Charging your onboard batteries from a power bank

[Dorset Diver]

Yesterday I overheard a conversation between a couple of caravaners. One was advocating the use of a large power bank, about 2000 Wh to charge / boost / extend his onboard battery whilst EHU ws not. Just plug it into the EHU socket using an adaptor. Would it work? How well would it work? Would it be worth it? a unit from Costco is about £2800 apparently.

 

[Just smiffy]

£2800 is an awful lot of fit and forget solar upgrades….

 

[The Wino]

Yesterday I overheard a conversation between a couple of caravaners. One was advocating the use of a large power bank, about 2000 Wh to charge / boost / extend his onboard battery whilst EHU ws not. Just plug it into the EHU socket using an adaptor. Would it work? How well would it work? Would it be worth it? a unit from Costco is about £2800 apparently.

You mean they were buying a battery to recharge their battery and were spending £2800 ! What were they smoking!

 

[Cush]

Lots of chat power banks / solar generators here

Power banks

Do I need one of the power banks ie ecoflow, jackery etc don't normally stay off grid but going to france in April and will be staying on Aires some of the time and of course some of the camp sites will only have 6 / 10 amps , next question is are they worth it ?

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

some can be “in line”, charging while letting the 240 v run through it. If the 240 v ”in” goes off then the banks kicks in very quickly.
some getting them as they have a built in pure sIne wave inverter, sizeable lithium battery and maybe even a Bluetooth app. All with a significant warranty. I intend to use one to keep the L A pleasure batteries at / near 100% while in storage. Also have solar input but not clear if it’s as simple as plugging roof mounted panels in as they seem to not accept the higher panel voltages. Feels like an option if yo7 have an older van, crap charger, LA batteries and don’t want to do a significant install on your van for whatever reason.

 

[The Wino]

Lots of chat power banks / solar generators here

Power banks

Do I need one of the power banks ie ecoflow, jackery etc don't normally stay off grid but going to france in April and will be staying on Aires some of the time and of course some of the camp sites will only have 6 / 10 amps , next question is are they worth it ?

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

some can be “in line”, charging while letting the 240 v run through it. If the 240 v ”in” goes off then the banks kicks in very quickly.
some getting them as they have a built in pure sIne wave inverter, sizeable lithium battery and maybe even a Bluetooth app. All with a significant warranty. I intend to use one to keep the L A pleasure batteries at / near 100% while in storage. Also have solar input but not clear if it’s as simple as plugging roof mounted panels in as they seem to not accept the higher panel voltages. Feels like an option if yo7 have an older van, crap charger, LA batteries and don’t want to do a significant install on your van for whatever reason.

What are " pleasure batteries" is it being run as a business!

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[Guigsy]

It can be done. But it's not very efficient on terms of power or cost. Why not just upgrade the onboard batteries so you've always got the extra capacity instead of having to lug around an extra box and plug it in when you're low?

 

[Petroleumblownapart]

Yesterday I overheard a conversation between a couple of caravaners. One was advocating the use of a large power bank, about 2000 Wh to charge / boost / extend his onboard battery whilst EHU ws not. Just plug it into the EHU socket using an adaptor. Would it work? How well would it work? Would it be worth it? a unit from Costco is about £2800 apparently.

It does work but there are losses from the powerbank's internal inverter. Don't expect the same input to the van as the output from the powerbank.

 

[Petroleumblownapart]

It can be done. But it's not very efficient on terms of power or cost. Why not just upgrade the onboard batteries so you've always got the extra capacity instead of having to lug around an extra box and plug it in when you're low?

If you upgrade with regular batteries the weight you lug around is about double that of a powerbank but cheaper. If you upgrade with lithium the weight is about half that of regular batteries with twice the useable capacity and much less cost per Ah over the 10 years expected lifespan. A Powerbank cost about the same as a Lithium stand alone battery but is much more useable without needing a fixed installed inverter. Can also use for mains and emergencies at home.

 

[Guigsy]

If you upgrade with regular batteries the weight you lug around is about double that of a powerbank but cheaper. If you upgrade with lithium the weight is about half that of regular batteries with twice the useable capacity and much less cost per Ah over the 10 years expected lifespan. A Powerbank cost about the same as a Lithium stand alone battery but is much more useable without needing a fixed installed inverter. Can also use for mains and emergencies at home.

You can buy a lot of lithium battery and assorted extras for £2800.

 

[Lenny HB]

2000wh is only 166ah so keeping usage to say 80% that is only 133ah.
With a lithium sitting between 12.8v to 13.2v unless use use a voltage booster its going to take a long time to charge a lead battery.

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[dpsuk999]

Yesterday I overheard a conversation between a couple of caravaners. One was advocating the use of a large power bank, about 2000 Wh to charge / boost / extend his onboard battery whilst EHU ws not. Just plug it into the EHU socket using an adaptor. Would it work? How well would it work? Would it be worth it? a unit from Costco is about £2800 apparently.

Don’t waste your money Roger

 

[Guigsy]

2000wh is only 166ah so keeping usage to say 80% that is only 133ah.
With a lithium sitting between 12.8v to 13.2v unless use use a voltage booster its going to take a long time to charge a lead battery.

I assume they'll plug it in via EHU. Charge faster, but probably lose another chunk of efficiency.

 

[Lenny HB]

I assume they'll plug it in via EHU. Charge faster, but probably lose another chunk of efficiency.

No point in using the power bank of plugged into EHU.

 

[Guigsy]

No point in using the power bank of plugged into EHU.

Plug the EHU of the caravan into the 230v socket on the powerbank. Drain the powerbank to charge the onboard battery.

 

[Carpmart]

If you upgrade with regular batteries the weight you lug around is about double that of a powerbank but cheaper. If you upgrade with lithium the weight is about half that of regular batteries with twice the useable capacity and much less cost per Ah over the 10 years expected lifespan. A Powerbank cost about the same as a Lithium stand alone battery but is much more useable without needing a fixed installed inverter. Can also use for mains and emergencies at home.

10 years life… more like the life of the host vehicle they are fitted too!

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[Petroleumblownapart]

2000wh is only 166ah so keeping usage to say 80% that is only 133ah.
With a lithium sitting between 12.8v to 13.2v unless use use a voltage booster its going to take a long time to charge a lead battery.

Powerbank usually has an inverter for 240v output although not a huge capacity it will tickle a flat engine battery back to life easily.

 

[Lenny HB]

Powerbank usually has an inverter for 240v output although not a huge capacity it will tickle a flat engine battery back to life easily.

I was thinking of using the 12v output, must have been brain dead when I replied.
But that would waste even more power a bit of a non starter, £2800 to charge one 100ah battery, more money than sense as they say.

 

[Reallyretired]

It works. I have done it myself with the motorhome in storage if snow has stopped solar charging. It not very efficient but a way of taking your home lecky to a van in storage without ehu.

 

[Dorset Diver]

Don’t waste your money Roger

I had no intention of doing so Dave. I was just intrigued at what was being suggested and I got the impression that the advocate had already spent his hard earned. It was more interesting than the conversation their bosses were having. Something about bras, panties, and liners with wings would you believe? Whatever next

 

[CazPaul]

You can get them a lot cheaper than £2800

I’ve spoke to a few who aren’t good with DIY so they have to pay plenty to upgrade solar, batteries and when they change vans that’s where they benefit.
Also they tell me they use them in the house sometimes.

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[Hoovie]

I had no intention of doing so Dave. I was just intrigued at what was being suggested and I got the impression that the advocate had already spent his hard earned. It was more interesting than the conversation their bosses were having. Something about bras, panties, and liners with wings would you believe? Whatever next

liners with wings?
Presumably Morelo Liners? thought those bits that came out were slideouts, not wings?

 

[Cush]

What are " pleasure batteries" is it being run as a business!

Do you not enjoy the use you get from yours?

 

[The Wino]

Do you not enjoy the use you get from yours?

I just wondered what was causing the drain on the batteries!

 

[Just smiffy]

liners with wings?
Presumably Morelo Liners? thought those bits that came out were slideouts, not wings?

Red bull gives you wings….

 

[Fatboy]

I have this set up and took a lot of heat for it from the keyboard warriors, here is what I have. We have a new swift Kontiki that came with two brand new batteries I didn’t want to just junk. It has 200w of Solar too which is great in summer but in winter we struggle a bit. £1100 later I bought the Ecoflow Delta 2, it’s now only £899 just dropped. This has around a 70ah battery in it but realitically I get 50ah before it needs recharging. So off grid I can blur this in and get a 50ah top up, it is light at 12kg so can be carried to a bar or coffee shop. A chat with the owner and a couple of quid in the charity tin and I’m fully charged in an hour. As well as this it’s been used when we are at rallies to charge electric bikes, maybe 4 x charge in the bikes I’ve done, it’s gave us light during a power cut at home too. So the are worth considering but check out the delta 2.

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