at a time and the highest wattage is 2200. The coffee machine would be used twice per day @ 450 watts. Washing machine twice per week (a lemair top loader couldnt see any wattage on that). And microwave 2000 watt maybe max
10 minutes per day.
What size inverter would I need.
Would a 180 watt solar panel be enough.
And what is the likely cost of items needed.
I hope I have covered all issues and I thank any member that can help with some details inc cost.
Thanks in advance
Allyoops
1
I think I'd go the Fixed on van roof panels.
You'll get around 240\250w fir the price of those folding.
Bloody heavy awkward things.
Decent 30A Regulator. Make you choice.
To increase you panel load when you realise what's what.
Sorry mate.
And a generator for your Air Cond. Wash Mach etc.
The Coffee mach. Wash Mach. Microwave.
Will use more than your quoted solar will even touch the edges of.
Microwave, Around 1.3kw to start with.
Go from there.
It's not the time of use of those items.
More the LOAD they require,
starting them up then running them.
Lotsa Electrical use.
Genny's ARE a mans best friend.
Try doing what you want with an inverter off ebay (Allow $300) and a short extension lead into the van, not using the van wiring.
Run the appliances how you wish to whilst observing the battery, the inverter and checking for any hot spots.
If its all working out OK at the end of that then consider how to properly fit the inverter (sparky),what size and where to fit a regulator and consider filling up your roof with panels.
Genny's ARE a free campers worst enemy.................
LOL
Hi Alloops
Have you read the other parts of this forum the Techies' section and there is a sub section there Solar Power up the top.
Your questions may have been asked and answered already and a bit of reading will give you a general idea of what is required. Perhaps your questions would get more answers there too.
cheers Jaahn
Ally
Most need around 2 kva. Kettle are 1.5 x 2. Coffee makers.
(He said 450?) Wash MAchine, Loaded? x 2.
You'll need a much larger Inverter and a heap more current.
With quick draining of battery Storage.
Generators were around/ LONG before these "Free" campers were.
And will be long after they've gone too.
Some of them, are just another branch of the bloody Greenies.
I was using one 50 plus yrs ago.
Genny's are the only Practical 100% power supply in all clime's.
EVERYWHERE.
Apart from a 240v wall plug that is.
I always carry a 4 1\2 in Grinder, and 1\2 in drill in my tool box for the whingers.
It shuts them up real quick.
Yrs ago. Nicely parked. quiet. Just me and genny. Others far way at other end.
This Frog came along, Parked outside my door with a whizz bang.
5 min's. Knocked on door and said "turn your generator off. It's too noisy.
Yea. Move then.
Closed door.
'Nother 5 or 6 min's Knock. Knock again.
Same thing.
"Piss off". Closed door.
Nother 10 min's he started towards my door.
Out with grinder. Coupla touches on switch.
HE moved.
I was there first.
If others already there. WITH genny's. Not a prob.
Sans Genny's. I go Other end of park.
We ALL entitled to park there. With. or without. Genny.
Some need to accept it.
Eventually. They will.
Some need to accept that too but as an old man myself, admitting I was wrong is an increasingly difficult mindset.
"ere we go.
Wait till you get a week or more of cloudy weather or rain. Cold.
I got both. Solar and genny. and after 50 odd yrs, use both.
House. Boat. Caravan. and UTE.
As do a lot of other people.
We aren't ALL wrong yet.
To be practical and efficient. EVERYTHING (in technology),
comes into it.
SOME. Just haven't been around it long enuff to realise.
and I'm too polite to call people what they are.....
When travelling. you can't carry enough Solar\Battery's
unless having a huuuge van roof or motorhome.
WITH Large pocket for these new tech Battery's.
So unless you plug into a power point. you will NOT
have enough power 24\7. 365 a yr.
Many of us have tried. Hence the genny's.
Including my Wind Genny in shed.
It's sorta, a little bit of common sense to keep missus happy.
Genny. 3 pin plug, or majorly reduced power consumption.
IE.
Home. MY solar runs home completely when sun shines.
PLUS gives cash returns
over the 12 months. (3 out of 4 bills. The CLOUDY ONE)
Complete home. Pool Pumps. AIR COND, and cash into pocket.
When sun at home.
Sun goes on Holiday. I want same service.
Hellooooo Grid. (Our battery bank)
Our Genny's are the grid\Battery bank,
in a mobile environment.
Anybody who wants their full power supply when sun on holiday.
HAS to have the Genny or 3 pin.
Believe me.
We've been doing it a lot of yrs.
Show me a motorhome WITHOUT a genny built in. (Off the shelf.)
Most carry panels too.
THEY know. End of story.
-- Edited by macka17 on Saturday 22nd of July 2017 10:49:55 AM
-- Edited by macka17 on Saturday 22nd of July 2017 10:52:57 AM
The total is half your nominal battery capacity (200Ah).
A 180W solar panel would produce a nominal 15 amps at 12V, so on a good day with say 8 hours of good sunlight you would get 120Ah input.
So, theoretically you could do it, but you would have to have good sunlight and very efficient inverter. Any day when there was less than bright sun for most of the day and your battery charge would start to decline. Two days with minimal sun and your batteries would be completely flat- a very undesireable outcome as it would dramatically shorten your battery life.
These are all rough figures, and somewhat optimistic. REally, what it shows is that your plan is unrealistic. Battery powered inverters are not really a good way of powering major 240V appliances unless you want to add extra batteries and solar panels (and add lots of weight to your van). (Domestic systems powering homes are much bigger and more robust.)
Hope that's useful,
Cheers
Coop