Help with wild camping for longer.

[Belledog]

How can we make ourselves more self sufficient so that we can wild camp for more than a couple of nights. We have 2 agm 95amp batteries and a 120 watt solar panel. We have 2 TVs, iPads and phones and led lights. There’s just the 2 of us. We we’re considering an extra solar panel but not sure if we would be better changing the batteries to lithium and a b2b charger. I’m not techie so please, layman’s terms only
karen.

 

[Lenny HB]

If you can afford it Lithium is the way to go.
Unless you are looking at mid winter off the grid more batteries and solar would probably get you by.
We have 3 x 80a/h Gel batteries and 300 watts of solar still nowhere near enough for mid winter but I could probably last 5 or 6 days in the winter.

 

[Helen Ariel]

We found water and waste our limiting factor not power. Just bought a 40l aquaroll and a spare toilet cassette so we can last longer between sites. We have one solar panel and 2 standard leisure batteries.

 

[poppycamper]

If you can afford it Lithium is the way to go.
Unless you are looking at mid winter off the grid more batteries and solar would probably get you by.
We have 3 x 80a/h Gel batteries and 300 watts of solar still nowhere near enough for mid winter but I could probably last 5 or 6 days in the winter.

Agree lithium.. but why 2 tv's.. do you watch them at same time(his n hers) and ipads and phone can be power heavy if used a lot

 

[irnbru]

We charge our laptops and bike batteries while we are travelling. Saves draining the battery while parked up. Sometimes charge mobile phones at cafes while having lunch etc. All savings of power use add up.

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[Two on Tour]

We found water and waste our limiting factor not power

Beat me to it, as that is what will govern our length of time truly of grid.

 

[poppycamper]

We charge our laptops and bike batteries while we are travelling. Saves draining the battery while parked up. Sometimes charge mobile phones at cafes while having lunch etc. All savings of power use add up.

Fair comment.. but I got impression OP wanted to know how to extend his time when on site and not how to charge things up in transit.

 

[Belledog]

We found water and waste our limiting factor not power. Just bought a 40l aquaroll and a spare toilet cassette so we can last longer between sites. We have one solar panel and 2 standard leisure batteries.

What’s an aqua roll and yes I’m getting an extra toilette cassette

 

[Belledog]

Agree lithium.. but why 2 tv's.. do you watch them at same time(his n hers) and ipads and phone can be power heavy if used a lot

One in the bedroom and one in the living area. I always go to bed earlier than the old man.

 

[poppycamper]

What’s an aqua roll and yes I’m getting an extra toilette cassette

Water carrier that all tuggers ( and me ) have

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[bigwood]

Our time between sites is mainly limited to fresh and waste water capacity. Not having much tech stuff on board means the two 110 amp leisure batteries and a 130 amp solar panel gives us plenty of electrical power.
Having plenty of storage space we carry a 20 litre fresh water container and a 20 litre grey water container.
We prefer to mix sites and wild camping but our longest without sites was four nights in Scotland. Abroad with Aires or Stelplatz its so much easier.

 

[poppycamper]

One in the bedroom and one in the living area. I always go to bed earlier than the old man.

So if I have got this correct then you are running both tv's at same time...Now that is quite a large power drain.

 

[Lenny HB]

What’s an aqua roll and yes I’m getting an extra toilette cassette

Not something you would want in a Motorhome, a tuggers thingy.

 

[irnbru]

Fair comment.. but I got impression OP wanted to know how to extend his time when on site and not how to charge things up in transit.

Just shows how we interpret things differently. The OP never mentioned being on site, and charging while you drive then enables you to last longer when wild camping

 

[poppycamper]

Not something you would want in a Motorhome, a tuggers thingy.

Oh Lenny why not.. you obviously don't rally or THS. The number of times I have loaned out my aquaroll to those who could not get their van to the water tap.
Bit the same selfish attitude as that of those who don't carry any equipment to help when stuck on wet grass because there will always be a gullible tugger in his big 4X4 to pull me out.

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[MyrtleGuru]

What sort of fridge do you have -- can it run on gas? Do you stay in one place for several days. Do you travel in sunny places / seasons?
Asking as we have a similar set up (two 100Ah batteries and 120 Watt solar) and we don't run out of power. We only have one small telly, but computer-wise a fair bit more. The fridge runs on gas. And we rarely stay anywhere more than four days before moving on.

 

[Lenny HB]

Oh Lenny why not.. you obviously don't rally or THS. The number of times I have loaned out my aquaroll to those who could not get their van to the water tap.
Bit the same selfish attitude as that of those who don't carry any equipment to help when stuck on wet grass because there will always be a gullible tugger in his big 4X4 to pull me out.

You obviously don't know me. We rarely use sites and can survive 4 days 5 if careful just from our water tank both having a shower every day, if we miss the odd shower we can do a week. Carry a spare cassette (and shovel). Also carry a twin tub washing machine.

I have an Aquaroll in the shed from tugging days certainly wouldn't want it in the van too clumersum.

Our last van only had a little tank 100 Lt so used to carry two 20 Lt containers of water in the garage much more manageable than an Aquaroll & a submersible pump to pump the water across. If we had kept that van I would have probably fitted another tank.

 

[scotzsue]

One in the bedroom and one in the living area. I always go to bed earlier than the old man.

so do I but TV is in my sleeping area and I don't watch it use it to listen to the radio sometimes though

 

[Wissel]

Depends on what you need.

If you run out of 12v power, solar and lithium probably a safe bet.
If it's water or waste capacity, increase them.
If gas a bigger gas supply. Or switch heating to diesel maybe.
If it's milk - buy more

If it's just 12v power then solar is cheap (I'd fill the roof) and if budget allows add LiFePO4. It is an investment, but if nothing else gives you what you want, it's a great choice

 

[Belledog]

What sort of fridge do you have -- can it run on gas? Do you stay in one place for several days. Do you travel in sunny places / seasons?
Asking as we have a similar set up (two 100Ah batteries and 120 Watt solar) and we don't run out of power. We only have one small telly, but computer-wise a fair bit more. The fridge runs on gas. And we rarely stay anywhere more than four days before moving on.

Yes we have a gas fridge.

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[Minxy]

Solar first then if you've got space and payload/capacity add more matched batteries. Lithium are apparently good but very expensive and whether you store 190w of usable power in 2 Lithium or 4 AGM batteries you've still got to keep the power going into them in the first place before you can use it.

 

[poppycamper]

You obviously don't know me. We rarely use sites and can survive
Sorry Lenny but i think i do know you cause i think we very similar...we both dont like "sites" and prefer to "be out there". The difference is ( and I am only guessing and it does not matter to me ) is that you may have a bigger tank than I have got so I prefer to take my Aquaroll for a walk than dig out the van for a 200yrd drive to tap..
As I said my Aguaroll has bailed out many in distress in the past and rest assured I won't turn you away in your hour of need.

 

[autorouter]

You need to estimate how much energy you use per day, then find a way to replenish that amount.

Suppose with your existing setup you can last for 2 nights. I'd guess you use about 100Ah from your batteries in 2 days, and the 120W solar will generate maybe 35Ah per day. So guess at your power use is 50 + 35 = 85Ah per day.

To get that from solar power you'll need 300 watts of solar panel, and plenty of sunshine.

Or you could get that from a B2B, which boosts the alternator output to the batteries while you drive. The maximum amps recommended for a battery of unknown type is C/5, where C is the battery capacity in Ah. So for you that's 180/5 = 36A. The choice is 30A or 40A, but the 60A one is probably a bit high. A 30A would need 3 hours to generate the 85Ah you need, or the 40A just over 2 hours.

The other possibility is charging before you start (from a mains hookup, or B2B while driving) and gradually using up the stored battery power until you can recharge again. You'll need about 50Ah per day, so ideally to avoid discharging below 50% that's 100Ah of battery per day. 400Ah of battery capacity is not uncommon, but it depends whether you have the space and weight capacity.

Lithium batteries are half the size and weight for the same capacity, and even better, more of the energy (up to 80%) can be used without causing degradation. Also they can be charged faster because they can take a much higher current. The only downside is the cost.

So you can choose the way forward - more solar, a B2B, more batteries, or lithium. Or a combination.

Or you could turn to the dark side and run a generator for a two or three hours a day, if your neighbours can stand it.

 

[IRHP]

You need to estimate how much energy you use per day, then find a way to replenish that amount.

Suppose with your existing setup you can last for 2 nights. I'd guess you use about 100Ah from your batteries in 2 days, and the 120W solar will generate maybe 35Ah per day. So guess at your power use is 50 + 35 = 85Ah per day.

100Ah? you mean 100A?

 

[autorouter]

100Ah? you mean 100A?

Nope, it's 100 amp-hours, not 100 amps. Some people confuse amp-hours (electric charge) with amps (electric current, = rate of flow of electric charge), but I'm not one of them.

OK I should have said 100 Ah at 12V. Amp-hours is a convenient way of measuring energy when the voltage you are working with is always understood to be 12V, as in most motorhomes.

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[busbuddy]

Book a week at a campsite and use every ounce of electric that you possibly can, leave the tv on all night and lights on all day
Then you will know how well your current system copes, guessing/estimating just don't cut it..........worst case scenario is your batteries die and you plug the hook up in but at least you know for certain

 

[Don Campbell]

Solar first then if you've got space and payload/capacity add more matched batteries. Lithium are apparently good but very expensive and whether you store 190w of usable power in 2 Lithium or 4 AGM batteries you've still got to keep the power going into them in the first place before you can use it.

Agree with that strongly re solar first. 300w ideal for grey days but read up very carefully about lithium batteries before you take the plunge. Not as simple as some of the sellers imply.

 

[The Wino]

I think it depends how you tend to travel. If you sit in the same place for ages and don't travel or have a hookup you need a lot of solar and storage for grey short days. On threads like this there's always a lot of emphasis on generating electricity but a lot less on using less which is another consideration.

 

[sonny]

pray for lots of sunshine

 

[PeteH]

Havan`t done it on this one (Yet). But I used to carry an Aquaroll on the roof lashed to the side bars. A Pint of water laced with Milton (or similar) sloshes about and keeps it fresh (ish) AND. (Warning!!! ) I do Have a Generator!.