Battery upgrade.

[Justus3]

Right so due to one thing and another our camping year is all but over.
So time to plan a few things for next year we are still getting use to our van and are building a picture about how we are using the van. This being our 1st full year with the van.

We really like staying on club temp sites and meet ups. We tend to travel to a site and use the van as base not moving it till we leave.
With this in mind and the uncertainty of electric costs ect. We want to be more able to stay off grid more often. Our power needs are not massive at the moment. But that may change as we start to travel more and do longer road trips from next year. So looking to build in extra needs now. Currently we don't use any mains voltage off EHU. We currently use a 12v cool box on EHU and a yeti off grid. An upgrade on this is also on the list once space can be found.

Currently we have 110ah wet battery which looks like it maybe on its way out. The power unit we have is sergeant PMS3 EC160 built in charger 150w 13.8 v fixed voltage charger.

We've been looking at a lithium upgrade (100ah or poss 160ah) I've contacted one company and say the charger will be ok but best not used every charge. We don't have a B2B just a split relay.

Along with battery upgrade solar will also be added.

So is lithium upgrade currently practical and what size solar do members think is minimum/ most practical and what apex min cost of the total upgrade?
(not inc lithium battery) For info the van is a SWB , hightop, Vivaro.

 

[Spriddler]

Our power needs are not massive at the moment. But that may change as we start to travel more and do longer road trips from next year.

A clue as to how much off-grid leccy you think you'll need is important in calculating battery capacity requirements.
For how long do you expect to be stationary (i.e. not driving) when off-grid?
T.V? for how long each day?
Run a computer for an hour or two?
Are you likely to fit an inverter?

 

[Justus3]

A clue as to how much off-grid leccy you think you'll need is important in calculating battery capacity requirements.
T.V? for how long each day?
Run a computer for an hour or two?
Are you likely to fit an inverter?
For how long do you expect to be stationary (i.e. not driving) when off-grid?

Oh sorry meant to add that bit.
TV we got given one with the van but never used it so it never comes with us.
Phones, iPads ect currently charged by battery packs
Inverter maybe but not right away as part of this upgrade. Can use the eco flow if we really need one in the mean time.
To date most we've done to date is 4/5 days. option for a bit longer be nice.
We have a diesel heater too though we tend not to use it.
Led strip lighting 2x 0.4 amp
water pump apox 5 amp.

 

[suavecarve]

Without adding things up quickly my knee jerk response would be to boost your current system with a second battery.
I don't see the usage you have to justify the expense of lithium. It's not just the battery that will cost.
Dependant upon your solar and locations you go to I think money is better spent on that.

Should you decide to go lithium keep everything you have to replace in case you upgrade

 

[Spriddler]

TV we got given one with the van but never used it so it never comes with us.
Phones, iPads ect currently charged by battery packs

To date most we've done to date is 4/5 days. option for a bit longer be nice.
We have a diesel heater too though we tend not to use it.
Led strip lighting 2x 0.4 amp
water pump apox 5 amp.

My set-up and usage is the same as yours except a gas fridge, gas H/W and (rarely used) gas heating and I can also do 4/5 days off-grid in a field at classic bike rallies and steam fairs. In fact mine's a sealed lead acid 110Ah Bosch STARTER battery because I was given it new FOC and I fitted it as a temp stop-gap just over 5 years ago !
It must be due for replacement soon and I'll then fit two 110Ah batteries, possibly starter ones again as I still have access to freebies.
I only use the m/h a couple of times a year in the U.K. to attend specific events. All of my actual touring is abroad when I move on every 2 or 3 days. I live only a 17 mile drive from France (Newhaven ferry port).

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[Justus3]

Without adding things up quickly my knee jerk response would be to boost your current system with a second battery.
I don't see the usage you have to justify the expense of lithium. It's not just the battery that will cost.
Dependant upon your solar and locations you go to I think money is better spent on that.

Should you decide to go lithium keep everything you have to replace in case you upgrade

I fully understand your view and that was my 1st idea. I just can't find suitable room. Without eating into the current storage we have / i've converted. Also to avoid voltage drop between them the current one along with wiring would need moving to be near the 2rd one.

I know its not the cheapest option I'm only exploring options to build in future use of the van. The other option is fit solar and fit a better wet battery together with the eco flow to have a more flexible option. fit a splitter and let solar top up the two.