How to stay longer off grid (compressor fridge).

[supervario]

E FOY is an option

 

[Clarky]

Thanks Richard, with my level of expertise (nil) I need someone who can do the complete job so appreciate the recommendation. Would you mind letting me know (here or pm) cost? Thanks Liz

It was the NDS Lion system. Two 100ah batteries plus the NDS 3 link with display.
Our solar controller needed changing but the mains charger was OK.
All wired with with heavy duty cables between the cab and leisure batteries. It was a days work so we stayed on their forecourt overnight.
Total cost was £3k but it was 2 years ago so the battery prices might have come down a bit……………who am I trying to kid?

12V Lithium Leisure Batteries

Find and shop for 12V / 24V Power & Distribution 1 - 12V Lithium Leisure Batteries products online at everyday low prices at RoadPro

www.roadpro.co.uk

 

[davidroxburgh]

Hi Grianan

Is your PVC on a Fiat base? If so usually the back of both seats will have a black cover. At the top at the right and left corner of each cover there will be two lugs and with a broad blade screwdriver you can lift each lug and that allows the cover to swing open towards you. You can then take a photo which will help identify more about your situation.

You asked about B2B? I will try - bearing in mind there are others on here who could destroy my technical knowledge in a trice! My understanding is that many vans use a split charge relay which is designed to allow current from the van engine alternator to flow into and charge the leisure battery or batteries. I think this happens after the ignition turns on and often a short while later perhaps to wait until the alternator output is steady? Much depends on the rating of the wires used, the split charge relay used and if you have an EBL (Elektroblok) or similar. Many continental vans have the EBL and although we had a Hymer once with such a device I am not knowledgeable in any details about them.

The current that flows into the leisure battery/ies can vary from a few amps up to 50 amps and more - and the factors that determine that charge rate are infinite! Suffice to say that thicker wires and heavy duty relays are helpful. The fundamental purpose of a B2B seems to me to first ensure an adequate rate of charge so in my case a Votronic 1212-30 is designed to get a regular 30 amps into my leisure (new lithium) battery. Second I think the device boosts the current up to that figure if needed or throttles back that current if more than 30 amps is flowing. it is said that the steady charge rate is good for the wiring the alternator and your well being!

The B2B will produce heat which needs to be dissipated - the Votronic uses a small fan while the Victron uses a heat sink which really means fins under the device but part of it. So putting the Votronic in the seat base stuck to the back of the battery works due to the black cover which has slots (louvred) in which will allow the escape of the hot air flowing from the B2B.

I hope that helps - and I will wait to be slaughtered for my lousy knowledge!

 

[davidroxburgh]

PS The B2B will in a few hours driving get good charge into the leIsure battery so even if without EHU you can do more days off EHU.
Subject to what your photo shows solar will also help - although not much at this time of year.

 

[Grianan]

E FOY is an option

OK you’ve lost me (again). I think that’s what Martin was selling - what is it?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[funflair]

Its a silent generator of 12v at about 6A and runs on methanol fuel, the process produces a little bit of heat which can be kept inside the van so useful in the winter and a few drops of water which are piped outside the van, I say silent but it has a small pump that you hear if you put it under the pillow end of your bed but otherwise it is silent and it certainly won't upset the neighbours.

 

[olley]

How about a wind turbine?
Compliments the solar power?

600w DC 12v 5 Blades Lantern Wind Turbine Generator Vertical Axis W/ Controller for sale online | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 600w DC 12v 5 Blades Lantern Wind Turbine Generator Vertical Axis W/ Controller at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!

www.ebay.co.uk

Cheers James

I had one and found it a waste of time. Ideally you need plenty of flat clear space around you, just like you generally get on a boat.

Air close to the ground is a mix of eddy's and swirls, just what you don't want, and anything close like trees, hedges other motorhomes/caravans just make it worse, so in decent winds the body is constantly spinning in one direction or the other to get the blades to face the wind, and in light winds it didn't work at all
I sold it in the end.

 

[VXman]

But that's the point surely. Stuff defrosting is a potential disaster, especially if you eat meat

Yes, but my fridge issue is a temporary problem. My point was on the whole I seem to use very little battery power. I guess is because I cope without hair dryer, straighteners, kettle, toaster ....all the things that consume large amount of power.

 

[Sapper520]

Yes, but my fridge issue is a temporary problem. My point was on the whole I seem to use very little battery power. I guess is because I cope without hair dryer, straighteners, kettle, toaster ....all the things that consume large amount of power.

The only mains equipment we need mains EHU for is my battery shaver (lasts 7 days on a full charge), and my wife’s hairdryer…..happy not to blow dry her hair when not on EHU.

 

[LesW]

The only mains equipment we need mains EHU for is my battery shaver (lasts 7 days on a full charge), and my wife’s hairdryer…..happy not to blow dry her hair when not on EHU.

The charger for my Remington cordless packed up.

Whilst looking for a replacement I found that the charger just converted 240v to 12v, so I just made up a lead to plug the shaver directly to a 12v accessory socket, it worked a treat... no need for 240v.

Have recently bought a new Braun rechargeable, it too only needs 12v to recharge. Something for you to consider maybe.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Sapper520]

Tried a battery shaver using AA batteries…..didn’t work too well.

My wife tried the plug in hairdryer from the 12v system…….she said it was totally useless.

 

[Garry - June]

I find it quite amusing people keep suggesting Lithium, yes they are good but you should concentrate on your charging...not so much the batteries.... it doesn't matter if they are Lithium or LA if you cannot get the charge in to them in the first place... you should take a look at a standalone portable suitcase type solar panel... we have one to supplement our rooftop panels...with these you can move them around to track the sun which is massively beneficial in the spring autumn winter when the sun is much lower in the sky which inhibits rooftop panels..

 

[textilefreearea]

We took the decision not to bother with the fridge, it’s still in the vehicle but just use it as a ‘room temperature’ food storage cupboard. It’s surprising if you just think outside the box a little how much food stuff can be bought that doesn’t need to be kept in fridge or freezer. Obvious one is dried milk... yes I know it isn’t as good as fresh milk but you get used to it in a couple of days and it’s better than it used to be. Another option is buying ready meals from Parsley Box... again fridge not needed. Just google Parsley Box if you don’t know them. There are loads of other options if you take the trouble to investigate. End result is no gas or electric needed for fridge and the end of fridge repair bills... these three way fridges(imo) have always been expensive to buy, expensive to repair and to be honest not much good even when they do work
Fridge rant over

 

[EuroTrotters]

What make and model is your fridge ?

 

[EuroTrotters]

Has EFOY been mentioned ?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[funflair]

Has EFOY been mentioned ?

I think so

Psst do you want one?

 

[Northernraider]

We took the decision not to bother with the fridge, it’s still in the vehicle but just use it as a ‘room temperature’ food storage cupboard. It’s surprising if you just think outside the box a little how much food stuff can be bought that doesn’t need to be kept in fridge or freezer. Obvious one is dried milk... yes I know it isn’t as good as fresh milk but you get used to it in a couple of days and it’s better than it used to be. Another option is buying ready meals from Parsley Box... again fridge not needed. Just google Parsley Box if you don’t know them. There are loads of other options if you take the trouble to investigate. End result is no gas or electric needed for fridge and the end of fridge repair bills... these three way fridges(imo) have always been expensive to buy, expensive to repair and to be honest not much good even when they do work
Fridge rant over

Ive found every 3 way fridge I've had to be better than ones ive had in a house and ice cold milk and beer is an absolute necessity.

 

[davidroxburgh]

I find it quite amusing people keep suggesting Lithium, yes they are good but you should concentrate on your charging...not so much the batteries.... it doesn't matter if they are Lithium or LA if you cannot get the charge in to them in the first place... you should take a look at a standalone portable suitcase type solar panel... we have one to supplement our rooftop panels...with these you can move them around to track the sun which is massively beneficial in the spring autumn winter when the sun is much lower in the sky which inhibits rooftop panels..

I agree and I did try and get a B2B when my AGMs were fine. The complexities of the Westfalia wiring prevented the installation but now I have worked round that and got the extra help. The downside though of extra solar is that folding panels seem around 20 KG where I saved 30 KG by adopting lithium. So in my case lithium brought a double benefit to be offset against cost!

 

[jimdob]

Our set up is …

PVC van
2 x lead acid leisure battery
1 x 120 solar panel

We can just about manage (UK summer/France October) 3 days off grid The 4th day depletes the battery too far.

Is there anything we could do without swapping fridge to absorber yo run off gas that would give us 5-6 days comfortably off grid?

 

[jimdob]

Our set up is …

PVC van
2 x lead acid leisure battery
1 x 120 solar panel

We can just about manage (UK summer/France October) 3 days off grid The 4th day depletes the battery too far.

Is there anything we could do without swapping fridge to absorber yo run off gas that would give us 5-6 days comfortably off grid?

We have the same issue with a compressor fridge, just changed solar charger to Mppt and added another panel. I will update you to see if it works for longer off grid.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Tombola]

All depends how many amps it draws, then average that out on what setting and how often it kciks in and out.
SOme compressors are about 4 amps, add to this say once down to temp half the time it kicks in, that will get you 24 amp per 24 hours.
My 3 way uses double that

 

[EuroTrotters]

I think so

Psst do you want one?

Depends how much ?

 

[mitzimad]

Depends how much ?

ill go for a pound a week

 

[Sapper520]

Just looked at the technical specifications of the updated model of our compressor fridge. Thetford claim, if you have 2 x 95amp batteries, you should get 8 days use.…..I’m assuming that is with nothing else switched on of course.

We’ve got 2 x 110amp batteries and a 130w Solar panel.

We usually charge iPads and phones when on the move. Not expecting 8 days, but 4 should be achievable surely? We usually only hang around a maximum of 4 days before moving on anyway.

 

[Landy Andy]

Just looked at the technical specifications of the updated model of our compressor fridge. Thetford claim, if you have 2 x 95amp batteries, you should get 8 days use.…..I’m assuming that is with nothing else switched on of course.

We’ve got 2 x 110amp batteries and a 130w Solar panel.

We usually charge iPads and phones when on the move. Not expecting 8 days, but 4 should be achievable surely? We usually only hang around a maximum of 4 days before moving on anyway.

At what temperature?

You’ve no chance if you take my wife with you. I’m sure she thinks she gets a tan from the bulb in the fridge.

SHUT THE FU##ING DOOR.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Toady]

At what temperature?

You’ve no chance if you take my wife with you. I’m sure she thinks she gets a tan from the bulb in the fridge.

SHUT THE FU##ING DOOR.

I thought it was just me.

The other half opens the door wide on the fridge and then starts discussing what we will have for tea

Me….head spinning and stop watch on. I know, I know, I need help but I am getting worse!

I have external fans and an internal fan on the fridge as well as temperature gauge on the fridge and freezer. Breath……..gulp!

 

[Richard n Ann]

I thought it was just me.

The other half opens the door wide on the fridge and then starts discussing what we will have for tea

Me….head spinning and stop watch on. I know, I know, I need help but I am getting worse!

I have external fans and an internal fan on the fridge as well as temperature gauge on the fridge and freezer. Breath……..gulp!

Me too, Ann opens door and ponders... Me "don't you know what you want!? "... 'just get it then and shut the door "

 

[Sapper520]

I did try to explain once about keeping the door closed…….I’d rather deal with the freezer defrosting from now on thanks.

 

[funflair]

ill go for a pound a week

Over 3 years and it's yours

EDIT sorry 30 years

 

[mitzimad]

Over 3 years and it's yours

EDIT sorry 30 years

you nearly had a buyer there

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}