Supplementary Power System Comparison Chart (1 Viewer)

[pablomc]

After this past weekend without EHU, I have been considering that I may need to add something to top up my batteries. Also the Mrs wants to be able to use her straighteners (gas ones apparently don't do the job oh.

I am in the process of trying to put something together with a scoring system to help way up the pros and cons of solar v suit case generator v fuel cell v fixed generator. Has anyone already put together a comparison chart of the various options ?

 

[Reallyretired]

I haven't but solar is the only one that doesn't need fuel.

 

[JockandRita]

After this past weekend without EHU, I have been considering that I may need to add something to top up my batteries. Also the Mrs wants to be able to use her straighteners (gas ones apparently don't do the job oh.

I am in the process of trying to put something together with a scoring system to help way up the pros and cons of solar v suit case generator v fuel cell v fixed generator. Has anyone already put together a comparison chart of the various options ?

Hi Pablomc,

If you intend to keep the MH for some time yet, I'd go for extra batteries and solar panels.
We have an onboard genny, and it only gets used once or twice a year. I use more petrol on maintenance running, than on actual use. oh: If it wasn't a permanent fixture, we wouldn't have it on there at all.

I am unable to comment on fuel cells, as I have no experience of them.

HTH,

Jock.

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

 

[scotjimland]

After this past weekend without EHU, I have been considering that I may need to add something to top up my batteries. Also the Mrs wants to be able to use her straighteners (gas ones apparently don't do the job oh.

I am in the process of trying to put something together with a scoring system to help way up the pros and cons of solar v suit case generator v fuel cell v fixed generator. Has anyone already put together a comparison chart of the various options ?

Haven't doen a spreadsheet , but how I see it.

Solar:

Pros:
* Free energy,

Cons
* Only works efficiently in sunlight, of little use in Northern European countries in winter when you most need it most.
* High initial cost of panels and decent sized battery bank

Generator

Pros.
* energy on demand

Cons
* Fuel cost
* Noise

Fuel Cell

Pros
*energy on demand
*silent

Cons

* High initial cost of unit
* Fuel not readily available and fairly expensive.


So, summing up, unless you have money to burn I would discount the fuel cell.

A good sized battery bank and solar panels to match is great for most of the year.. but if planning off grid 365, also have a small 1 or 2kw Honda genny as a back up .. sorted.

 

[Gromett]

A good sized battery bank and solar panels to match is great for most of the year.. but if planning off grid 365, a small 1 or 2kw Honda genny as a back up .. sorted.

That would be my recommendation also.

Look at the efficiency side of the equation as well. things like LED lighting and a grade 2 haircut for the missus will save quite a bit of leccy

 

[slobadoberbob]

I think that sums it up

Haven't doen a spreadsheet , but how I see it.

Solar:

Pros:
* Free energy,

Cons
* Only works efficiently in sunlight, of little use in Northern European countries in winter when you most need it most.
* High initial cost of panels and decent sized battery bank

Generator

Pros.
* energy on demand

Cons
* Fuel cost
* Noise

Fuel Cell

Pros
*energy on demand
*silent

Cons

* High initial cost of unit
* Fuel not readily available and fairly expensive.


So, summing up, unless you have money to burn I would discount the fuel cell.

A good sized battery bank and solar panels to match is great for most of the year.. but if planning off grid 365, also have a small 1 or 2kw Honda genny as a back up .. sorted.

Just about sums it really..

Bob

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

 

[pablomc]

Have discounted a genny as I have no where to store it (too big to fit under bench seats and no garage). Solar was my primary choice, but I cannot convince myself it will be of any use during winter months which is when I will need it most.

Will put the final touches to this spread sheet then share it.

 

[GJH]

Another option not listed above is a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine such as the Forgen 500 which Dingray has and the Maplins offering which Snowbird gave us his experiences of last year.

Unlike solar they work at night/in the dark so long as there is wind to turn the blades but they are not a permanent fixture so need to be removed before travel and replaced on site. As with solar there is a high initial cost.

 

[pablomc]

OK I have attached a chart which I have put together with a very basic scoring system.

Please note it is not scientific and very subjective.

Had to attach as a doc as excel is not an option.

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

 

[B-well]

I once saw a mouse or some animal runing around in a wheel like apparatus and this experiment was lighting a dolls house lighting circuit. are we talking on the same wave length

 

[JJ]

If you are not going to use the genny much I would not spend all that extra money on a Honda.. Kipor much less expensive... mine has lasted years... (needs a new float needle at the mo)...

JJ :Cool:

 

[scotjimland]

OK I have attached a chart which I have put together with a very basic scoring system.

Please note it is not scientific and very subjective.

Had to attach as a doc as excel is not an option.

if you have a mind, you could up load to our downloads section as an excel file

Link Removed

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

 

[Jaws]

That would be my recommendation also.

Look at the efficiency side of the equation as well. things like LED lighting and a grade 2 haircut for the missus will save quite a bit of leccy

Yes, but not everyone has removed their vans roof and completely replaced it with solar panels ! LOL !!!!

 

[chrisgreen]

no 12v genny comparison????
will produse 70 amph and needs less running time than a normal genny,so less fuel.:thumb:and cheap:thumb:
and no efficiency comparison the best solar in the world are only 33% efficient

 

[pablomc]

if you have a mind, you could up load to our downloads section as an excel file

Link Removed

OK added if anyone wants to play around with it. :thumb:

Link Removed

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

 

[pablomc]

no 12v genny comparison????
will produse 70 amph and needs less running time than a normal genny,so less fuel.:thumb:and cheap:thumb:
and no efficiency comparison the best solar in the world are only 33% efficient

I assume you are talking about the device you built. Is such a device now available on the market?

 

[chrisgreen]

I assume you are talking about the device you built. Is such a device now available on the market?

yes:thumb:
although not mine:Sad:

 

[pablomc]

OK I have added a wind turbine and and the Supercharger (12v Generator similar to that which Chris has built).

I must stress the scoring is subjective and is probably biased towards convenience.

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

 

[lorger]

Paul would it not be cheaper to send her to the hairdressers for a number 1 cut all over and buy her a wig. if you mention it to Leanne and i mention it to Lorraine then we could do a comparison chart on their response

We have been thinking of other power source also so very interesting.

 

[GJH]

Paul would it not be cheaper to send her to the hairdressers for a number 1 cut all over and buy her a wig. if you mention it to Leanne and i mention it to Lorraine then[HI] we could do a comparison chart on their response[/HI]

We have been thinking of other power source also so very interesting.

Using internal NHS communications perhaps?

 

[vwalan]

you could try making enquireies localto you there as been a few 12v petrol generators going the rounds round here . have thought about them myself . think bt used to use them . or maybe still do. my next door neighbour bought one for 25 quid .
mind i like solar . lots of it . these days its getting cheaper . on ebay in germany and france 99quid for a 80wt panel buy 6 or more . cheap power. almost as chea[p as buying direct from india or china . most bp panels are made in india now . probably have been for yeatrs but with google you can track the factories they will sell direct if you can get enough sales.

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

 

[chrisgreen]

you could try making enquireies localto you there as been a few 12v petrol generators going the rounds round here . have thought about them myself . think bt used to use them . or maybe still do. my next door neighbour bought one for 25 quid .
mind i like solar . lots of it . these days its getting cheaper . on ebay in germany and france 99quid for a 80wt panel buy 6 or more . cheap power. almost as chea[p as buying direct from india or china . most bp panels are made in india now . probably have been for yeatrs but with google you can track the factories they will sell direct if you can get enough sales.

BP are pulling out the solar market as it's over loaded with panels,so expect panels to drop in price,cant remember the figures but there is a market for something like a zillion watts of solar power but the is 2 zillion watts of panels already produced.so BP are pulling the plug on thier production

 

[darklord]

There are two other options. 1) Is a hand held portable 2 stroke petrol alternator. Used in the outback by ozzies to jump start cars in life threatening situations, it would take very little time, to recharge a battery bank, the item is the size of two car alternators, a sort of strimmer engine strapped to an alternator, they have been about for years and are well tested....unless thats what you are on about when you say "12 volt generator".

2) an idea trialed succsessfully by a recovery company I worked for, two alternators,..one doing the normal job,...one soleley feeding the lesiure battery bank. Most vehciles have somewhere for aircon compressor to sit, THAT is where the second alternator goes, also, the belt used for the aircon model, is used to turn the alternator. The wiring is relativley simple, and to recharge your battery bank, you just run your enging for a while,...quiet, fuel already carried, takes up no space, all parts available readily, a "fit and forget" solution.

 

[pablomc]

Paul would it not be cheaper to send her to the hairdressers for a number 1 cut all over and buy her a wig. if you mention it to Leanne and i mention it to Lorraine then we could do a comparison chart on their response

We have been thinking of other power source also so very interesting.

Using internal NHS communications perhaps?

Will probably need medium.

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

 

[pablomc]

There are two other options. 1) Is a hand held portable 2 stroke petrol alternator. Used in the outback by ozzies to jump start cars in life threatening situations, it would take very little time, to recharge a battery bank, the item is the size of two car alternators, a sort of strimmer engine strapped to an alternator, they have been about for years and are well tested....unless thats what you are on about when you say "12 volt generator".

2) an idea trialed succsessfully by a recovery company I worked for, two alternators,..one doing the normal job,...one soleley feeding the lesiure battery bank. Most vehciles have somewhere for aircon compressor to sit, THAT is where the second alternator goes, also, the belt used for the aircon model, is used to turn the alternator. The wiring is relativley simple, and to recharge your battery bank, you just run your enging for a while,...quiet, fuel already carried, takes up no space, all parts available readily, a "fit and forget" solution.

1) Yes that is the type of device we are talking about except 4 stroke. See here.

2) Thats the other but probably not even a need to add an additionally alternator.

 

[Gromett]

1) Yes that is the type of device we are talking about except 4 stroke. See here.

£500 all in? WOW that's a rip off if you ask me?

I would rather get a Link Removed and a cheap genny. This way you would have 240V in the van at the same time as the charger was working.

If the 12V supercharger was around £200-300 I may have considered one...

 

[chrisgreen]

£500 all in? WOW that's a rip off if you ask me?

I would rather get a Link Removed and a cheap genny. This way you would have 240V in the van at the same time as the charger was working.

If the 12V supercharger was around £200-300 I may have considered one...

but grommet! if i had bought all the components of the shelf to build my 12v genny it would have been more than £400oh:
i think they are too dear, but not a rip off,the best thing is you can source the components cheap and build your own:thumb:

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

 

[Gromett]

Just had a very quick look for an alternator and petrol engine.

to salvage engine from £102 (Comes with frame which may be able to reuse)
Link Removed £57.60

Edited: found better prices easily enough.

 

[chrisgreen]

Just had a very quick look for an alternator and petrol engine.

Lawnmower to salvage engine from £154
Alternator £130

I looked for a lawn mower because it was an easier search on google. Bet I could get the engine part down a lot.

The alternator was the first price that came up on google so again should be able to get it a lot lower than that?

If I can be arsed later I will research how much I can can get each part for brand new single unit cost.....

the little honda engine on mine new are £250 inc vat, the alternator would cost £80 new, then you got the pully's x2 £12 each,25mmx25mm box steel for the frame£20 and the belt £8:thumb:
mine cost £37.40 complete:thumb:
bought 2 engines off ebay £70 one almost new, pully's and alternator and box and belt i had laying about:thumblus i have my own plasma cutter and mig welder:thumb:

 

[Gromett]

Sorry Chris, I must have been editing as you were posting.

Found a standalone engine cheaper Link Removed. £85.
So total for engine and alternator £142... Brand new, one off pricing in stock.

The plasma cutter and mig welder are the key items lol. I don't have any mechanical tools at all...

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