How We Run and Power our Caravan Completely Off Grid! Lithium Battery, Inverter and Solar System!

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In this short episode I do a quick run down on how we have run and installed our off grid power system in our van without costing us a fortune and being able to run our Air Con!

The things we use include:
3000w Renogy Inverter/Charger
PowerPaul Scout 280Ah Lithium battery
Victron Batter Monitor
Victron Mppt 75/15

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[raycolley]

If you have a high & low vent for your gas cooker. That's one in the door say & one through the wall up near the ceiling and you find out it's not going to cause any problems try getting a terracotta earthenware pot . I slotted mine with an angle grinder but you can drill holes in the top instead. Then put it on the gas stove element. I Only use it if everybody is awake to be on the safe side. Mine works great when I'm free camping.I also use a 150 watt 240 to 12 volt inverter, I find that's all I need for the TV etc.. The battery I have is a 100 amp 12 volt lithium. I installed a dc to dc 20 amp charger that has a MPPT charge controller built in for the solar panels and a separate 240 volt to 12 volt 30 amp charger when I'm parked up in a caravan park. I have a PWM controller for the normal use of the solar panels to the battery. I fitted Anderson plugs & I did a drawing on how to connect each up that I leave on the Caravan boot wall.. I make sure before I connect the battery anderson plugs I double check to see that all the anderson plugs are connected properly (they are coloured & numbered). I've got a front boot in the caravan so when I changed my battery to a lithium battery I put it in an aluminium box underneath the front driver's side of the caravan behind the boot. just to be safe. Before I fitted the DC to DC 12 volt 20 amp charge into the caravan boot I ran it without connecting the anderson plug up to the car. I saw online just before I left not to run without a DC to DC charger through to the Alternator with a lithium battery.. Using the 16 amp 3 way fridge from the lithium battery I drove to Dongara (about 400 kM's) When I pulled up I checked the battery voltage and it was fine, not needing a charge yet.

[Romeo-kptc]

When I built my van, The Quote for solar was $10000, 2007, I did my own, $3200, 2x 260amp wet cell batteries, Lasted 12 years, now I have 2 x270 amp hr, AGM, 500 watts panel, 1000watt inverter, works well for me, Just installed new 190 litre BUSHMAN fridge freezer, Works perfect, 4.5 amps, Less power then my old one 6 amps, Enjoy trip to England, Cheers Bevan 🤠🦘🦘🇦🇺

[darrelwright]

Thanks Jack that was great to see how you achieved "Off Grid" status and running appliances that were important to you, hope you have a good trip to England, enjoy Cheers Darrel 👍

[darrynburdett]

Thanks Jack, good bit of info in this video. Enjoy your trip to the UK and beyond. Heading over there next year, so it would be if you can fit in a few vids while you are over there, if not have a great break. Cheers Darryn.

[dougneville]

Thanks Jack, interesting vid, enjoy your Holidays.Thanks mate👍🏾✈

[malcolmquick]

Have a great trip . Have a fantastic Christmas

[jerrytalley]

Could you have mounted your stuff in an outside compartment? Seems the noise of the fan would be annoying, but really a pretty neat job on install.

[gavinfisher]

Nice one with the set up. None can knock you for saving some money and get it done yourself. Times are hard and victron although awesome crazy pricing for 12v gear.
Be interested to know if your sparky wired a neutral earth bond into the RCD protection for your safety.. I have mostly renogy to go myself but with these inverted being centre tapped, enerdrive or victron maybe a better option.

[Philnz]

Great video well explained ... enjoy your trip to the UK

[brentmcd]

wow that's a massive digitcals inverter charger unit ! good price ! very cool 🛻📹😎🤙

[traceyianmcwhinnie]

Where is the solar panel??? I don't think I saw it mentioned. LOVE the caravan BTW and the video

[anonymoususer]

You won't need the air con in the UK MATE

[alishabab]

Biggest issue with solar on a car or caravan roof is the angle. Seeing as it's laying flat you will get a 50-60% drop in power and efficiency..so say the 250w just alone on an angle would get 18a but running both your getting 15a mainly because the 250 would end up being 130w and 120w be about 60w..that's why it's always handy for caravan ppl to have atleast 1 portable solar blanket. My solar blanket is 300w 70v so laying flat I only get max 180w 69v but on angle I've hit 320w 73v..which that panel max into battery gets 25a..my roof solar which is on rooftop tent on my camper trailer is 3x200w custom made perc shingle in series with antishade devices..max I get from them is 70a and around min 55a..got a enerdrive dcdc with the cable thickness to get 50a.i do all the wiring as I've done electrical engineering stuff since I was 12. And I just get a electrician friend to certify it..also custom made 2x 330a lithium batteries with 250a bms and stainless steel case which makes it fire safe and explosion safe though I made the copper bus bars myself and used 330a rated 50mm2 cable inside from bms to terminals and have 300a rated terminals..might seem overkill but I'm a geek and if I buy anything I want it to do the max it can do and be able to offgrid no matter the weather for as long as needed..

[jerrytalley]

How well has your Renogy inverter held up? I tried a 12 to 120 volt 3, 000 watt. Dead out of the box, very disappointing to say the least. I see a lot of renogy out there so going to try again

[ronrogers]

Hi jack interesting video could i ask how much the sparky charged to alter the 240 wiring thanks Ron

[BTCxyz]

They say it's best to have a solar controller for each panel for maximum efficiency...

Food for thought