Help with wild camping for longer.

[Belledog]

How can we make ourselves more self sufficient so that we can wild camp for more than a couple of nights. We have 2 agm 95amp batteries and a 120 watt solar panel. We have 2 TVs, iPads and phones and led lights. There’s just the 2 of us. We we’re considering an extra solar panel but not sure if we would be better changing the batteries to lithium and a b2b charger. I’m not techie so please, layman’s terms only
karen.

 

[Nanniemate]

How can we make ourselves more self sufficient so that we can wild camp for more than a couple of nights. We have 2 agm 95amp batteries and a 120 watt solar panel. We have 2 TVs, iPads and phones and led lights. There’s just the 2 of us. We we’re considering an extra solar panel but not sure if we would be better changing the batteries to lithium and a b2b charger. I’m not techie so please, layman’s terms only
karen.

WOW, you have more stuff in your van than I have in the house I'm not techie either and still learning I my getting solar panels fitted this year (if they let us out of Wales)

I saw this on a boredom shopping expedition of amazon thought it may help as it would save some of your big solar panel for other things I noticed that you can get them for ipads and things too.
But I am sure someone here will know about that

Amazon product ASIN B07SPJQDPP
Enjoy your off grid I managed it nearly 2 weeks on battery, gas and charging when moving on my first 2 week journey. But I use very few gadgets and didn't turn the TV on and still had lots of battery life left the only gadgets I carry phone x 2 (work & personal) kindle, but read books and swop them at coop charity shops as I go along or with fellow travellers.

The other thing I do is use other fixed loos as often as possible (Mac Donald's and the like) and use as little grey water waste and I am not sure what the response to this will be but

I have visited public loos first thing in the morning (when no one else is about) taking my cassette with me and cleaning materials, lifting the seat, emptying the cassette down the loo, making sure there is no spillages and clean up afterwards. One loo even charged 50p for the privilege.(I was happy to pay)

I have not tried doing this at MacDonalds yet ............................

 

[Garry - June]

Would highly recommend adding a portable suitcase type panel to your solar set up....especially during non summer months as this can be directed totally towards the suns trajectory and harness more power than roof mounted panels....and you can never have too much battery storage capacity..

 

[Minxy]

I saw this on a boredom shopping expedition of amazon thought it may help as it would save some of your big solar panel for other things I noticed that you can get them for ipads and things too.
But I am sure someone here will know about that

For those who have ad-blocker enabled below is an image of the Amazon product referred to:

It is expensive for what it is so It would be better to spend the same dosh on a larger fixed solar panel then you don't have to worry about carting a portable one around, setting it up and moving it to keep facing the sun, or security so it doesn't get nicked. With an extra fixed panel on the roof it would generate power as soon from dawn to dusk, not just when you got set the portable one out.

 

[nicholsong]

Would highly recommend adding a portable suitcase type panel to your solar set up....especially during non summer months as this can be directed totally towards the suns trajectory and harness more power than roof mounted panels....and you can never have too much battery storage capacity..

If you are prepared to stay with the MH all day and swivel it 15 degrees per hour.

Seems to restrict sight-seeing.

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[Lenny HB]

For those who have ad-blocker enabled below is an image of the Amazon product referred to:

View attachment 398046

It is expensive for what it is so It would be better to spend the same dosh on a larger fixed solar panel then you don't have to worry about carting a portable one around, setting it up and moving it to keep facing the sun, or security so it doesn't get nicked. With an extra fixed panel on the roof it would generate power as soon from dawn to dusk, not just when you got set the portable one out.

Agree a 100 w fixed panel half the price fix and forget. Motohoming is about enjoying yourself not flapping about moving solar panels around all day.

 

[autorouter]

Would highly recommend adding a portable suitcase type panel to your solar set up....especially during non summer months as this can be directed totally towards the suns trajectory and harness more power than roof mounted panels....and you can never have too much battery storage capacity..

Actually in the non-summer months it's possible to get more energy by hanging the panel vertically rather than horizontally. Moreso as you go further north.

 

[Wellington]

I mainly use these fixes for convenience, but I reckon from previous experience we could probably wild camp for a week if need be. I can certainly last on the water and toilet cassette normally, but usually use site toilets/out and about during the day, so I don’t know if the loo would cope. I empty it at every possible opportunity, so I don’t know how fast it fills. (The caravan one used to last a week, when we used it all the time, but we still had days out)

Paper plates, wooden cutlery, paper towels and disposable wipes. Massively reduces washing up. I dislike the feel of the wooden cutlery, and don’t use it for eating, but I give them to the Girlchild (who doesn’t wash up and eats more meals than me!) and use it for all the other spreading/stirring/prodding while preparing food. I did see disposable chopping boards, which appeal to me, as I am constantly chopping fruit and prepping little snacks for a child, but I think the savings would be negligible if you aren’t! I use sugarcane plates (which are nicely rigid and burn well if you have no rubbish disposal and can have a bbq or campfire) beech cutlery (also burns well), a paper towel dispenser and basics range anti bac wipes for wiping down surfaces and cleaning bathrooms and baby wipes for people. I am happy to miss the odd shower and have a baby-wipe wash some days and have very dry hair, so I only wash it a couple of times a week normally (Some people swear by dry shampoo. I’ve never tried it). If I am camping in a group, we use insulated paper coffee cups for drinks and paper ones for the kids, but for just me I draw the line there, as I like my coffee out of a porcelain mug and my gin in crystal (and yes, I carry both in the MH and don’t mind washing them up. YMMV!)

I’m guessing gas isn’t an issue, but we carry and use a tiny charcoal bbq from ikea, which folds up really small and is fine for cooking for two. It means less pan washing, again depending on what you cook. (Wooden bbq skwewers here). Precooking meals you can reheat one way or another (also saves on washing up the cooking stuff) and might save on power, depending on how you usually cook or reheat. Things like jacket potatoes take a lot more power to bake than warm, so I do them six at a time in halogen when on power so I can reheat quickly anytime (my kid practically lives on them, and I do this even at home). I’ve recently seen a Ridge Monkey which people use as a kind of griddle/oven on a gas hob, too.

We are both heavy device users and each use full phone and iPad charges daily. I carry two ‘lipstick’ chargers with us, which hold two full charges for a phone or one for an iPad each. (You can get bigger ones. I have the small because I use them for maps while we are out sightseeing) I haven’t found a good solar one, but my cousin swears by hers. I must find out which it is. I also have a Biolite stove, which has a charging port. I confess I never yet used it for charging anything. I wonder whether something other than the TV for watching things would help you? Again, I don’t have normal telly at home, so I’m in uncharted waters here. We ‘managed’ by taking a laptop with us for DVDs, Netflix and Amazon purchases (needs mifi) and by streaming on the laptop (another reason why the phones need to be charged). I keep seeing ads for the new chrome book which is supposed to have oodles of battery power and allow you to watch Netflix offline. I also have a portable car DVD player for my daughter, although we leave it plugged in, I’m sure ou can get battery only ones. It also may be worth updating your devices. Phones especially have much improved battery capacity year on year, so a later model may need charging less frequently. The batteries also lose capacity, so even a new battery may give you longer between charges.

I’ll put some pics in another post. This one is going on a bit!

 

[Garry - June]

If you are prepared to stay with the MH all day and swivel it 15 degrees per hour.

Seems to restrict sight-seeing.

lol....you don't have to be that silly about it.... works fine for us.....and no we don't move it every 15 minutes.... and no we don't use it if away from the van either... and as for faffing about setting it up...takes less than 2 minutes as we have a plug in connector .. works brilliantly alongside our 300w of roof mounted panels.. apart from water and emptying we can sit as long as we like off grid..

 

[Belledog]

Agree with that strongly re solar first. 300w ideal for grey days but read up very carefully about lithium batteries before you take the plunge. Not as simple as some of the sellers imply.

Please explain don. I’m new to all this so every bit of info is appreciated

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[Compactliner]

How can we make ourselves more self sufficient so that we can wild camp for more than a couple of nights. We have 2 agm 95amp batteries and a 120 watt solar panel. We have 2 TVs, iPads and phones and led lights. There’s just the 2 of us. We we’re considering an extra solar panel but not sure if we would be better changing the batteries to lithium and a b2b charger. I’m not techie so please, layman’s terms only
karen.

unless you're charging bike batteries via an inverter, 120w solar should easily replenish your daily normal simple 12v usage of tv, lighting, water pump and charging ipads and phones.
you only need loads more solar if you are using loads more power, like charging bike batteries or othe kit via an inverter...
we had 8 weeks in Spain this winter and didnt need to turn the mains charger on, we were fully charged by about 10:30 each morning.....and we only have 100w panel....
ok, in the uk you may spend more time in the van, especially in winter when you will be getting less power.....but lets face it.....id rather be in Spain at that time of year....

 

[Don Campbell]

Please explain don. I’m new to all this so every bit of info is appreciated

OK you could start by reading this article http://www.aandncaravanservices.co.uk/lithium-batteries.php which explains some of the disadvantages as well as the advantages.

 

[Mr mrs tupcox]

We have 300w solar and 2 ×125 amph battries. For the hab side .lights pump tv heating .

Stand alone system .I then put another solar panel 150w on roof to another regulator to 2 .×110 amph battries. To a inverter 2ooo 3000w.
For any 240v items micro wave, hover hair dryer .charging phones also charges engine batt .
We travel all year around 250 nights a year and never hook up.

 

[peterc10]

Actually in the non-summer months it's possible to get more energy by hanging the panel vertically rather than horizontally. Moreso as you go further north.

Not unless you spend all your time moving it to follow the sun round

 

[Paul and Val]

Bit the same selfish attitude as that of those who don't carry any equipment to help when stuck on wet grass because there will always be a gullible tugger in his big 4X4 to pull me out.

Am I the only person to think that is a rather sad comment touching on being self righteous?

I have no special 'equipment' to help me on wet grass for the simple reason that I never have been stuck. I do have a friend who carries a second spare wheel 'just in case' but really.........If helping other people in trouble is such an arduous task just say no rather than moaning about it, but assisting other human beings who are less perfect than you has a certain pleasure of its own..............

I always remember when I was a very young man with no money visiting a Sunday Church service in Lincoln that I had never been to before. I came out to find a flat tyre and when I got the spare out that was not only as bald as I am now but also flat. Literally the whole congregation came to my aid. One made us coffee, another called a friend who had a garage, another took the wheel and in 30 minutes we were on our way.

It was 40 years ago but still brings a smile to me and not one person chastised me about not having the 'right equipment'.

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[Minxy]

"... and in 30 minutes we ..."

You can't leave it like that ... what happened!!!!

 

[peterc10]

Oh Lenny why not.. you obviously don't rally or THS. The number of times I have loaned out my aquaroll to those who could not get their van to the water tap.

I agree with Lenny on the aquaroll issue. Designed specifically for caravans where the water system did not have an inboard tank and relied upon dropping a hose, or sometimes the pump itself, into an external water container. It takes up much to much room in a motorhome, and many do not even have a locker big enough for it. And getting the water from the aquaroll into the fresh water tank without spilling half of it needs muscles I no longer have.

Motorhomes with their internal tanks can easily be moved to a tap to fill up. In fact many of us rarely stay long enough in one place to empty our tank and just fill up our water tank on our way out to somewhere else. If we do stay for a while at a rally or THS we have hoses or a watering which will solve the problem. We also carry a Fiamma water carrier on wheels, which takes up a lot less room than an aquaroll in our garage and is a lot lighter. But we rarely use it and only carry it because we have the room for it.

 

[Jim]

but I got impression OP wanted to know how to extend his time when on site and not how to charge things up in transit.

Charging in transit is a great way to extend time on site

OK you could start by reading this article http://www.aandncaravanservices.co.uk/lithium-batteries.php which explains some of the disadvantages as well as the advantages.

unfortunately much of that article in an unfounded rant, and is certainly not authorative

 

[autorouter]

unfortunately much of that article in an unfounded rant, and is certainly not authorative

Agreed. That article though well-meaning, has at least one big error that weakens his case. However in the article he mentions Victron as a reputable battery manufacturer. Here is an article from Victron with their view. It compares AGM and Lithium for many applications, including motorhome and marine, right up to container-size systems to run a big outdoor event or a small village.

Batteries: Lithium-ion vs AGM - Victron Energy

In light of my last post concerning the use of the DC or Hybrid concept for electrical power, it occurred to me that the system could also have used monobloc AGM/Gel batteries or indeed a bank of long life 2 volt gel cells. In that case why was Lithium chosen? Hopefully this post may go […]

www.victronenergy.com

 

[leggings]

Beat me to it, as that is what will govern our length of time truly of grid.

Put plug in sink to wash don’t leave tap running. For shower wet down turn off soap down then rinse off. While waiting for hot water to come through fill the kettle to use later but boil water before drinking as it will have come from hot water tank which can harbour germs.
A water pump on the end of a pipe plugged into cigarette light socket to transfer from heave water carrier to van. Maybe your doing all this but hope it helps if your not.

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[PeteH]

Charging in transit is a great way to extend time on site




unfortunately much of that article in an unfounded rant, and is certainly not authorative

But most of the rant appears to be directed to the Marketing. Not so much the actual differences in the batteries.?. Marketing is an art form these days, You can even get a Degree in it!.

 

[poppycamper]

Am I the only person to think that is a rather sad comment touching on being self righteous?

I have no special 'equipment' to help me on wet grass for the simple reason that I never have been stuck. I do have a friend who carries a second spare wheel 'just in case' but really.........If helping other people in trouble is such an arduous task just say no rather than moaning about it, but assisting other human beings who are less perfect than you has a certain pleasure of its own..............

I always remember when I was a very young man with no money visiting a Sunday Church service in Lincoln that I had never been to before. I came out to find a flat tyre and when I got the spare out that was not only as bald as I am now but also flat. Literally the whole congregation came to my aid. One made us coffee, another called a friend who had a garage, another took the wheel and in 30 minutes we were on our way.

It was 40 years ago but still brings a smile to me and not one person chastised me about not having the 'right equipment'.

I find that a rather harsh and unjust comment.
I certainly would never sit back and watch somebody struggle and as an ex tugger with "a large 4X4 " I have come to the rescue many many times to both Moterhomers and tuggers who may have been bogged down.
You are obviously been very very lucky or you don't venture off the hard stuff.
No my comments we're based on both myself and lots of other 4x4 owners who are happy to help out BUT are floored when after dragging a moho back to terra firma and I would say something like if you had taken simple precautions like (for instance) using wooden planks to stop you sinking into the grass you may not be stuck his reply is "Why should I bother to have the hassle and expense of carrying wood planks when I know there will always be someone like you around to save my bacon..
PS why did I have a 4X4..?because I prefer to be self reliant and not have to bother others to get me out off a pickle... so I carry sand boards and bread boards to get me out and an aquaroll to fill me up..

 

[peterc10]

But most of the rant appears to be directed to the Marketing. Not so much the actual differences in the batteries.?. Marketing is an art form these days, You can even get a Degree in it!.

But he seems to accept without question the marketing blurb of some, whilst dismissing it from others, the latter especially eddievanbitz

 

[PeteH]

But he seems to accept without question the marketing blurb of some, whilst dismissing it from others, the latter especially eddievanbitz

I think you misunderstand, I am not saying that this guy is wrong or right. Nor that other sources of advice are not available or accurate. Just that there is a whole "industry" around marketing in all aspects of modern life. This guys opinion, is just that. It`s not written in stone. I don`t think he was doing any more than has been said in the past?, by others in other places, about other product. And experience suggests that not all "new" tech actually measures up to the original Marketing in the real world.

To be fair to him. He does sign off by saying:-

"We are not saying don't buy Lithium Batteries, they are improving all the time, just be very wary of the marketing, it isn't always honest." which can be said of most marketing hype My Italics.

 

[StephDeLux]

If you can afford it Lithium is the way to go.

I second that.

I just installed my lithium battery. The van is provided with a Schaudt B2B charger. I let the Truma run in constant ventilation a whole afternoon and night with some lights on to deplete the battery somewhat. This morning it was at 77% capacity. I started the engine and it charges at 38A from the engine. Idle or higher revs does not matter. It charges at 15A from EHU.

What matters the most is that it keeps charging at 38A from the engine constantly until it is full again. That is the major difference between lithium and lead. Usable capacity and weight are nice side benefits.

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[rick brind]

Got a 120w solar panel stuck it on roof and connected to double leisure batteries keeps us powered up no problem. Only cost me £120 German made not Chinese rubbish took me 2 hrs to fix and wire.

 

[thebriars]

Book a week at a campsite and use every ounce of electric that you possibly can, leave the tv on all night and lights on all day
Then you will know how well your current system copes, guessing/estimating just don't cut it..........worst case scenario is your batteries die and you plug the hook up in but at least you know for certain

... and damage the batteries in the process.

 

[Lenny HB]

Only cost me £120 German made not Chinese rubbish took me 2 hrs to fix and wire.

Must be very old, no panels have been made in Germany for years.

 

[nicholsong]

Got a 120w solar panel stuck it on roof and connected to double leisure batteries keeps us powered up no problem. Only cost me £120 German made not Chinese rubbish took me 2 hrs to fix and wire.

The 'Made in Germany' label probably referred to the label.

 

[Jim]

I think you misunderstand, I am not saying that this guy is wrong or right. Nor that other sources of advice are not available or accurate. Just that there is a whole "industry" around marketing in all aspects of modern life. This guys opinion, is just that. It`s not written in stone. I don`t think he was doing any more than has been said in the past?, by others in other places, about other product. And experience suggests that not all "new" tech actually measures up to the original Marketing in the real world.

To be fair to him. He does sign off by saying:-

"We are not saying don't buy Lithium Batteries, they are improving all the time, just be very wary of the marketing, it isn't always honest." which can be said of most marketing hype My Italics.

To be fair, since the guy died someone has tidied up that article as it had plenty of references and links back to this place which i notice have now gone. The guy used to get a bee in his bonnet about stuff. It was Inverters for years, how they damaged batteries beyond repair and were deadly dangerous. Then for a while it was Lithium, mostly talking out of his elbow.

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[poppycamper]

To be fair, since the guy died someone has tidied up that article as it had plenty of references and links back to this place which i notice have now gone. The guy used to get a bee in his bonnet about stuff. It was Inverters for years, how they damaged batteries beyond repair and were deadly dangerous. Then for a while it was Lithium, mostly talking out of his elbow.

Elbow....Gosh Jim.. that's polite