Best phone charging solution

redchad

redchad

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Hi everyone we’re currently in Portugal been on the road since the end of November. The problem I have is our phones and charging them up. Yes we can charge whilst driving and have a small power pack which will fully charge 5 times. But with 2 phones we’re struggling to stay off electricity for 4 nights or more . The vans geared up to stay out longer! What are people using to charge up phones or small items via usb?
 
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What do you mean by " the van is geared up to stay out longer" ?
Do you have solar, B2B what leisure batteries do you have ?
 
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headlight said:
What do you mean by " the van is geared up to stay out longer" ?
Do you have solar, B2B what leisure batteries do you have ?
Click to expand...
Yes we have a solar panel plenty of water/gas can usually find somewhere to drop toilet waste but no used ports inside the van other than on the dashboard. I haven’t a clue what leisure battery I have probably factory fitted.
 
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redchad said:
Yes we have a solar panel plenty of water/gas can usually find somewhere to drop toilet waste but no used ports inside the van other than on the dashboard. I haven’t a clue what leisure battery I have probably factory fitted.
Click to expand...
What van is it ?
 
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redchad said:
I have solar panel on the roof but wouldn’t know how to fit internal usb
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You tube. "fit usb motorhome"
You ll see a choice of several videos, then be able to order bits and your power issues are over because it really is a piece of wee wee

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Do you have a 12v "cig lighter" socket in the living area - maybe near to where a TV might go?

If so a quick temporary solution is to buy a USB converter plug/ socket from a car accessories shop or large supermarket. Should be around a fiver.
 
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suavecarve said:
You tube. "fit usb motorhome"
You ll see a choice of several videos, then be able to order bits and your power issues are over because it really is a piece of wee wee
Click to expand...
That will allow the OP to charge mobiles in the hab but won't alter the fact that after 4 days he needs to go on hook up.
I would hazard a guess that the OP only has a small solar panel, or engine leisure battery charging is only via a split charge not B2B or only has a single 90-100amp leisure battery or all 3.
Hence needing to go on EHU every 4 days.
 
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headlight said:
That will allow the OP to charge mobiles in the hab but won't alter the fact that after 4 days he needs to go on hook up.
I would hazard a guess that the OP only has a small solar panel, or engine leisure battery charging is only via a split charge not B2B or only has a single 90-100amp leisure battery or all 3.
Hence needing to go on EHU every 4 days.
Click to expand...
I've only got a 100w solar panel, no B2B, (only the original Sargent split charger), and a 72aH standard lead acid leisure battery, but I can remain off-grid indefinitely in a UK summer (or in a Portuguese winter).

We're not all incapable of surviving without coffee-capsule machines and hair driers! 😀
 
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Barti Ddu said:
I've only got a 100w solar panel, no B2B, (only the original Sargent split charger), and a 72aH standard lead acid leisure battery, but I can remain off-grid indefinitely in a UK summer (or in a Portuguese winter).

We're not all incapable of surviving without coffee-capsule machines and hair driers! 😀
Click to expand...
I haven't got a coffee machine or hair drier either and don't use hook up winter or summer in the UK.
However it doesn't get away from the fact that the OP's set up is only allowing him 4 days before having to go on EHU.
So either he has a problem or needs more solar, better engine charging or more battery capacity.
 
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I have several 12V sockets around the MH, wired to the leisure battery so they are always on. Two types, one is panel mount, that is recessed and requires a big hole to mount it in.
www.12voltplanet.co.uk

Panel Mount Cigar Lighter Power Socket - 12V/24V 20A max.

Panel mounted cigar lighter style power socket with max. current rating of 20A. Suitable for 12V & 24V systems. Optional panel & pod mounts available.
www.12voltplanet.co.uk
The other is a 'surface mount' type, that mounts on the surface with a couple of small screws. Both types can be wired to the leisure battery, with an inline fuse just near the battery, about 15A will be OK.
www.12voltplanet.co.uk

Surface Mounted 12V Power Socket

Surface mounted, 12V power socket with rubber cover to make it splash proof when not in use. Suitable for marine or external vehicle use. Rated 16A.
www.12voltplanet.co.uk
I have USB adapters to fit them. If you have modern smartphones make sure the adapter is QC3.0 or better, some of the ones like the '2.1A' are a bit underpowered.

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I'm thick as p1g-sh1t but I managed to wire a double USB and cigarette lighter socket (or now called 'appliance socket') with an inline 5amp fuse into the 12v lighting circuit. Some would say the inline fuse is unnecessary as the lighting circuit is fused whereas others would say 2amp fuse is sufficient and preferable but as previously mentioned there are loads of you-tube videos which is where I got my 'expertise' (!!) from. Two usb charge leads drawing less than 1 amp each shouldn't drain a battery supported by any solar panel even in winter, if it does may I humbly suggest you get advice from a commercial expert such as Alpha Batteries in Rochdale (I have no affiliation). Good luck
 
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headlight said:
That will allow the OP to charge mobiles in the hab but won't alter the fact that after 4 days he needs to go on hook up.
I would hazard a guess that the OP only has a small solar panel, or engine leisure battery charging is only via a split charge not B2B or only has a single 90-100amp leisure battery or all 3.
Hence needing to go on EHU every 4 days.
Click to expand...
How does that affect phone charging?
 
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pappajohn said:
How does that affect phone charging?
Click to expand...
In his opening post the OP said his van is geared up for off grid but he has to go on EHU every 4 days, which he doesn't think is right.
That is what I was replying to.
"But with 2 phones we’re struggling to stay off electricity for 4 nights or more . The vans geared up to stay out longer"
 
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headlight said:
In his opening post the OP said his van is geared up for off grid but he has to go on EHU every 4 days, which he doesn't think is right.
That is what I was replying to.
"But with 2 phones we’re struggling to stay off electricity for 4 nights or more . The vans geared up to stay out longer"
Click to expand...
I read it differently. I think they can't keep the phones charged more than 4 days with the powerbank but the hab battery is still running everything else hence " the vans fine". All they might need is a 12 v to usb in a 12 v socket fed by the hab battery probably where you would expect the TV to be.

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headlight said:
That will allow the OP to charge mobiles in the hab but won't alter the fact that after 4 days he needs to go on hook up.
I would hazard a guess that the OP only has a small solar panel, or engine leisure battery charging is only via a split charge not B2B or only has a single 90-100amp leisure battery or all 3.
Hence needing to go on EHU every 4 days.
Click to expand...


His original question. What are people using to charge up phones or small items via usb?
 
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The Wino said:
I read it differently. I think they can't keep the phones charged more than 4 days with the powerbank but the hab battery is still running everything else hence " the vans fine". All they might need is a 12 v to usb in a 12 v socket fed by the hab battery probably where you would expect the TV to be.
Click to expand...
Yes. That's how I read it too. Enough power to otherwise stay off off grid; just no means of charging their phones from the hab battery.
 
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headlight said:
In his opening post the OP said his van is geared up for off grid but he has to go on EHU every 4 days, which he doesn't think is right.
That is what I was replying to.
"But with 2 phones we’re struggling to stay off electricity for 4 nights or more . The vans geared up to stay out longer"
Click to expand...
In which case a generator would be a solution to his mobile phone charging issue
 
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redchad said:
Hi everyone we’re currently in Portugal been on the road since the end of November. The problem I have is our phones and charging them up. Yes we can charge whilst driving and have a small power pack which will fully charge 5 times. But with 2 phones we’re struggling to stay off electricity for 4 nights or more . The vans geared up to stay out longer! What are people using to charge up phones or small items via usb?
Click to expand...
Mostly on solar power throughout the year, and charging 2 x phones, 1 x tablet, and powering a 12v LED TV, and an Amazon Firestick 4K via 12v sockets.

20230122_145252.jpg
20230122_145409.jpg


Cheers,

Jock. :)
 
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headlight said:
Maybe I understood the opening post incorrectly.
Click to expand...
Hard to say. The opening post wasn't exactly clear. Hopefully the OP will be back to clarify.

Whichever is the correct interpretation, he's had loads of useful advice regarding a solution so he should be able to sort it. (y)
 
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To clarify! We have a solar panel and leisure battery my problem is I only have a small power pack that will charge a phone 5 times (we have 2 phones) there are no USB ports in the habitation area. So after 4 nights the phones and power pack are flat and other than drive around to recharge the phones or power pack (we need the phones) I have to get to a EHU to recharge everything. It’s looking like I need to get a usb fitted in the living area or another power pack. However, we have a 12v TV and the 12v connector is slightly larger than the adapter I have in the dashboard anyone know why!
 
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redchad said:
Hi everyone we’re currently in Portugal been on the road since the end of November. The problem I have is our phones and charging them up. Yes we can charge whilst driving and have a small power pack which will fully charge 5 times. But with 2 phones we’re struggling to stay off electricity for 4 nights or more . The vans geared up to stay out longer! What are people using to charge up phones or small items via usb?
Click to expand...

Use one phone at a time and charge your power pack & phones when travelling.

PS. I just use a low wattage inverter to charge phone!
 
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You need to fit, or get fitted a USB socket which is powered of your habitation battery. These are very simple to instal, or find and engineer to do it for you.
 
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