Why can’t I have same set up in a caravan (1 Viewer)

Caggsie1

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Can someone tell me the difference electrically in caravan to a Mh other than the alternator? I’d like to have lithium and inverter in a caravan, installing solar as source, other than when on eh. Why is this not recommended?
 
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Perhaps because Lithium can take really big charge currents (with appropriate alternator and electrickery). Can't see why you can't use Lithium from just solar?
 

Ivory55

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Is the charger in the caravan not suitable for lithium, just a guess not an expert

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Caggsie1

Caggsie1

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In all honesty I don’t know. I just don’t quite understand why caravans don’t have same stuff as MH. They’re not too far apart- or are they?
 
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Caggsie1

Caggsie1

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I understand running the engine, the alternator puts energy into battery but, dead thick here, whilst onsite, no running of engine, do I not have an issue? That could be for 2-3 wks Without running the engine.
 
Mar 30, 2019
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I would imagine they don't have the same set-up as standard as most caravans were used on sites so have hookup as standard. However there is no reason to stop you installing what you want. You may not be able to charge via the alternator when driving due to cable sizes but no reason why solar wouldn't work, at least in the summertime.

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pappajohn

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In all honesty I don’t know. I just don’t quite understand why caravans don’t have same stuff as MH. They’re not too far apart- or are they?
Caravans are invariably on hookup so don't really need a battery other than to smooth the fluctuating charger/power supply rate.
 
Apr 3, 2018
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Caravans are invariably on hookup so don't really need a battery other than to smooth the fluctuating charger/power supply rate.
C'mon pappajohn... how many festivals... rallys.... THS... And yes Motorhome shows have you been too???? There are always plenty of tuggers there..
 

Badknee

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Payload is very little, I bought my lads a caravan and he carries most of his gear in the back of the car. His is just over 200kgs if I remember correctly.

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Jul 24, 2015
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I have taken all the caravan electric bits out of our eriba and put in 115ah leisure battery, 100w solar panel..new blade fuse box and intelligent charger.
All works great ..only goes on hook up at home before we go away for cooling the fridge and a bit of extra charge in the battery .
Will also charge off the alternator when attached to the van
 

pappajohn

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I thought you had another connecter on the back of your car, similar to the normal trailer plug, but for charging when traveling, I have seen many cars with two plugs.
Yep.... The (usually) black socket (7N) is for legal road lighting.
The (usually) grey socket (7S) is for accessories... Charging, fridge, reverse and fog lights etc.
They CANNOT be reversed as the pin layout is different.
The whole lot is included in a 13 pin socket.

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Caggsie1

Caggsie1

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That’s as maybe spriddler, but, I want to use like my MH, off grid etc. I just don’t get why caravans dont Seem to have the capacity. The one we intend getting does have internal water tank albeit tiny in comparison to the one in Mh
 

Ivory55

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That’s as maybe spriddler, but, I want to use like my MH, off grid etc. I just don’t get why caravans dont Seem to have the capacity. The one we intend getting does have internal water tank albeit tiny in comparison to the one in Mh
Be careful traveling with a full water tank, if at the front it’s a lot more weight on the tow hitch, also they can be not as watertight as as a motorhome tank. Also if your toilet has a separate water tank if traveling with it full the water can splash up and wreck the electric flush.

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eddie

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Charging is the big issue.

If you are mainly on sites using hook up, you don't need Lithium
If you are mainly on sites using hook up, you don't need an inverter
If you are mainly on sites using hook up, you don't need solar panels

If you are mainly on sites not using hook up how would you charge your lithium batteries?

On a Fifth wheel set up we can install a Battery to Battery charger and use the appropriate cables and use Anderson plugs to allow for inter connection, this simply isn't feasible in a car/caravan set up and a normal 12s set up would simply melt
 

Jim

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Near me is a company that sells American Caravans. They are not as wide as RVs and come in all sizes. These have solar, and small onboard gennies as well as large onboard water and waste tanks. If I was ever going down the caravan route I would definitley look at them.
 

Ivory55

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Charging is the big issue.

If you are mainly on sites using hook up, you don't need Lithium
If you are mainly on sites using hook up, you don't need an inverter
If you are mainly on sites using hook up, you don't need solar panels

If you are mainly on sites not using hook up how would you charge your lithium batteries?

On a Fifth wheel set up we can install a Battery to Battery charger and use the appropriate cables and use Anderson plugs to allow for inter connection, this simply isn't feasible in a car/caravan set up and a normal 12s set up would simply melt
If an Anderson connection is used on a normal car , if a big cable was run from the battery to the connector separately would that be ok. Just being nosy, haha.

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Aug 6, 2013
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If an Anderson connection is used on a normal car , if a big cable was run from the battery to the connector separately would that be ok. Just being nosy, haha.
As long as it was followed by a big cable from the plug to the van 😊. Over the whole length you're looking at two cables of the same sheath diameter as a 12N cable. Mind you could probably do away with the hitch altogether 🤣.
 
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That’s as maybe spriddler, but, I want to use like my MH, off grid etc. I just don’t get why caravans dont Seem to have the capacity. The one we intend getting does have internal water tank albeit tiny in comparison to the one in Mh
Exactly as we used our 'van.
Admittedly no inverter and did not charge from car..
Solar and lithium
Incidently the weight of panel is off setted by lighter weight of lithium so not much extra weight overall.
 

Ivory55

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As long as it was followed by a big cable from the plug to the van 😊. Over the whole length you're looking at two cables of the same sheath diameter as a 12N cable. Mind you could probably do away with the hitch altogether 🤣.
Would the earth one not just be bolted to the tow bar ? I admit that the only time I see these connections is when unloading with a tail lift

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eddie

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If you were content to have Lithiums installed that we charged from solar, why not.

But on road charging would have to be addressed and in a car / caravan combination its not really feasible

If you had a 220 VAC charger with a Lithium profile you "could" charge the Lithium batteries whilst at home prior to the trip, start off with fully charged Lithium(s) and rely on solar to extend the amount of time you could stay off grid
 
Aug 6, 2013
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Would the earth one not just be bolted to the tow bar ? I admit that the only time I see these connections is when unloading with a tail lift
It could be but in trying to reduce any volt drop or unwanted earth current loops it would be better direct to battery.

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Dec 2, 2019
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The simplest way to cover for the missing alternator is a small inverter generator, put in a insulated box. To fit Li and solar on a caravan is no different than a MH. Only thing as you said no alternator. Get a small 700-1000w inverter genny, and a multiplus inverter. That covers your charging better than alternator.
 
Dec 24, 2014
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Ever since lighting was by Calor gas.
That’s as maybe spriddler, but, I want to use like my MH, off grid etc. I just don’t get why caravans dont Seem to have the capacity. The one we intend getting does have internal water tank albeit tiny in comparison to the one in Mh
I guess it's down to keeping initial cost down to remain competitive for the maybe 90% of caravan buyers who wouldn't need the off-grid power.
 
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Why would you leave the gear with the caravan? It has better re sale value on its own.

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