The MD14 seems adequate for my needs.

 

EDIT: Oh, noes, it seems they are no longer selling that model. Need another $300 to go up to larger size than I need :(

-- Edited by ProspectiveNomad on Tuesday 14th of May 2024 03:36:15 PM

The "power stations" you talk about are an unknown (cheap and nasty?) battery in an expensive box with a pile of mostly not needed plugs and sockets attached.
You are much better deciding exactly what your energy needs are and buying better quality gear that actually meets those needs.

You will find that while the Engle is well regarded it has very poor efficiency compared with modern domestic fridges. And it is hugely expensive by comparison too.
Consider a 4 star domestic fridge/freezer about 200L plus a small 12/240V inverter plus a pile of solar (you can not have too much) and a decent quality Li battery.

Engle $1200, "power station" $1500. Domestic fridge $600, inverter under $300, ....................

Do your research. Do not rush into this.
Cheers,
Peter

No, I mean domestic = household fridge.
Nothing to do with your starter battery. You need a seperate battery to run your van accessories, but the "power station" you propose is a very poor and expensive choice.
You also need a reliable and adequate method(s) of charging this battery on a daily basis.
Cheers,
Peter

Are We Lost wrote:

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ProspectiveNomad. I think it would be a good idea if you said what size van you are thinking of. Do you mean a motorised van or something you tow? The fridge you mentioned is a 14 litre portable fridge ..... very different from what I was thinking and what Peter proposed.

What does "urban stealth camping" mean? Living in the van on someone's property.

-- Edited by Are We Lost on Tuesday 14th of May 2024 06:28:45 PM

---

 

My way of thinking "urban stealth camping" means parking in a suburban street, carpark or park somewhere so interested in what that means as well.

-- Edited by Corndoggy on Tuesday 14th of May 2024 06:36:51 PM

Corndoggy wrote:

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Are We Lost wrote:

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ProspectiveNomad. I think it would be a good idea if you said what size van you are thinking of. Do you mean a motorised van or something you tow? The fridge you mentioned is a 14 litre portable fridge ..... very different from what I was thinking and what Peter proposed.

What does "urban stealth camping" mean? Living in the van on someone's property.

---

My way of thinking "urban stealth camping" means parking in a suburban street, carpark or park somewhere, so interested in what that means as well.

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Yes that is what  it  means, often  using  a  commercial  type panel  van or similar.  They seem obsessed with the idea in America  !! I have  done something  similar  in  my Sprinter bus  when  it suited me even in inner city Sydney suburbs  when  visiting  people but hardly consider it a  way of life.  

But getting to  the  real  question  of  power  for a  small  Engel  MD14F  which  is what the  OP was  talking  about for his medicine  and running a laptop for 10hrs  a  day.  

You  do  need to  have real storage for  electricity  to  run those things for long hrs.  And  a few lights also. The  easiest way  is  to buy  a decent  storage battery and some way to  charge  it and  set up some basic connections. Solar is good and so  also is  connecting to the vehicle battery alternator  which is an excellent source of power when driving and for emergency  if raining  etc. 

A power station as they are called is an expensive way  to get a deep cycle  battery of limited capacity, but may be covenient to use.  I might be temped by a larger one in some circumstances. However this person does not seem to be going to use the other features much. These  power  stations are flavor of the month in  the  USA too but the name  is misleading as  they are  just a battery in a box with integrated support functions. They do  not make  any power  at all just store  it and provide ways to use it.

Good luck. Give it more thought is my suggestion. Jaahn

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-- Edited by Jaahn on Tuesday 14th of May 2024 07:41:43 PM

-- Edited by Jaahn on Tuesday 14th of May 2024 07:48:32 PM

That particular "power station" I referenced above has this spec if you click on the learn more. $1100 Seems a lot of money for a heap of small round cells of only 45Ahr capacity @25.6V. But your choice. It is hard to see that lasting a day supporting a small Engle and 10hrs using a laptop. Check it out before putting out the money is my advice.

Jaahn

SPECIFICATIONS 

Capacity:	1152Wh (25.6V/45Ah)
Battery Type:	LiFePo4

 

 

-- Edited by Jaahn on Wednesday 15th of May 2024 08:56:31 AM

All we have is a Gel battery, actually 4 x 26AH (redundancy) due to limited space being able to fit around the car, would be cheaper to have one large battery. DC-DC charger for charging while the engine is running.

 

Portable solar panels, which were not used once in 3 months travelling because the battery capacity & DC-DC charger were large enough for the fridge. We moved every 4 days, technically 7 days reserve battery capacity for inclement weather.

 

 

Power boxes all in one are of no use unless you can charge them up.  

 

You need need to be able to charge things & have enough capacity for inclement weather which could go for week or more. But let's say a week for most situations.

 

Buy a quality battery & Victron MPPT controller, & solar panels. You will have a better system that you can actually charge & cheaper!

 

Being for medicine, obviously you require redundancy, so factor in duplicates within your set-up, which can be divided if there is a failure somewhere.

 

2 controllers, 2 batteries, 2 or 4 or more solar panels.

 

Extra insulation on the fridge can reduce power consumption considerably & a lot lighter & cheaper than twice the battery capacity.

https://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t65059593/extra-fridge-insulation-wattage-test/

My understanding of "stealth camping", at least in AU, is that it's parking overnight in areas where you shouldn't. Typically arrive late and leave early. But otherwise doing no harm. I didn't interpret it as using water, power or faciities which you weren't supposed to or dodgng paying a fee. Anyone who uses a donation camp and doesn't make a donatipn would be guilty of that. (For the record, I don't stealth camp - even if I was tempted to it's not really an option with my rig, it would be too darn obvious,)

Interesting.
The mentality of how RV travelling is treated in Australia is quite different to that in most of Europe.
We spent a night in a fast food shop car park. There was a section set aside for RVs. It had free WiFi.
Another was the car park in a university in a German town. It was available free to RVs after 5pm. It had a dump point and water available in one corner.
Most towns had a free spot for RVs within walking distance of the town centre. Mind you, EVERY vehicle is FULLY self contained and motorhomes outnumber caravans by 10 to 1. So maybe it is a caravan problem? In England, where there are lots of caravans, there is almost no free camping.

This was the car park of a ski resort in the French alps.
The sign translates to "Reserved for motorhomes".

Cheers,

Peter

-- Edited by Peter_n_Margaret on Thursday 16th of May 2024 11:14:39 AM

bristte wrote:

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My understanding of "stealth camping", at least in AU, is that it's parking overnight in areas where you shouldn't. Typically arrive late and leave early. But otherwise doing no harm. I didn't interpret it as using water, power or faciities which you weren't supposed to or dodgng paying a fee. Anyone who uses a donation camp and doesn't make a donatipn would be guilty of that. (For the record, I don't stealth camp - even if I was tempted to it's not really an option with my rig, it would be too darn obvious,)

---

 We have done it a few times due to being in town too late at restaurants etc.

 

Also did it to go on the Spirit of Tasmania, in a state suite at the pointy end, it's not money. Just poor associated services.

 

Campgrounds were full. Not driving to the outback in kangaroo carnage times. Every party suffers.

 

We use toiletmap.gov.au as required around the country. My Council on Sydney Northern Beaches has more toilets than a Blind Mullet would have issues finding!

 

All paid by us ratepayers. We have no issues paying for toilets facilities is our area for blowins etc. Swings & roundabouts.

peter67 wrote:

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with 100amp solar                                                                                                                                                                    

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 I always say you can not have too much solar. We have 1160W, but we can not match 100A. 

Cheers,

Peter

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:

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peter67 wrote:

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with 100amp solar                                                                                                                                                                    

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 I always say you can not have too much solar. We have 1160W, but we can not match 100A. 

Cheers,

Peter

---

 Corrected sir.

peter67 wrote:

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 Corrected sir.

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 Good job. 

Cheers,

Peter

Hi ProspectiveNomad,
I know there are homeless people here in Townsville who are living in cars, tents because of the extreme shortage of rental houses - are you in that situation? If so your needs are far different to most members of this forum. True, many have sold up & are living in their caravans, some on pensions, travelling around & enjoying life as it comes.

To live in a Honda Odyssey, it's not going to be really comfortable unless it's fitted with a tent that can attach to the vehicle. You don't mention toileting - that will be an issue. And another is your security - there are some fairly unsavory types around these days.
And to live "stealthily", you'll find that councils, roadhouses are clamping down on those people who have abused the facilities in the recent past. We all have to pay something to live & it should be comfortable & enjoyable at the same time.

Along with the others above, I suggest that you do some thinking about your future "mobile home" & what you are going to need - without bludging on the rest of society.