Off grid power solutions

[IanRJ]

CPheonix
I’m guessing you have a Frontier Delaware? The Sargent unit (EC700 and PW300) does not have a B2B, it is in fact limited to 20amp charging where a B2B is likely 60-80 amp. If your batteries are not depleted before travel the engine will likely get them back to full in 2-3 hours with the EC700. With a B2B you should be able to get a reasonable charge back in the battery after fairly deep depletion in just an hour or so.

Seems if you increase the battery bank beyond 200 amps you will need to change the charger too, which works when you are on an EHU. That’s what I have been advised.

I’m looking at similar situation and currently, unless I get some definite reasons not to do so, I intend to change my 90ah batteries for two 140ah agm, fitting a B2B, an extra 150w of solar, and retain everything else the same (Sargent etc). Solar to feed during the day when we use little power, and engine charging at least once per day if the batteries actually need it or we are travelling. I’ll accept slower charging when on EHU.

Only other additions will be a stand alone inverter (3000w Max) to feed microwave, toaster and hair dryer on an as required basis, with a remote on/off, connected directly to the battery. Plus a BM 700 battery monitor so I can directly monitor what the battery situation is at all times.

I’ll follow your thread with interest to see what you eventually do! Best of luck with it.

 

[Bart]

Sounds like you've got quiet the set up, how do you fair in winter with 350w of solar?

We are currently in Scotland and power is no problem, but I would say its also got to do with the B2B charger at this time of the year.

 

[Bart]

CPheonix
I’m guessing you have a Frontier Delaware? The Sargent unit (EC700 and PW300) does not have a B2B, it is in fact limited to 20amp charging where a B2B is likely 60-80 amp. If your batteries are not depleted before travel the engine will likely get them back to full in 2-3 hours with the EC700. With a B2B you should be able to get a reasonable charge back in the battery after fairly deep depletion in just an hour or so.

Seems if you increase the battery bank beyond 200 amps you will need to change the charger too, which works when you are on an EHU. That’s what I have been advised.

I’m looking at similar situation and currently, unless I get some definite reasons not to do so, I intend to change my 90ah batteries for two 140ah agm, fitting a B2B, an extra 150w of solar, and retain everything else the same (Sargent etc). Solar to feed during the day when we use little power, and engine charging at least once per day if the batteries actually need it or we are travelling. I’ll accept slower charging when on EHU.

Only other additions will be a stand alone inverter (3000w Max) to feed microwave, toaster and hair dryer on an as required basis, with a remote on/off, connected directly to the battery. Plus a BM 700 battery monitor so I can directly monitor what the battery situation is at all times.

I’ll follow your thread with interest to see what you eventually do! Best of luck with it.

Go for the BM 710 with the built in Bluetooth, then you can use the app, believe me it does come in handy indeed.
We had a 700 in our last MH, with the bluetooth I can monitor the voltages of my cab and leisure batteries from inside our house when at home, without leaving the sofa

 

[Pausim]

Go for the BM 710 with the built in Bluetooth, then you can use the app, believe me it does come in handy indeed.
We had a 700 in our last MH, with the bluetooth I can monitor the voltages of my cab and leisure batteries from inside our house when at home, without leaving the sofa

I have the 700 but have now bought the bluetooth dongle so I can use the app. I should have bought the 710 in the first place.

 

[Bart]

I have the 700 but have now bought the bluetooth dongle so I can use the app. I should have bought the 710 in the first place.

It's also very handy to see what amps are being put back into the batteries when driving ( Ofc get the other half to do this on her phone whilst safely buckled in), yy yy

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[eddie]

We have these conversations with our customers on a daily basis, and it is surprising how many people think that they need things without knowing "what they need"

It is important to have a clear objective of what you want to achieve, and to have identified what equipment that you will expect to be able to use when your doing it, and most importantly how long you expect to be doing, whatever it is you want to achieve, whilst using the things that you want to use!

We are exhibiting at the NEC next month, and I guarantee that we will be inundated with people that want to talk to us about Lithium batteries and inverters. When we ask what it is that they want to achieve, the keen smiley faces will start to look a little confused and say "we want to try wild camping"

When we then ask, how long do you intend staying in one place? where is it likely to be? what time of year, what equipment do you want/need to use? the smiles have turned to bewilderment lol.

"Off Grid" a few days in the Summer in Greece requires a different approach to two weeks wilding in Scotland in January

Personally, on my camper, I have three 150 watt solar panels, two 100 ah Lithium batteries, 160amp Battery 2 Battery charger (B2B) 5kw built in Onan generator, with a multi stage Victron 80amp charger / 2000w inverter all monitored by Bluetooth to our phones.

My requirements? Primary need? Lyn's hairdryer keeps her happy, three mains TV which are all linked through a HDMI distribution and surround sound system, all mains, and a mains wine cooler/beer fridge.

I personally prefer staying on campsites, but will happily have a long weekend away without hook up and with my set up my inverter charger remains on all the time, automatically sensing when mains is plugged in, removing the need to turn things on and off.

I simply wouldn't go away in the Winter and stay in one place, for more than a couple of days without hookup, but for those couple of days I can use the camper as if I were on a campsite on hook up.

With the set up we have, we could last ages if we were to turn things off, Lyn could use a towel we could unplug Dysons, Beer fridge, routers, TV's distribution units, surround system etc, but that would defeat the object of going away for us.

No doubt some one will be along shortly to tell me that I am wrong, and that they don't go away to watch TV! Bully for them! and that their wives are hardcore and hang their heads out of the window whilst driving, like a dog, to dry their hair! Good for them, and yes it shows lol but we don't need or have to compromise so why should we?

A good example is that we are going away this weekend, shortly in fact. We have a 20 odd mile bike ride planned tomorrow (Yes eBikes obviously ) and the weather forecast for tomorrow evening is crap. I know exactly what will happen, we will get back to the camper, probably wet through, shower and change and then Lyn will pull out her jigsaw board, plug in her daylight lamp, and be very happy (quiet ) whilst I will be all over Netflix, Now TV and Amazon Video to find us a film to download and watch, with me only leaving the sofa to refresh my red wine and top up Lyn's Gin and Tonic (Roku & Fever Tree with crushed pink peppercorns)

We could sit huddled around a candle with fleeces and gloves on but why should we?

 

[Cheshirecat57]

It would be an LPG generator (no smell of petrol)
If you are off grid I assume you have no “neighbours”

 

[steve 6644]

We could sit huddled around a candle with fleeces and gloves on but why should we?

Good point, I wound up with two kids doing that.

 

[CPhoenix]

CPheonix
I’m guessing you have a Frontier Delaware? The Sargent unit (EC700 and PW300) does not have a B2B, it is in fact limited to 20amp charging where a B2B is likely 60-80 amp. If your batteries are not depleted before travel the engine will likely get them back to full in 2-3 hours with the EC700. With a B2B you should be able to get a reasonable charge back in the battery after fairly deep depletion in just an hour or so.

Seems if you increase the battery bank beyond 200 amps you will need to change the charger too, which works when you are on an EHU. That’s what I have been advised.

I’m looking at similar situation and currently, unless I get some definite reasons not to do so, I intend to change my 90ah batteries for two 140ah agm, fitting a B2B, an extra 150w of solar, and retain everything else the same (Sargent etc). Solar to feed during the day when we use little power, and engine charging at least once per day if the batteries actually need it or we are travelling. I’ll accept slower charging when on EHU.

Only other additions will be a stand alone inverter (3000w Max) to feed microwave, toaster and hair dryer on an as required basis, with a remote on/off, connected directly to the battery. Plus a BM 700 battery monitor so I can directly monitor what the battery situation is at all times.

I’ll follow your thread with interest to see what you eventually do! Best of luck with it.

Very close, a Frontier Scout. Thanks for the info about not having a B2B, I'll add that to the list of things to research. You say that you are changing for 2x 140ah batteries, will that need a new charge controller or would the Sargent unit suffice?

We have these conversations with our customers on a daily basis, and it is surprising how many people think that they need things without knowing "what they need"

It is important to have a clear objective of what you want to achieve, and to have identified what equipment that you will expect to be able to use when your doing it, and most importantly how long you expect to be doing, whatever it is you want to achieve, whilst using the things that you want to use!

We are exhibiting at the NEC next month, and I guarantee that we will be inundated with people that want to talk to us about Lithium batteries and inverters. When we ask what it is that they want to achieve, the keen smiley faces will start to look a little confused and say "we want to try wild camping"

When we then ask, how long do you intend staying in one place? where is it likely to be? what time of year, what equipment do you want/need to use? the smiles have turned to bewilderment lol.

"Off Grid" a few days in the Summer in Greece requires a different approach to two weeks wilding in Scotland in January

Personally, on my camper, I have three 150 watt solar panels, two 100 ah Lithium batteries, 160amp Battery 2 Battery charger (B2B) 5kw built in Onan generator, with a multi stage Victron 80amp charger / 2000w inverter all monitored by Bluetooth to our phones.

My requirements? Primary need? Lyn's hairdryer keeps her happy, three mains TV which are all linked through a HDMI distribution and surround sound system, all mains, and a mains wine cooler/beer fridge.

I personally prefer staying on campsites, but will happily have a long weekend away without hook up and with my set up my inverter charger remains on all the time, automatically sensing when mains is plugged in, removing the need to turn things on and off.

I simply wouldn't go away in the Winter and stay in one place, for more than a couple of days without hookup, but for those couple of days I can use the camper as if I were on a campsite on hook up.

With the set up we have, we could last ages if we were to turn things off, Lyn could use a towel we could unplug Dysons, Beer fridge, routers, TV's distribution units, surround system etc, but that would defeat the object of going away for us.

No doubt some one will be along shortly to tell me that I am wrong, and that they don't go away to watch TV! Bully for them! and that their wives are hardcore and hang their heads out of the window whilst driving, like a dog, to dry their hair! Good for them, and yes it shows lol but we don't need or have to compromise so why should we?

A good example is that we are going away this weekend, shortly in fact. We have a 20 odd mile bike ride planned tomorrow (Yes eBikes obviously ) and the weather forecast for tomorrow evening is crap. I know exactly what will happen, we will get back to the camper, probably wet through, shower and change and then Lyn will pull out her jigsaw board, plug in her daylight lamp, and be very happy (quiet ) whilst I will be all over Netflix, Now TV and Amazon Video to find us a film to download and watch, with me only leaving the sofa to refresh my red wine and top up Lyn's Gin and Tonic (Roku & Fever Tree with crushed pink peppercorns)

We could sit huddled around a candle with fleeces and gloves on but why should we?

Lol, I love your posts. Which inverter are you using which senses mains load? Doesn't having an inverter always on drain your batteries? And how often do you end up actually using your generator? (sorry for the shotgun questions).

Hope you enjoy your weekend!

It would be an LPG generator (no smell of petrol)
If you are off grid I assume you have no “neighbours”

I kinda wrote off noisy generators as the plan as well as 'wild camping' in out of the way spots, but also Aires that probably wont have EHU. (most of the aires we stayed in last year didn't, so was preparing for that).

 

[138go]

I only took my straighteners once and I never used them. You do get used to a more relaxed look when you’re motorhoming. As for carting a laptop, that’s potty really when you consider how great the tablets are these days. We have iPads and a Samsung and they work perfectly well.

Generally we’ve ditched too much electrical stuff, you just don’t need it. For essentials we have an inverter and solar panels.

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[eddie]

Very close, a Frontier Scout. Thanks for the info about not having a B2B, I'll add that to the list of things to research. You say that you are changing for 2x 140ah batteries, will that need a new charge controller or would the Sargent unit suffice?




Lol, I love your posts. Which inverter are you using which senses mains load? Doesn't having an inverter always on drain your batteries? And how often do you end up actually using your generator? (sorry for the shotgun questions).

Hope you enjoy your weekend!



I kinda wrote off noisy generators as the plan as well as 'wild camping' in out of the way spots, but also Aires that probably wont have EHU. (most of the aires we stayed in last year didn't, so was preparing for that).

We fitted a Victron inverter/charger, which has many advantages, the main one for us being that all the 13 amp sockets are available for use, but, should the hook available be less than what is required, it will ‘temporarily’ switch from charge mode to invert mode and make up the shortfall to avoid tripping the mains supply

The control panel allows you to select, charge only, off or inverter/charger

I very rarely turn it off, but we can.

Yes we use the generator quite a lot, mainly in the Summer, when we are driving actually to run the roof air conditioning to keep the camper nice and cool for our dog. Seems only fair as we are driving along enjoying the dash air con.

Also useful when abroad for running in car parks, in hyper markets, leaving the Air Con on whilst we shop, again for the dog, but nice to come back to when it’s really hot.

It’s nice to have, yes we could do without it, but we don’t have to

 

[Bart]

Lol, I love your posts. Which inverter are you using which senses mains load? Doesn't having an inverter always on drain your batteries?

Nope most inverters come with a socket on them where you plug in your remote On/Off switch, then it is only turned on when you actually are using it.
So when turned off it drains no power.