info needed 12v inverters & solar panel chargers

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kevstar

kevstar

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Im fitting out a Sankey bdr trailer for camping, exploring ect & I need some info on the above.
I will be fitting 2 leisure battery's but im clueless to what to look for I don't want cheap nasty
gear either, Im sure I need a pure sine wave inverter but what wattage to go for, my misses
will be running all sorts of gear & if the battery's go flat I will be a muppet (cant have this happen)
I would like to be able to charge when im driving also mains power hook up & a solar charger ect
any tips on what or where to buy from would be a great help.

Cheers Kev :)
Here's my trailer...…….(fkn seller took the top ladder frame off before my courier picked it up)
so I need to make another :mad:
g4.jpg
 
Take it you're not turning it in to a caravan then. Did you see this I posted a few days ago :eek:
IMG_1325.JPG

I'm trying to expand my electrical theory knowledge, so not a lot of help to you. Will you not need an inverter to power your max device needs e.g. 1500w hair dryer for the mrs? Otherwise, it's whatever you have running in the back ground, like a camping fridge. Most camping fridges run off 12v and mains and it would probably be more efficient on the 12v than incurring losses through the inverter.
Are you planning on wild camping? Otherwise, you can get camping pitches with an electrical point for a small extra charge on top of the pitch. (A few euros - don't know about U.K. Charges) You'll get a lot of nights of electrical hook up for what you're going to pay for batteries, inverter, solar panels and charging systems. Doubt you'd get much worthwhile from a solar panel.
 
Al2O3 said:
Take it you're not turning it in to a caravan then. Did you see this I posted a few days ago :eek:
View attachment 186806
I'm trying to expand my electrical theory knowledge, so not a lot of help to you. Will you not need an inverter to power your max device needs e.g. 1500w hair dryer for the mrs? Otherwise, it's whatever you have running in the back ground, like a camping fridge. Most camping fridges run off 12v and mains and it would probably be more efficient on the 12v than incurring losses through the inverter.
Are you planning on wild camping? Otherwise, you can get camping pitches with an electrical point for a small extra charge on top of the pitch. (A few euros - don't know about U.K. Charges) You'll get a lot of nights of electrical hook up for what you're going to pay for batteries, inverter, solar panels and charging systems. Doubt you'd get much worthwhile from a solar panel.
Click to expand...

No I missed this.... looks cool luv it :cool: Yes wild camping but I will put a site hook up into it as the sites have shower
blocks ect so I can always book in. Plus I like snowboarding in the winter so I can camp up & have a base no need
to for lodges or B&Bs ect Hence why I want all the gear in it. Ive no idea of solar & electrics isn't my bag.
Any more pics of your trailer. ;)
 
kevstar said:
No I missed this.... looks cool luv it :cool: Yes wild camping but I will put a site hook up into it as the sites have shower
blocks ect so I can always book in. Plus I like snowboarding in the winter so I can camp up & have a base no need
to for lodges or B&Bs ect Hence why I want all the gear in it. Ive no idea of solar & electrics isn't my bag.
Any more pics of your trailer. ;)
Click to expand...
Ahh, no that's not my little caravan. I saw it on a camp site in Northern France at the beginning of the week. I use a tent. From the snow boarding plan I take it you are planning on sleeping in the trailer :eek:
 
Al2O3 said:
Ahh, no that's not my little caravan. I saw it on a camp site in Northern France at the beginning of the week. I use a tent. From the snow boarding plan I take it you are planning on sleeping in the trailer :eek:
Click to expand...

Oh that's a shame it looks cool. I wont be sleeping in the trailer, il be in a roof tent on top of the trailer il be putting a 270 degree awning ect the trailer will have cooker,fridge,diesel heater,I might throw in a wee microwave & I have a 12v hand
wash station that runs off the alternator. Im collecting bits n bobs atm & I got a free leisure battery today :D
 
They do a small gas water heater just 12v water pump needed. Get a water tank 75ltr this will enable washing & shower options.
Search camper van conversions for ideas
I used push fit pipes for the lorry conversion

Last living trailer was sink/kitchen on the rear. Shower on the front,used the rear 90 door as 1/2 a curtain ;)
Tent mounted on top.

I think you can get a rover/freelander pre heater for water but unsure how hot it gets

Get planning :)
 
Hicap phill said:
They do a small gas water heater just 12v water pump needed. Get a water tank 75ltr this will enable washing & shower options.
Search camper van conversions for ideas
I used push fit pipes for the lorry conversion

Last living trailer was sink/kitchen on the rear. Shower on the front,used the rear 90 door as 1/2 a curtain ;)
Tent mounted on top.

I think you can get a rover/freelander pre heater for water but unsure how hot it gets

Get planning :)
Click to expand...

I plan later im off to do more sanding on the D1 ta much;)
 
There are lots of videos on YouTube but the more you watch the more you’ll get confused.
Basically it’s down to load. Calculate the usage and go from there. A couple of leisure batteries will be fine for lighting and charging but you need to calculate usage when the sun goes down right through to what usage for the next day plus another full charge on the batteries.
Oh and half all the calculations to make up for what is essentially a pretty poor system in reality.
 
kevstar said:
Oh that's a shame it looks cool. I wont be sleeping in the trailer, il be in a roof tent on top of the trailer il be putting a 270 degree awning ect the trailer will have cooker,fridge,diesel heater,I might throw in a wee microwave & I have a 12v hand
wash station that runs off the alternator. Im collecting bits n bobs atm & I got a free leisure battery today :D
Click to expand...
You're going snowboarding and sleeping in a roof tent :eek: :)
 
Al2O3 said:
Jesus :eek:. The losses through the tent must be massive! Where are you planning on going to? :)
Click to expand...

Tents are cold in the winter that's for sure lol ive not made a plan for this winter France would be nice though ive got
loads of work on & not had any time off since Christmas :( Id be happy just to go up north I can get to Glen Coe
in just over an hour leaving at 5am so no traffic just loads of kamikaze deer lol
 
kevstar said:
Tents are cold in the winter that's for sure lol ive not made a plan for this winter France would be nice though ive got
loads of work on & not had any time off since Christmas :( Id be happy just to go up north I can get to Glen Coe
in just over an hour leaving at 5am so no traffic just loads of kamikaze deer lol
Click to expand...
I occasionally drive to Glenshee from here, cos it's a bit closer. I watch the forecast and the webcams closely though, trying to get everything to line up for a Saturday, then it's up early and off. I'm not particularly a fair weather skier, but -3 with a moderate wind in Scotland is a HELL of a lot different to -3 and a moderate wind in France. :eek:
 
Al2O3 said:
I occasionally drive to Glenshee from here, cos it's a bit closer. I watch the forecast and the webcams closely though, trying to get everything to line up for a Saturday, then it's up early and off. I'm not particularly a fair weather skier, but -3 with a moderate wind in Scotland is a HELL of a lot different to -3 and a moderate wind in France. :eek:
Click to expand...

Do they have Snow Gates in France ?
 
Dippypud said:
Do they have Snow Gates in France ?
Click to expand...
Yes, but in my experience they tend to be on more minor roads. I think this must be so they can concentrate their road clearing efforts on the main roads. They need to keep them open as much as possible as there is a lot of money to be made off the skiing tourists. There are a lot of signs, that light up, telling you to put your snow chains on when it starts snowing and developing a decent layer on the road. In Spain, driving up the mountain from Granada, there's a large layby and the police wait there if it's heavy snow. If you have a 4x4 or snow chains they'll let you go on. If not, they turn you around. If the conditions are really bad they turn everyone around.
Why do you ask?
 
Al2O3 said:
Yes, but in my experience they tend to be on more minor roads. I think this must be so they can concentrate their road clearing efforts on the main roads. They need to keep them open as much as possible as there is a lot of money to be made off the skiing tourists. There are a lot of signs, that light up, telling you to put your snow chains on when it starts snowing and developing a decent layer on the road. In Spain, driving up the mountain from Granada, there's a large layby and the police wait there if it's heavy snow. If you have a 4x4 or snow chains they'll let you go on. If not, they turn you around. If the conditions are really bad they turn everyone around.
Why do you ask?
Click to expand...

Pure noseyness ...
 
Dippypud said:
Pure noseyness ...
Click to expand...
Al2O3 said:
@kevstar
Here's a quick snippet from a trip to Glenshee when we got the weather conditions perfect. It was like a top day in the French Alps
Click to expand...


You don't get many days like that :cool:
I had a few outstanding days like that 2 seasons ago at the Coe & the most snow id seen for 12 years I was boarding
from the summit right to my motor haha :cool:
I used to ski but I prefer boarding now..
 
kevstar said:
You don't get many days like that :cool:
I had a few outstanding days like that 2 seasons ago at the Coe & the most snow id seen for 12 years I was boarding
from the summit right to my motor haha :cool:
I used to ski but I prefer boarding now..
Click to expand...
I've had one other identical day to that at Glenshee, in 2018. Others have been fairly standard. On one visit, when you took the T bar to the top of Butchart's is was so windy as you reached the top you had to immediately fall to the ground to avoid being blown over. You then had to unclip your skis and crawl with them, commando style down hill, until you got in the lee of the top of the hill. You could then stand up, put your skis on and ski down. Hard skiing that day :eek:
I think I'd break something if I tried snowboarding :rolleyes:
 
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