Which invertor or generator.

[bob600]

Hi all.
I have an old Honda generator which isn't powerful enough to run much on my swift camper.
No air con, just need heating, toaster, hairdryer, fridge.... Usual stuff.
We use it mainly for race meetings so noise in the usual hours not a problem but prefer a quiet ish one.
Any thoughts on which you would suggest?
Thanks. Bob

 

[starquake]

Heating = use gas, toaster, hairdryer = use a portable power pack like a Ecoflow,

Fridge = use gas.

You really don't need a genset these days we even run an airfryer on our Ecoflow.

 

[bob600]

Heating = use gas, toaster, hairdryer = use a portable power pack like a Ecoflow,

Fridge = use gas.

You really don't need a genset these days we even run an airfryer on our Ecoflow.

OK.... Need to educate myself on what an ecoflow is!?

 

[yorkiebar]

OK.... Need to educate myself on what an ecoflow is!?

Lithium battery packaged up with an inverter into a plastic pack. Can supply 240v output as well as USB, 12v. Cheaper packs have smaller batteries so can only deliver relatively small power output for a short time. More expensive packs provide more power output, it's all about sizing the right pack for your needs.
They also contain charger capability so you can charge via mains, 12v ciggie lighter output and potentially solar.
Ecoflow is just a brand name, lots of other manufacturers offer equivalent kit.

 

[Cliffyboy16]

OK.... Need to educate myself on what an ecoflow is!?

Ecoflow Delta 2

New EcoFlow DELTA 2 Portable Power Station - EcoFlow UK - EcoFlow UK

EcoFlow DELTA 2 equips modern families with backup power for any emergency. Incredibly fast charging: 0%-80% in 50 min. Be prepared, always.

uk.ecoflow.com

I bought one from Costco and have just come back from Spain, great for electric blanket, hairdryer and 1000 watt air fryer. You can charge using the cigarette lighter , solar panels or AC at home. I don’t have the knowledge to upgrade to lithium so I thought I would give this a try instead as it includes inverter

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[yorkiebar]

Don't buy one without checking with the good folks on here which model would be suitable for your usage! It's too easy to buy one which won't cut the mustard.

 

[starquake]

Yeah, you need to work out the right size, and as said other brands available. Ecoflow are usually cheap in Costco or Amazon (during black friday). A lot of us have the Delta2, as it can run toaster, coffee machines and airfryers (900w) ones for a couple of days, and then recharge via a solar panel or as you drive via the cig lighter.

For most of summer we generate more than we can use, so have even got an icemaker we take into van in the hotter months to produce ice all the time to use up the (spare) solar we would otherwise not use.

A Delta2 can connect up to 400w of panels and can store about 1Kwh of usable power, but it can deliver a peak wattage of 2400w, which allows things like travel kettles to even be used via it if you have the spare power.

The advantage of ecoflow over (cheaper) brands is it can connect to your van wifi system if you have one, allowing you to be able to check the state of charge (ie, how well solar production is going) remotely when you are away from the van.

We managed around 5 days off grid this winter with just our van, the delta2 for the tv and coffee machine, and use of gas (built into van) for heating and fridge. We could have gone longer, but we didn't actually get the solar panels out this winter.

Should also say with the charge to 80% in under an hour if you run out of juice, and you can go to a friendly camp neighbour with a plug socket, you can recharge it in sub 50 minutes too. Thats the difference in summary between many of the cheaper alternatives to the ecoflow (many avialable) as most won't do a full recharge without 8-10 hours.

 

[starquake]

And should say, we usually find at most campsites we have regained what we used for toast and coffee by 10am with only 200w of solar panels connected. And we havn't woke up people on the campsite with a genset to do so either -> which is why gensets are rarely used (if at all) these days. I've only seen them once in 2-3 years of mostly going to offgrid type motor/music/other festivals.

 

[bob600]

Yeah, you need to work out the right size, and as said other brands available. Ecoflow are usually cheap in Costco or Amazon (during black friday). A lot of us have the Delta2, as it can run toaster, coffee machines and airfryers (900w) ones for a couple of days, and then recharge via a solar panel or as you drive via the cig lighter.

For most of summer we generate more than we can use, so have even got an icemaker we take into van in the hotter months to produce ice all the time to use up the (spare) solar we would otherwise not use.

A Delta2 can connect up to 400w of panels and can store about 1Kwh of usable power, but it can deliver a peak wattage of 2400w, which allows things like travel kettles to even be used via it if you have the spare power.

The advantage of ecoflow over (cheaper) brands is it can connect to your van wifi system if you have one, allowing you to be able to check the state of charge (ie, how well solar production is going) remotely when you are away from the van.

We managed around 5 days off grid this winter with just our van, the delta2 for the tv and coffee machine, and use of gas (built into van) for heating and fridge. We could have gone longer, but we didn't actually get the solar panels out this winter.

Should also say with the charge to 80% in under an hour if you run out of juice, and you can go to a friendly camp neighbour with a plug socket, you can recharge it in sub 50 minutes too. Thats the difference in summary between many of the cheaper alternatives to the ecoflow (many avialable) as most won't do a full recharge without 8-10 hours.

I have a solar panel on the roof of my camper.
Wonder if this can be utilised to charge the ecoflow?
Rather than portable panels?
Also, if I wanted to use it for heat and fridge... This would have to go through the outside hookup point?

 

[starquake]

I have a solar panel on the roof of my camper.
Wonder if this can be utilised to charge the ecoflow?
Rather than portable panels?
Also, if I wanted to use it for heat and fridge... This would have to go through the outside hookup point?

You won't get much heat (maybe an hour on the bigger ecoflows) -> laws of physics on that. You are really better to use your leisure batterys + gas heating system (Truma or Alde) for heat.

You can however use use roof solar with a switchable junction to charge the ecoflow if you wish (a few of us do that). Personally I have a second set of solar under the bench which I put outside when below 70% charge via a drop vent. Why I don't use the roof solar is the 100w we have manages the leisure battery fine and doesn't meaninfully charge my Delta2, where a 200w portable panel does! This is because you can angle a portable set of panels to face sun which really maximises the production in a way the roof solar does not. In winter in particular this allows a decent charge to be obtained, where your roof solar will produce near 0.

ANd yes, you can connect a cable from the output of an ecoflow to the outside hookup point, or wire a cable on inside that does same. We rarely do that ourselves, as we just run a seperate system.

Bear in mind the fridges use a lot of electricity too, again better on gas there unless it's a compressor fridge.

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[MisterB]

Hi all.
I have an old Honda generator which isn't powerful enough to run much on my swift camper.
No air con, just need heating, toaster, hairdryer, fridge.... Usual stuff.
We use it mainly for race meetings so noise in the usual hours not a problem but prefer a quiet ish one.
Any thoughts on which you would suggest?
Thanks. Bob

Heating via electric is your biggest constant draw from your 'wants', so if you can eliminate that as a 'must have' then I think a decent sized lithium battery is your answer. Power packs have an advantage in that they can be moved away from the motorhome, but tend to be a lot less powerful than a 280/300A lithium, which you would need for three days off grid (and not using electricity for heating)

A 280Ah lithium and a 3000w inverter will cost you close to £1000 so you need to compare that to the cost if a power pack with the same Ah.

 

[PlacidoD]

A 280Ah lithium and a 3000w inverter will cost you close to £1000 so you need to compare that to the cost if a power pack with the same Ah.

I doubt that you will get a LiFePo (lithium) system installed for £1,000. The OP does not give the age/model of his van. He does state he has no skills to install. At minimum on an older van you need to install a B2B and, with 280Ah you would need to upgrade solar and the mains charger so you are talking more like £2k installed as a minimum if going for circa 280Ah and that will probably only buy you a reasonable system not a "bells and whistles" system. A decent invertor in particular is expensive.

EcoFlow currently are selling refurbished Delta 2s direct on Ebay for £515. (In reality what you get will be indistinguishable from pristine new (It is their way of shifting stock without compromising their headline price)

Of course a fully integrated installed system is better but at a cost. If you have an older van it may not be economic and if you plan to change van you can take the likes of a Delta 2 with you when selling.
You do need to identify a space to house the likes of a Delta 2 when in use and when travelling. It, of course, needs to be strapped down somewhere when travelling if in the van.

P.S. I have a Delta 2 plus a 160 watt portable panel (in addition to a panel on the roof). My ultimate plan is to install a LiFePo4 of about 100Ah which means I can get away with a B2B and no more on my 2007 van - Total cost installed likely £500 max. That would give me a really decent 12v system. There would still be a role for my Delta 2 and 160 watt panel to provide 240 volt output. In a nutshell £515 is not a bad price for an invertor of the power available on the Delta 2 ensuring a comfortable off-grid ability.