Baileys Approach 760se off grid

[Alexski88]

Hello All,

I am completely new to the motorhome world and have been trying to conduct as much research as possible before picking up my Baileys Approach 760se in October. Apologies if my questions are somewhat naive, I am just trying to find some information as a startling point.

The main thing that I would like more information on is how to make my motor home as ‘off grid’ optimal as possible. I have research lots of different aspects which allow you to be off grid for longer than possible, for examples, B2B, solar power, multiple leisure batteries etc

I have three main questions and I appreciate that answers can only be very vague due to no one knowing exact energy consumption but in general…

1. If I am very frugal with electric expenditure how long do you think I could survive off grid with a standard issue leisure battery of 105amps? I.e no microwave, LED lighting, no TV etc

2. does anyone with a Bailey approach 760se know if there is space for a second battery?

3. as we approaching winter what would be the best use of my money in improving off grid capacity? I.e lithium battery, solar power etc.

many thanks in advance

alex

 

[Richard n Ann]

1. If I am very frugal with electric expenditure how long do you think I could survive off grid with a standard issue leisure battery of 105amps? I.e no microwave, LED lighting, no TV etc

About a week or possibly longer

3. as we approaching winter what would be the best use of my money in improving off grid capacity? I.e lithium battery, solar power etc.

My choice would be solar power. We don't use the van in winter though. We have 150w solar and one 85ah gel battery, we last indefinitely off grid with TV on for a few hours each night, phone charging, LED lights and water pump. Even on cloudy days the battery is recharged by mid afternoon.

The battery only has to last from sunset to sunrise, (and that isn't long in mid summer) then the solar takes over

 

[Alexski88]

Wow a week is a lot longer than I expected, even being extremely frugal. Thank you for you reply

 

[Richard n Ann]

Wow a week is a lot longer than I expected, even being extremely frugal. Thank you for you reply

First thing to do is check the battery drain with nothing switched on. Ours is 2ma going up to 200ma with just the power switch on... but some vans are terrible.

 

[Wh05apk]

Wow a week is a lot longer than I expected, even being extremely frugal. Thank you for you reply

I would be amazed if you get a week, with no solar fitted (not that it is much use in winter) if a lead battery you should not drop below 50%, so I wouldn't expect more than 3-4 days even with light use. Ours uses about 10% each day without turning anything on.

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[WillH]

Realistically 4 or 5 days, if you intend to use it through the winter you will need a lot of solar, and I mean a lot.

 

[Ingwe]

We have a Bailey 620 Approach 620 made in 2012. The previous owner had a 120w solar panel fitted. All the lights are LED apart from one light which is a halogen light. We have only one leisure battery with 105Ah.

We are not heavy users of electricity and, the most we use, apart from three hours a night on a 12v telephone, iPads and iPhones charged, etc are the water pump and occasionally heating fan, are three to four days. We usually hook up thereafter. But we aim to get a lithium battery fitted (and associated gear such as a BSB charger) to make the most of the time off electric hookup.

We did not get much advice on how to fit a second leisure battery but lithium seems to be the way forward for us.

 

[deleted79651]

There is a Thread from a couple of days ago, 'Lithium Battery, Fad or Progress' (Title?) where the best comment was 'nobody NEEDS Lithium, but if money is not a problem, there are no disadvantages'.

We had 120Ah Lithium fitted in July for £749 and have yet to get it below 93% charge, because the 180w Solar starts up and recharge is very quick!

We expect the solar panel efficiency to drop as we move into Autumn, and the need for power and lighting becomes greater, 'double whammy' style, but we hope that we have enough margin to avoid cranking the drop down bed by hand!

We also had a refillable gas system fitted the day before the Lithium, but I am a very cautious individual!

Steve

 

[Geistguy]

We have a 110 ah battery and 100w factory fitted solar panel, during bright summer weather ( not total sunshine ) we have lasted off grid for 14 days with ho problem. In winter dull weather we tend to tour rather than park up so can't offer advice on winter off grid.

My advice would be to fit the largest solar panel(s) and battery you can, it's always less stressful to have too much power.

 

[Stealaway]

Just be mindful of your payload. Solar panels and extra batteries will all add extra wieght

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[Alexski88]

What a friendly bunch you all are! Thanks for the good advice. Looks like solar power, even approaching winter, is the way to go as a priority. Lots of useful things to think about as well. Thank you everyone

 

[Richard n Ann]

What a friendly bunch you all are! Thanks for the good advice. Looks like solar power, even approaching winter, is the way to go as a priority. Lots of useful things to think about as well. Thank you everyone

If I were using solar in winter I would definitely fit hinges down one side so the panel can be pointed south. I did this on ours as we had a compressor coolbox in Spain in October, we always park with the door west facing so I hinged the panel back (only when parked up of course )

Output goes up a lot with it tilted, I remember it going from about 2 amps flat to 7 amps tilted

 

[vzac]

We have a bailey autograph 692. We have been of grid for 3 days easily, we do have a factory fitted solar, with 1 agm battery factory fitted. Be careful, we can not fit 2 batteries on ours as its fitted in the van floor. Also try it first before spending more money, you might be surprised how long it will lasts.