check out the new remote control Jockey Wheel SmartBar rearview170 Beam Communications SatPhone Shop Topargee products Enginesaver Low Water Alarms
Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Click here for the Grey Nomads website -> The Grey Nomads Forum -> Solo Grey Nomads -> Happy & hungry for adventure but still confused :-)
Post Info TOPIC: Happy & hungry for adventure but still confused :-)
Satorian


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 5
Date:
Happy & hungry for adventure but still confused :-)
Permalink  

Hello everyone, 

This is my first post on this forum, before (tomorrow) I'll begin my permanent 'journey/adventure' & although, every good wish will be welcome & appreciated, at this stage, I need practical advice/suggestion of someone who been there & done it, about which solar and/or generator 'system' could be suitable for someone like me, who will use his FF station wagon as a bedroom, kitchen & dining plus small (full build) box trailer as a storage room, so, as you can see there will be a little room to put this system inside that car and/or trailer. Because I'm vegan/fruitarian, at this stage practically, I'll need power for using my laptop for at least 5 hours per day & of course charge my mobile as well Every information/advice/ suggestion will be very helpful & much appreciated.

Let me wish you a happy & healthy travelling & hopefully, one day we'll meet somewhere to share our experiences

Satorian

 

 



__________________
"Those who approach life like a child, playing a game, moving & pushing pieces, possess the power of kings" - Anonymous
Tony Bev


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 5388
Date:
Permalink  

Hello, Satorian

May I be one of the first to welcome you to the forum

May I also ask, what a FF station wagon is?
I have just googled it, and came up with Ferrari ff station wagon, if this is so, then half your luck

The minimum equipment, and probably the cheapest cost, will be a spiral wound hybrid starting, deep cycle AGM battery, as your normal vehicle engine battery.

Similar to the one in the link below, but you will get them cheaper than the one advertised, if you shop around
Optima Spiral Wound AGM Battery

From 2011, I used this same battery in my car, (55 amp hours and 830 cold crank amps) while towing a small caravan
I had 4 led lights, laptop, phone, and TV, in that caravan, all working off the car engine battery
As I no longer have that car, the battery is now transplanted into the wifes, 6 cylinder petrol engine Ford Falcon

If you are going to be stopped in the same place for many days, and you have the trailer, then perhaps a deep cycle battery with some solar on a roof rack fitted to the trailer

If you wish to go the solar panel, and deep cycle battery, road
Then asking your question, in the techies section, will probably give a better answer than I can give

 



__________________

Tony

It cost nothing to be polite
Dougwe


Chief one feather

Status: Offline
Posts: 17409
Date:
Permalink  

Welcome to the gang Satorian, enjoy here and out in the playground.

If you go into the 'Techies' section of this great forum there is a 'Sticky' at the top dedicated to Solar Power with heaps of info for the reading.

If you go to the thick blue line above there is a 'search' box, type in Generators and heaps of info there as well. The subject generates (oops) a lot of discussion and might be worth ducking for cover and I tell you that for free.

 

 

Keep Safe on the roads and out there.



__________________

Live Life On Your Terms

DOUG  Chief One Feather  (Losing feathers with age)

TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy

DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV  (with some changes)

 
macka17


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 3066
Date:
Permalink  

Still a few bucks left.

Surf bars on top of wagon or trlr.
$200 2 x 2.5 rollout on one side. with a Velcro tent assy that sticks to it.

Sun shade during day. stretch out with bed in tent at night.
80\100\130w panel on top (of wagon or trlr?. depending.)
System that small. I'd find a Yammie or Kwakka 1\2-3\4kw genny
with 1\2 smart charger of around 20\30a.
Spiral fold shower \ tut tent. with black shower bag.
OR 4 in sewer pipe painted Matt black for hot water.
I took one of them round on bike travel.
NOTHING like a refreshing shower/ Cold or hot b4 rolling in for the night.
Remember a small bag of LIME too with folding shovel for tut.

__________________
Possum3


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 8733
Date:
Permalink  

Agree totally with Macka on side mount awning and surf bars Best Tut though; Folding type see www.raysoutdoors.com.au/Product/Wanderer-Foldable-Camp-Toilet/345475 combined with a www.raysoutdoors.com.au/Product/Primus-20L-Solar-Shower/158203 in sunny area of car combined with ensuite tent www.raysoutdoors.com.au/Product/Wild-Country-Pop-up-Ensuite-Single/380088 Still use the folding shovel and we use a paper bag liner for no 2's.

I used the one camping store site for eze of photos - But you can get all of the above at many outlets, camping shops, K Mart, Disposals. For instance the ensuite tent we have cost $19.00 at Anaconda on special.

__________________

Possum; AKA:- Ali El-Aziz Mohamed Gundawiathan

Sent from my imperial66 typewriter using carrier pigeon, message sticks and smoke signals.
Satorian


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 5
Date:
Permalink  

Hello again everyone & I'm sorry for a delay in my response, but sometimes with our health we should expect unexpected
Speaking of clarification for Guru, of my 'FF', it's only short expression for 'Ford Falcon', lol
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your responses & provided information, what all is much appreciated.

Safe travelling & maybe one day I'll be able to shake your hand & say thank you in person,

Satorian


__________________
"Those who approach life like a child, playing a game, moving & pushing pieces, possess the power of kings" - Anonymous
Hewy54


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 344
Date:
Permalink  

Some good advice so far, but I am confused as to why you need to power a laptop for 5 hours a day (because you are a vegan).

__________________
Life's too short to drink cheap Scotch
Satorian


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 5
Date:
Permalink  

Hi Tony,

Thanks again for your willingness to help me with my dilemma & following someone's suggestion, I'd like to ask you, to share with me all avaliable details about putting that battery into your wife's FF, which very likely is similar to mine, so, it's possible that your information could be very useful for me & will be much appreciated.

Thanks again & safe travelling,

Adam (Satorian) 

 

 

 



__________________
"Those who approach life like a child, playing a game, moving & pushing pieces, possess the power of kings" - Anonymous
macka17


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 3066
Date:
Permalink  

Huwey.
Laptop and 5 hrs a day.
He mentioned Health.

I've just spent near 7 months with very little mobility. First 3 1\2 months were Bed. lounge. Computer.
Dining table. bed.

It catches up with us all at some time or other. Me. I was super fit all my life.
Currently. Nearer to a vegetable. But it's coming good again.
He possibly in similar situation.

Definitely Surf bars. Panel and 2 x roll out though. Forget trlr.

Tent off one side of roll out. Shade mesh tent for other side Sleep in whichever needed for privacy. Panel and 2 x 4in Sewer pipe up there. (Shower water. Fishing gear.)

Dual Battery electronic controller to cover charging rear battery. Camp Stove. 12v Fridge 

150\300w Inverter for charging electronics and small 240v fan (for windless comfort)

Foldup bed with H\Density mattress for decent sleep.OFF ground. (Spiders\Snakes, etc)

Those tents seal you off from them. Fold up shower tent "gold" at end of sweaty day.

Stronger rear coils and PUMP UP Shocks for better stability when travelling.

Anti-Roll system fitted under rear for better cornering. 

Certainly help when towing with long overhang. (Fitted to mates Falcon Wagon yrs ago.)

we could go on forever.

Differing levels of comfort. reliability Wallet volume. Wife's allowing of.

 



-- Edited by macka17 on Sunday 29th of October 2017 03:59:55 PM

__________________
Satorian


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 5
Date:
Permalink  

Hi Hewy54,

To answer your question, the major reason for me to use (on average) my laptop for around 5 hours per day is that in service I provide some people with, there is a  need for me to 'check' something every 4 hours plus of course some emails to write and/or respond to - that's all & now hopefully, your nights will be more peaceful, lol

Take care & enjoy your life & travelling to the max, like there is no tomorrow,

Adam



__________________
"Those who approach life like a child, playing a game, moving & pushing pieces, possess the power of kings" - Anonymous
Tony Bev


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 5388
Date:
Permalink  

Satorian wrote:

Hi Tony,

Thanks again for your willingness to help me with my dilemma & following someone's suggestion, I'd like to ask you, to share with me all avaliable details about putting that battery into your wife's FF, which very likely is similar to mine, so, it's possible that your information could be very useful for me & will be much appreciated.

Thanks again & safe travelling,

Adam (Satorian) 

 

 

 

 Hi Adam

Usual disclaimer, that I am not associated with anyone, selling anything

Sorry for the late reply, I do not (for whatever reason), seem to go on the Internet while travelling, as the wife is usually playing her Internet games

A picture tells a thousand words

This is the battery in the wifes 2006 BF Ford Falcon

The earth lead was not long enough, so I fitted another one, the original is tucked down somewhere
The earth lead went to the mudguard and then onto the engine block
I just put a new longer earth lead from the mudguard to the battery, and left the original from the mudguard to the junction box behind the battery

The battery fitted into the tray very nicely
I could not find a battery bigger than 55 amp hours, which would fit into the battery tray, of my old 1993 EB Ford Falcon

This battery is slightly shorter in height than the original
I just stuck a piece of 16 mm MDF Board underneath the battery clamp
Looking at it now a 12 mm piece would have done the job

The green coloured thing on the earth terminal, is an el cheapo isolator, so that I can isolate the battery when the car is parked up, as we go away from time to time

In about 2011 my enquiries told me, that this was the best battery for my car, towing my caravan

I had a box made up which stopped the current, when the battery dropped down to 11.5 volts, in the caravan
This showed 11.75 volts at the battery
The car never failed to start, at this low voltage

I done the lap in 2013/14 with this battery
I put it in my motorhome as a supplement to the original 100 AH GEL Battery, isolated from each other with 4 way switches
When the original battery in the wifes car started playing up, I fitted this battery in her car, and got new ones for the motorhome

 

Yello top battery 1 (1).JPG

Yello top battery 2 (2).JPG



__________________

Tony

It cost nothing to be polite
Satorian


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 5
Date:
Permalink  

Hi Tony,

Thank you for your response, provided inforamtion/explantion & especially, for your willingness

to help me with my small dilemma, what all is much appreciated.

Safe travelling & all of the best in everything that you do

Adam



__________________
"Those who approach life like a child, playing a game, moving & pushing pieces, possess the power of kings" - Anonymous
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
Click here for the Grey Nomads website -> The Grey Nomads Forum -> Solo Grey Nomads -> Happy & hungry for adventure but still confused :-)
Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us
Purchase Grey Nomad bumper stickers Read our daily column, the Nomad News The Grey Nomad's Guidebook