Kerfufled!

[Clarri]

Hi there. Sort of newbie here! Right, so, could someone explain the basics of the electrics! We've just gotten our camper back from being wired up. We've got leisure batteries, solar, ehu, etc.
Please explain to me in simple terms how they all work.
Off Grid, the leisure batteries do the work? The solar panel should keep them charged? But when off grid we shouldn't use anything like kettle or microwave as they're too much for the leisure batteries?
When we're plugged in we should be OK to use anything?

We have an invertor which isn't currently working, but when it is, when can we use it?

Thanks in advance & please be patient!

 

[Figaro]

It'd be useful to know how much solar and batteries you have to answer.

 

[DBK]

Welcome!

If you want to use 240 volt stuff like kettles when off grid you will need your inverter working - but only if your batteries and the inverter are big enough.

When plugged into an electric supply you should be fine to fire up the kettle but don't rely on this if outside the UK.

The above is a two line answer but there are a lot of "buts" and "howevers" which need to be added for a more comprehensive answer.

To get there we need to know boring details like the number of batteries you have, their capacity and of course the specification of your inverter.

But welcome again! . And buy a whistling kettle for the hob!

 

[bigtwin]

Have you just posted on Facebook?

I just replied to virtually the same question on there!

Ian

 

[Phill D]

Hi and welcome

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

 

[Clarri]

It'd be useful to know how much solar and batteries you have to answer.

3 leisure 115ah each I've been informed! And the solar panel is 200w.

 

[Clarri]

Welcome!

If you want to use 240 volt stuff like kettles when off grid you will need your inverter working - but only if your batteries and the inverter are big enough.

When plugged into an electric supply you should be fine to fire up the kettle but don't rely on this if outside the UK.

The above is a two line answer but there are a lot of "buts" and "howevers" which need to be added for a more comprehensive answer.

To get there we need to know boring details like the number of batteries you have, their capacity and of course the specification of your inverter.

But welcome again! . And buy a whistling kettle for the hob!

I have my whistling kettle!

 

[meanders]

One key thing to remember is that lights, the pump all run only from the battery. Plugging in will put power to the 13A sockets and run heating and fridge and should charge the battery. But the lights still only run off 12 V, Solar will recharge also the battery or batteries, as will driving the van (generally).

Using high power things like hair driers, kettles, toasters etc can all be done off grid but only if you have lots of battery capacity and an installed inverter that is big enough to take the wattage. However all this means weight, so if you have a 3500 van, you may not have the payload to carry it all.

 

[Clarri]

Have you just posted on Facebook?

I just replied to virtually the same question on there!

No!

 

[Clarri]

Have you just posted on Facebook?

I just replied to virtually the same question on there!

No!

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

 

[Verteuil Man]

Hello Clarri and Welcome.

I am by no stretch an electrical genius. Very basic. We spend most of our time in the moho off grid. There is an inverter fitted to the van but we do not use it ( it was fitted by the previous owner). We have a whistling kettle, gas grill and oven. No microwave. Even if we are on EHU we do not take a kettle or toaster just for the sake of using 240 volt. It's not a weight thing as we have a 5 tonne A Class motorhome, we cannot see the point in carting stuff about we will hardly ever use. We listen to the radio, watch TV in moderation and have no problems with power. We have been on 6 day rallies with no EHU with no problems at all. We only have 2 100 amp batteries and 2 100 watt panels.

Mrs B has fairly long have but does not feel the desperate need for a hair dryer, so life can continue quite easily on 12 volt and gas.

 

[autorouter]

All the essential, basic stuff in a motorhome works at 12 volts, from the leisure batteries: lights, water pump, fridge controller, heater controller. The heating of water and keeping the MH warm is done by gas or diesel, controlled by 12V control boards. You should be able to park in the middle of a field with no hookup and have a warm MH and a hot shower. You can use 12V sockets and/or USB sockets powered from the battery to keep phones and laptops/tablets charged.

In most motorhomes the 240V sockets don't work unless the MH is plugged into an electric hookup post (EHU) on a campsite or aire. That's because most MHs don't have an inverter.

Inverters can be a problem if not understood. The setup has to be designed to work well with the batteries and the appliances you want to use. They work well for high power in short bursts, like a microwave, hairdryer, coffee machine etc, and don't work so well on low power loads for a long time, like laptop charging or running the fridge. Heaters of any kind, like water heaters and fan heaters, will quickly run the batteries down and should not usually be run from an inverter.

Leisure batteries are charged from solar, or from an inbuilt mains charger when on EHU, and there will be some arrangement to automatically charge them from the alternator when the engine is running. It can take several hours to fully charge the batteries.