solar beginner needing help (1 Viewer)

smedley

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May 7, 2017
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So i have recently decided to convert a coach into a motor home. I have purchased a Volvo b10m plaxton premiere 12m coach 53 seats. seats will be for sale in a week or so, so keep your eyes open. anyone interested please feel free to message me. i am in south west somerset, picture will be up tomorrow when the coach is delivered.

I am new to this and looking forward to learning new skills as i am a flooring specialist and no little about electrics or plumbing etc.

first things first, i am looking for advice n my power system. I want to run a solar / sure power hook up so when i visit caravan parks i can use sure power and also have it charge the batteries but be able to run on solar while driving from place to place. any ideas on the set up for this? i will be calculating the ah of batteries needed, solar panel and inverter size after i work out what appliances i will be installing.

I have been advised to use 24v set up, maybe 2 12v solars wired together and maybe 2 lots of this. Unsure atm but would love to hear your guys advise.

Thanks
Smedley
 
Apr 27, 2008
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The problem with having 24v electrics is that there is a huge range of stuff for 12v, rather less for 24v.
if you are exclusively using sites then you really have no use for solar. Charging while moving is best done from the alternator.
 
Jan 28, 2008
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normally 12v is the choice for campers but if your going to be mostly on sites and with such a huge payload you may as well go for a large battery bank and invertor and run 240 v for most stuff
 

eddie

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Hi and welcome to MHFun

I agree you would be better looking to run the whole conversion on 12VDC

What is a "Sure Power hook up?"


sterling do a range of 24 VDC to 12 VDC Battery to Battery chargers that would take care of your on road charging.

Is your conversion 12metres long?
 

SuperMike

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@eddievanbitz Eddie, @smedley means shore hook up. It's an American RV type term for being connected to the shore, i.e. ehu, methinks.:)

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Jan 28, 2008
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Dovercourt, Harwich, UK
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Hi and welcome to MHFun

I agree you would be better looking to run the whole conversion on 12VDC

What is a "Sure Power hook up?"


sterling do a range of 24 VDC to 12 VDC Battery to Battery chargers that would take care of your on road charging.

Is your conversion 12metres long?
im assuming he means "shore" as hook up is refered to in boating circles
 

eddie

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lol I should of guessed that considering

My job, I have and RV and I have a boat:doh:

It's Monday morning:laughing:

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DBK

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Jan 9, 2013
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Welcome! As has been mentioned, solar is for situations where you can't get an electric hook up or EHU as it is normally called by us motorhoming landlubbers.
Given you may not find a great many sites which will take a full sized bus, though I have seen a couple on sites but it is rare, then a good solar setup of say 300W or above would be useful for when you need to park up somewhere less formal - such as a lay by or industrial estate. Alternatively, or additionally, a built in generator would be an option. :)
 
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smedley

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May 7, 2017
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volvo b10m plaxton premie
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from 08/05/2017
@really retired @mitzimad
I think I will follow the 12vdc option as you and many others have recommended.

@eddie
thanks Eddie I will look into the on toad charging side. it's a 12m coach with 10m of convertible living space. will have step by step pics so you guys can see and advise along the way. ow and yeah i meant shore power but it was too early on a Monday for me to notice I wrote it wrong lol.

@DBK
I will use hook ups where possible but I will be parking without quite a lot and also what the security of not being able to be without electric. I was thinking of having a generator as back up for the worst of the worst situations.

Thanks to all you guys for the responses and feedback it is much appreciated! :)

Lee
 

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