A future project, a 6 x corner bracket set and a 40amp - 50amp flexible solar panel
just stick it to the roof.

T5 240w closeup x350.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)VW camper guys normally use these flexible panels that stick to the roof. The downside is that you need a hole for the wire and can't be directed towards the sun, the upside is they work while travelling and will still be there after leaving the vehicle.

As HWPTB is a race marshall we often pitch up off grid at racetracks round the country. Silverstone for the GP is usually a Wed to Mon set up (he has to go for pre practice coms testing and the like) so the fridge is on gas and the lights and water pump are on the battery, we've never had any problem with running out of gas or electrickery mind you we don't have a tv but we do charge up the phones. We do have two gas bottles so that we should, in theory, never run out of gas and with a couple of candles and torches as backup we don't worry about the lighting system too much either.

Hope this eases your mind a little, trickle charging the battery whilst at home should ensure the battery stays in tip top condition for as long as possible.

Denise & Phil

Garn, you have ruddy great dog running around in a cage hitched to a generator

Just as a point of interest - this plug in Voltmeter uses an LED (Light Emitting Diode display) which means as it 'lights up' it will consume a small electric current all the time its connected.

The panel meter shown by Aaron Calder, I believe uses an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), which uses considerably less current than the LED version - which itself is only very, very low !

However over a long sustained period with minimum battery charging opportunity it could make a difference. The plug in LED type are best not left plugged in for long periods of non battery charge !

Whether this difference is worth taking into account is a debatable point

Surprised no-one mentioned changing the light bulbs inside the van to LED to use less power (unless I missed it?)

Great minds think alike Hob. Have been looking at led strip lights. Electrician friend is going to fit a cigarette charger plug socket on top of the wardrobe for me so I can install some around the rim of the pop top. Will look pretty too!!

Zitat

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Electrician friend is going to fit a cigarette charger plug socket on top of the wardrobe

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Be careful above the wardrobe remember the gap is very small when the top is down................squashed my best hat on there

I'd be surprised if there was ample room anywhere in our Millie. This is certainly bijou living!!!

The socket will be fixed to top of the shelf, just around the corner out of view. Friend is a big chap, will be funny watching him worked in such a confined space

Intrigued by a hook up lead running from a wobbly box and disappearing under the bonnet of a near by car. I asked the owner who lifted the bonnet to reveal a 600w power inverter attached to the car battery with the EHU plugged into it! Apparently, when off grid he tops up his caravan battery using the in-built charger powered in this way. If he hasn't used the car for errands or day trips he runs it for twenty minutes or so, but the inverter has a low voltage cut out that should always leave enough to start the car. I haven't heard of this before, what are the cons?

Quote: Pepé Le Pew wrote in post #26

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Quote: jasond4289 wrote in post #25

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I haven't heard of this before, what are the cons?

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Other than the obvious one that an inverter can't magic electricity out of nowhere and depends entirely on the available power of the car battery to which it's connected, there aren't really any major flaws in doing it that way.

While on one hand it seems - and probably is - a bit inefficient to convert 12v to 240v only to convert it back to 12v again, at least all the wiring would be up to snuff and able to cope with the current.

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Quote: jasond4289 wrote in post #27

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My initial thoughts were that it could not be very inefficient, but wasn't sure if it was very safe. As my off grid is weekends and I was already considering an inverter, this could allow an emergency top up.

Thanks

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We've camped at dog agility competitions three times now (off grid) and each time have been more relaxed about 12v usage having started off as nervous kittens and the last time using what we wanted without worry. I've fitted an led voltmeter and it was showing 12.8v when we packed up last weekend. The light evenings have meant using the lights very little and I have already looked at the Ultraled site recommended in another thread, and will fit some before our next trip in two weeks as the nights a drawing in quickly now!

I like the idea of a fall back using an inverter which I was planning to purchase anyway, but would never have thought of doing this.