Suggestions for my optimum setup

[weemalkie]

Hi I'm completely new to Motor homing having just bought our first. Its a Burstner IXEO time 6M.
I'm hoping that I this forum could give some suggestions as to what equipment I should have installed so that I could spend as much time as possible off grid and still have access to 230v - all be it this would be limited to possibly micro wave, electric bike charging etc.
My MH is fitted with an ELB 119 and one 90Ah gel leisure battery.
I'm thinking solar panels, lithium batteries, inverter. Not sure what else required.
Any mods will be professionally installed.
I've been doing some reading - possibly too much - and now totally confused!
Any and all suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Tombola]

Microwave will need a 2kw inverter.
Then the batteries to supply it, possibly lithium as you say. 100- 200ah various deals around
Solar depends how much power you are going to use, but as much as you have space if you are a heavy user.

there is a discount code for KS batteries at the top of this thread

 

[suavecarve]

One suggestion would be to purchase my wrongly purchased Victron B2B 30 amp in the classifieds !

Renogy would be my option of choice for solar
Lithium I would get 200 ah (but I am waiting for a hopeful price decrease)
Inverter as per Tombola

It is my belief that watching a shed load of Utube videos in order to put the solars on, then put the mppt in, then do the batteries, then do the B2B would simplify the whole thing and could be your biggest cash protector. (if you have an element of DIY about you) (no particular order for them to be done in)

 

[mitzimad]

usually a lot cheaper to get stuff retro fitted than at the dealers

 

[Kannon Fodda]

Two different problems here on off grid usage expectations.

Microwave and other appliances will be needing a high current (amperage) to deal with the load, even short term. The rated output of a microwave, say 800W could need a start up current double that in a short burst. But even a 1000W inverter (that can do a peak double that) is going to draw around 100 Amp at 12 Volt (allowing inefficiency of the inverter process) so perhaps a burst approaching 200Amp. Your battery(s) have a C rate, the sustained discharge current. Larger lithiums may get there, but other battery types could struggle so that you need multiples.

Use such as recharge of e-bike batteries is about capacity of your habitation battery and how large your e-bike is. My Bosch 500 Battery is effectively 13.4Ah but that is 36V. Convert that to your 12V system, ignoring inverter or charger inefficiency is over 40Ah from your leisure battery. On a traditional lead-acid habitation battery only 50% capacity is regularly useable without risk of damage or short life on the battery. So you need a good sized battery bank, and then a hope or recharging in a reasonable timeframe. Outside of peak summery weather you'll need EHU, a lot of solar and/or a good capacity B2B charger system to replace a standard relay alternator charger or you'll need to be driving for many many hours.

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[weemalkie]

Many thanks for all your suggestions. Food for thought. A couple of additional questions if you don't mind.
I'm happy about installing solar panels and solar charger - Schaudt LRM1218 would be my choice as it integrates with the EBL119. However the EBL 119 can output 18A and so - as far as I have been informed - can only handle x 10 this output. So 180Ah total. Given that the starter battery can take 8A this leave a total of 10A for the leisure batteries ie 100Ah. And it cant charge lithium batteries.
suavecarve suggested his Victron B2B - does this serve the same purpose as the Schaudt LAS 1218-2 Battery charger which can also integrate with the ELB119?
Would either of these devices serve to charge say 2 additional 100Ah lithium batteries with my existing gel battery being charged through the ELB 119 or would I just remove my gel battery?
Would the addition of either of these devices integrate with the 12v system as controlled by the EBL119? or are they used exclusively to add an inverter and provide 230v ?
Kannon Fodda - many thanks for the info regarding micro waves etc. I have a 700w fitted. I'm getting the impression that my expectations may be beyond what is easily achievable. I was hoping that I could have the potential for a couple of days off grid and be safely independent without having to worry constantly about damaging my leisure batteries. I do appreciate the need for care regarding taking too much out of the batteries.
My apologies for such a long post and so many questions but your input is greatly appreciated.

 

[MisterB]

You're not the first to be guided along the same path, I am partway along it and have had some great advice from people on here. Take your time to read previous posts, it will help you plan it in your mind before spending ....

 

[GMLS]

Have a real think about whether you REALLY need a microwave. We had one in our first van and haven't in the last 2 and tbh, haven't missed it. Not planning on getting one in the next van either.

 

[weemalkie]

Have a real think about whether you REALLY need a microwave. We had one in our first van and haven't in the last 2 and tbh, haven't missed it. Not planning on getting one in the next van either.

Yeh I'm beginning to think you may be correct. It was one of these things when we were buying our Motorhome. " Need a microwave" but maybe not. Can I ask if you spend a lot of time off grid and if so how do you handle it?

 

[weemalkie]

You're not the first to be guided along the same path, I am partway along it and have had some great advice from people on here. Take your time to read previous posts, it will help you plan it in your mind before spending ....

The forums are great and I'm following quite a few. Sometimes difficult (for me!) to get a clear idea of what exactly I need - or should have. Can I ask where you are on your upgrade journey and what you have fitted so far?

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[Langtoftlad]

Maybe rethink your onroad lifestyle and not try to replicate what you have at home.

 

[MisterB]

Lol, the main reason for my upgrade is to enable the use of our microwave when off grid! We have had a microwave since we got married in 1983 and use it all the time. My planning thoughts were that if I plan it to be able to use the microwave, we will be able to use other appliances, even if we don't know we want them yet !

Two 130A batteries fitted though I will need to nurse them as they're not lithium (yet), circuits identified and altered as required. New circuit breaker fitted along with 2kw inverter. 30A B2B waiting to be fitted - which is the next step. Then solar (large domestic panel already purchased). Still working through whether to fit auto changeover to the inverter or manual.
Unfortunately I've got other jobs on the go at home so time is a bit limited.
I do love making improvements (in my opinion they are lol) to our motorhomes. I've even got a sat dish waiting to go on the Moho ...

 

[Jays2]

If you are not installing a microwave, how much inverter power do you need?
ours powers hair straighteners, a coffee grinder that’s it, all the rest runs on 12 volt, charging included.
it only gets switched on when we want to use it.

 

[chaser]

Hi I'm completely new to Motor homing having just bought our first. Its a Burstner IXEO time 6M.
I'm hoping that I this forum could give some suggestions as to what equipment I should have installed so that I could spend as much time as possible off grid and still have access to 230v - all be it this would be limited to possibly micro wave, electric bike charging etc.
My MH is fitted with an ELB 119 and one 90Ah gel leisure battery.
I'm thinking solar panels, lithium batteries, inverter. Not sure what else required.
Any mods will be professionally installed.
I've been doing some reading - possibly too much - and now totally confused!
Any and all suggestions would be appreciated.

I haven't read every post so might have already been said but I would ditch as many 220 volt stuff as you can, cook on gas , no problem, , and most other stuff can be done on 12 volt, just get as much solar as you can fit and same with batteries and you will be fine.

 

[weemalkie]

I do love making improvements (in my opinion they are lol) to our motorhomes.

I'm in the same place. Like to do as much as possible myself but when it comes to vehicle electrics I know absolutely nothing so not ready to attempt any major changes myself until I know exactly what I need to add, how well it integrates with present equipment or not, and what the final positive outcomes are likely to be. I'm thinking at the moment solar panels with he Schaudt LRM1218 charge regulator. I have offspring in France so solar would be an advantage there. Even in central Scotland the sun shines sometimes so win win!
Good luck with the rest of your install. Sounds like the route I want to go down.

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[138go]

Have a real think about whether you REALLY need a microwave. We had one in our first van and haven't in the last 2 and tbh, haven't missed it. Not planning on getting one in the next van either.

We also had a microwave in the our first MH but not in the subsequent ones. A better bit of kit is a Remoska, which will happily run off our inverter.

 

[Tombola]

stick 200ah of lithium, 400-600 solar, 30a b2b seperate if possible from the existing, and use your microwave to your hearts content.

the old addage of, if you can afford it, its there if you need it.

I like my microwave because it saves me on dishes and gets my stuff done quick

 

[weemalkie]

stick 200ah of lithium, 400-600 solar, 30a b2b seperate if possible from the existing, and use your microwave to your hearts content.

the old addage of, if you can afford it, its there if you need it.

I like my microwave because it saves me on dishes and gets my stuff done quick

400 - 600 W solar? Thats a lot of solar. Not enough space on my roof I'm afraid. Take your point about it being there if you want to spend the cash. Need to consult the manager.

 

[Tombola]

400 - 600 W solar? Thats a lot of solar. Not enough space on my roof I'm afraid. Take your point about it being there if you want to spend the cash. Need to consult the manager.

sure, but all depends on the usage, you can do to 200 and see if you need more. No point in spedning it if you dont need it. Im assuming all things required are included in the post above.
get rid of the micro, hair dryer, coffeee machine etc and you wont need hardly any. Its the getting power back into the batteries quickly is what the lithium is good for

 

[the1andonly]

Some points have already been said so take this as reinforcement
1 Dont necessarily trey to replicate what you use at home.
eg we use a pressure cooker in the van but slow cooker at home.
2 Consider very seriously the need for a microwave.
3 Consider very seriously the need for an inverter and its size.
for long trips/stays we use an old camping twin tub washing machine and charging Gtech hand held hoover. Small food processors/choppers can also be low power. Use 12v where possible, eg Tablet instead of laptop or where laptop essential use a dc to dc convertor not an invertor.
4 400-600w is not a rediculous amount. I have 550w on a 6m van (100w is tiltable though ive not had need to.)

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