need some advice please!!! (1 Viewer)

buttmunch

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May 19, 2013
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Ok Im making a caravan (as such) I need to power:12v lights (18w total), my mac, 2 camera chargers, 5w shower pump and maybe a fan.

What is the best way to power this lot for as cheap as possible?

I looked into to solar but its so expensive to do it correctly, Im travelling for 3 months.

I assume i need a few leisure batteries and a 240v converter but what is the best way to charge the batteries and failing best whats the cheapest?

I have a dwindling budget and even less time to sort it!

In advance, Thank you ever so much for any advice you can offer me!!!!!!!!

Many thanks

Kieran
 

tonka

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Why do you say solar is expensive... £100 -£120 ish on ebay will get you an 80w panel, regulator and fittings.. Hook that to a leisure battery and off you go...
 
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FULL TIMER

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Easiest way is to just have a split charge relay such as this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Durite-Vo...tEquipment_Accessories_SM&hash=item19d8a150d3
fitted to vehicle and feeding a battery or bank of batteries in the caravan. This might not be the best way but is certainly the cheapest and pretty failsafe as long as you travel quite a bit, if you intend to use mains hook-ups even occasionally it would pay to the add something like the Zig X70 charger. There are of course better ways but a lot more money involved such as using a battery to battery charger like this Link Removed
together with a better battery charger for when on mains hook up may be something like these http://www.sp-shop.co.uk/Sterling-P...12V-60A-Battery-Charger-PN-PCU1260-3-OUT.html or variations of them as you can see there are quite a few variations available depending on your budget and your style of camping

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pappajohn

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you wont do anything cheaply on a motorhome/caravan.

if you intend staying off sites then you will need a couple of batteries minimum (£70+ each) and a means of charging them....solar (£100+) battery to battery charger (£60 ish) or a generator.....split charge relay will maintain a charged battery but will take many hours of running the engine to charge a flat battery.

solar works fine on a sunny day but not worth carrying the thing on a dull day.

generator is most reliable method but a half decent one will cost in excess of £300 and you still need a battery charger as well.
 
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Terry

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Easy and cheapest way is a split relay (£10 ish ) to charge batterys from engine then as big a amp hr battery charger for when on hook up (10 amp hr battery charger about £25 ish) should be ok but if you have more money go for a 3way charger but that will be more dpending on size in amp hours (20 amps £100 and over )
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Heavy-Dut...574?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item19d75a483e
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the relays can be found cheaper :winky:
terry
 
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If you are travelling in the sun then solar is ideal,as once fitted it costs nothing. A generator will need fuel as well as it's original cost. Staying on sites with ehu will cost even more, though if you are doing so then the electricity is usually included, so effectively free, and chargers can be very cheap.

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buttmunch

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May 19, 2013
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im a newbie
Why do you say solar is expensive... £100 -£120 ish on ebay will get you an 80w panel, regulator and fittings.. Hook that to a leisure battery and off you go...

Hi, appreciate the reply, Would a 80w be enough then? Ive been looking but when u add regulator 2-3 batteries, 12v-240v convertor kinda adds up! if one 80w will do the job (in spain) then this will make it cheaper!
Cheers
 
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