Caravan - Solar vs Generator?

[whisper]

We are off on holiday soon in a caravan, we are going to brave this cold weather but the only problem is there is no power supply where we are going....

The caravan is equipped with a 110amp leisure battery which we will need to keep it charged if we are going to last our 10 day trip in these current weather conditions....

Any ideas on how best to do this? Or what size a panel or generator needs to be?

[Pikey Dave]

It all depends on what you are running off the battery. Bear in mind many campsites won't allow you to run gennys

[PeterM]

Originally Posted by whisper

We are off on holiday soon in a caravan, we are going to brave this cold weather but the only problem is there is no power supply where we are going....

The caravan is equipped with a 110amp leisure battery which we will need to keep it charged if we are going to last our 10 day trip in these current weather conditions....

Any ideas on how best to do this? Or what size a panel or generator needs to be?

So if I come over...can you jump start my car?.....I'm no help...how about a windy driven one like the yacht bits have on their boats?

[kerny]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

It all depends on what you are running off the battery. Bear in mind many campsites won't allow you to run gennys

They usually do if they are them silent made for caravan ones

[whisper]

We can run a generator from 2pm to 6pm.

The caravan has its own charging system to charge the battery.

We are running, lights and a fan on the blown air heating also water pump etc from 12v.

Hope to run the heater, fridge, cooker and I think the water heater from the gas.

[kerny]

Originally Posted by whisper

We can run a generator from 2pm to 6pm.

The caravan has its own charging system to charge the battery.

We are running, lights and a fan on the blown air heating also water pump etc from 12v.

Hope to run the heater, fridge, cooker and I think the water heater from the gas.

Yep you can run your fridge on gas and use the gas fire to save leccy. Just make sure that the flues are clear on the outside of the van

[matt h]

if u do the breakfart then u can jump from my battery!

[whisper]

Cool, so how long will the leisure battery last?

[landlord]

Would suggest the generator option. Solar will require setting up to the optimum elevation and orientation to south to be any good. Furthermore if you dont see any sun for the 10 days you wont produce much energy to charge your batteries. Genny will give you more options, from charging batteries to using other mains equipment.

[mick]

Just run the geney every couple of days and have plenty of gas on hand we have been to the alps in ours with no issues
Sometimes the site has charging facilities

[xs 400]

as said most vans heaters run on gas and electric. same as your fridge. just run lights on your battery, charge up battery with generator and battery charger.

good advice about the flu ,we are going to get a carbon monoxide alarm for ours.

where are you going alex. we are going to brave our caravan at easter?

[kerny]

Don't forget that you can always use the grey plug on your car short term.

[PeterM]

Originally Posted by matt h

if u do the breakfart then u can jump from my battery!

He is ignoring our helpful posts Matt.... :-(

[willk]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Bear in mind many campsites won't allow you to run gennys

Those TESCO campsites don't object to gennys. They're fussy about you staying overnight tho...

[matt h]

Dont worry he wont ignore us when we nick his wheel bearings! XS... you heading down to the coast over easter?

[xs 400]

north devon this weekend, new forest next weekend

[bingosucks]

Originally Posted by xs 400

north devon this weekend, new forest next weekend

love north devon .,what site are you stopping in ?

i think your all very brave risking the caravans, hoping your all good preppers

you can get low db suitcase gennies but they`re not cheap

[Ian_st]

If the boat is staying at home could use the boat battery as a backup.

When I used to go away relied on gas for fridge and heat, car 12v for emergency. And the pub every night to minimise the need for night time lighting.

[Nos4r2]

You need to borrow a genny Whisper?

[xs 400]

[QUOTE=bingosucks;524976]love north devon .,what site are you stopping in ?

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