Great trip to Offgrid Power Solutions

C

carolyn

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I’ve done a proper review but more people tend to read this.

We went up on Thursday afternoon and met nigelivy who’d given me all the advice on what we needed to upgrade our lithium system to enable us to monitor it when we’re away from the van and keep the starter battery topped up. We wanted to replace the nasty chinese MPPT controller and BTB to maximise efficiency when we’re in Iceland.

On Thursday RogerIvy took control of the van whilst we went to Swindon outlet. Nick hates shopping but he was very brave once fueled by a full English.

On our return Sam and Roger had completed the work but some of the wiring had been a pain. Roger did a comprehensive handover and we went on our way fully confident we understood it all. Yes you can laugh Lenny HB . The next morning of course I was up early and couldn’t wait to check things. Openened app but couldnt find the Globalink 520. After going mad trying to understand Faraday cages, 4g vs LTE, checking Vodafone reception, getting in the van and checking box, opening the Victron VRM website I was confused and bewildered. Decided it must not be able to connect. Thought we’d have to go back, catastrophising!

Fortunately I emailed Roger before my brain exploded not expecting a reply until Monday and he replied very quickly. He explained again in simple terms how to look at the Globalink 520 data online as a separate thing. Sanity regained. Daughter Claire is right, the technology bit of my brain is missing.

Thanks to Roger and Nigel plus Sam .
 
carolyn said:
I’ve done a proper review but more people tend to read this.

We went up on Thursday afternoon and met nigelivy who’d given me all the advice on what we needed to upgrade our lithium system to enable us to monitor it when we’re away from the van and keep the starter battery topped up. We wanted to replace the nasty chinese MPPT controller and BTB to maximise efficiency when we’re in Iceland.

On Thursday RogerIvy took control of the van whilst we went to Swindon outlet. Nick hates shopping but he was very brave once fueled by a full English.

On our return Sam and Roger had completed the work but some of the wiring had been a pain. Roger did a comprehensive handover and we went on our way fully confident we understood it all. Yes you can laugh Lenny HB . The next morning of course I was up early and couldn’t wait to check things. Openened app but couldnt find the Globalink 520. After going mad trying to understand Faraday cages, 4g vs LTE, checking Vodafone reception, getting in the van and checking box, opening the Victron VRM website I was confused and bewildered. Decided it must not be able to connect. Thought we’d have to go back, catastrophising!

Fortunately I emailed Roger before my brain exploded not expecting a reply until Monday and he replied very quickly. He explained again in simple terms how to look at the Globalink 520 data online as a separate thing. Sanity regained. Daughter Claire is right, the technology bit of my brain is missing.

Thanks to Roger and Nigel plus Sam .
Click to expand...
carolyn can I just ask how much solar you’ve got on the roof and how much lithium? Thanks.
 
Nirvanauk said:
carolyn can I just ask how much solar you’ve got on the roof and how much lithium? Thanks.
Click to expand...
240v lithium Roamer plus 320 solar but it’s a PVC.

We have 1000w inverter but I wish that was bigger. Interestingly we got our Consort in August and withiin a few months their lithium package now comes with a 1500w inverter.

It’s just that it’s quite hard to get a 800w kettle and I’ve not seen a decent coffee machine. We have to make do with a cafetière.

Roger is looking into what would fit as our next upgrade!
 
carolyn said:
240v lithium Roamer plus 320 solar but it’s a PVC.

We have 1000w inverter but I wish that was bigger. Interestingly we got our Consort in August and withiin a few months their lithium package now comes with a 1500w inverter.

It’s just that it’s quite hard to get a 800w kettle and I’ve not seen a decent coffee machine. We have to make do with a cafetière.

Roger is looking into what would fit as our next upgrade!
Click to expand...
Have you heard of the 'Aeropress" Carolyn?
They use ground coffee and make great coffee but without the mess of left over wet and sloppy grinds from a cafetiere, so perfect for a campervan.
We have a 1200 watt inverter that runs our small kettle which when combined with the Aeropress is our perfect camper coffee machine.

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TrudeandDall said:
Have you heard of the 'Aeropress" Carolyn?
They use ground coffee and make great coffee but without the mess of left over wet and sloppy grinds from a cafetiere, so perfect for a campervan.
We have a 1200 watt inverter that runs our small kettle which when combined with the Aeropress is our perfect camper coffee machine.
Click to expand...
Interesting, they do sound less messy than the cafetière! May well give one a go. Thankyou.
 
We have an Outin Nano coffee maker which works quite well for us.
 
carolyn said:
I’d never heard of those before. I’ve been reading about them. Now they sound like a really fancy pants affair!
Click to expand...
Has a rechargeable battery. I boil the kettle and use boiling water in the machine (it can also heat the water itself - I've never done this). Then the battery lasts a long time before recharging - weeks. And it's dead easy to recharge with a USB cable.

Makes an 80ml espresso shot using the capsule of your choice. I top up with hot water from the kettle and that's an Americano.

It takes up very little space, doesn't need any fancy power supply, and makes exactly the same coffee that any other coffee machine gets out of a capsule. So I'm pretty happy with it.
 

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