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 Topic: Need Advice on Off-Grid Electrical Setup
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26/2/2025 at 2:38pm
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Hey everyone,
I’m in the middle of converting my van for a summer road trip across Europe, and I’m trying to figure out the electrical setup. I don’t have much experience with this kind of thing, so I’d really appreciate any advice from those who’ve done it before!
I want to be able to run some basics—lights, a fridge, maybe a small induction hob or kettle, and charge my laptop/phone. I’ve been looking into different options, and I came across these full off-grid camper conversion kits.
It looks like an all-in-one solution, which is ideal since I don’t really know how to piece everything together myself. Has anyone used something like this before? Would it cover all my needs, or should I be looking at something more custom?
Also, any general tips for setting up an electrical system for long-term travel? I want to make sure I don’t get stuck somewhere with dead batteries!
Thanks in advance! 😃
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28/2/2025 at 9:08am
Location: Yorkshire
Outfit: Car & Caravan
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Using gas for fridge, heating, cooking etc will make life with electric easier.
I run a telly, charge phones and charge battery etc etc with solar power and 110ah battery.
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28/2/2025 at 12:05pm
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Quote: Originally posted by dk168 on 28/2/2025
If you are planning to use a suitcase stove with butane canisters, remember to insulate the canisters as butane does not burn well at sub-zero temperatures.
Gas canisters get cold due to the discharge of gas, i.e. latent heat of evaporation.
Insulating the the canister will result in the canister being unable to regain that heat from atmosphere, subsequently getting even colder and reducing the evaporation and discharge of gas.
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Bernie
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28/2/2025 at 2:18pm
Location: London
Outfit: Lunar Cosmos 524
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Quote: Originally posted by Bernie47 on 28/2/2025
Quote: Originally posted by dk168 on 28/2/2025
If you are planning to use a suitcase stove with butane canisters, remember to insulate the canisters as butane does not burn well at sub-zero temperatures.
Gas canisters get cold due to the discharge of gas, i.e. latent heat of evaporation.
Insulating the the canister will result in the canister being unable to regain that heat from atmosphere, subsequently getting even colder and reducing the evaporation and discharge of gas.
Spot on Bernie, any gas canister/cylinder needs to regain heat from it's surrounding ambient air, to compensate from the internal chilling from evaporation, otherwise it will result in reduced and even no production of gas vapor from the stored liquid state.
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02/3/2025 at 7:59pm
Location: central scotland
Outfit: aztec cantera 9 vango tamor500 vango
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It is quite possible to go gas free now!! You would need a big battery, but that is not a problem nowadays using LiFePo4 batteries, which are coming down in price. To give you an idea of usable times, last November,with very little solar rechargeing we remained off grid for three days using,via an inverter, induction hob, electric mini oven, electric kettle, 12volt compressor fridge and microwave.Our 280 amp battery was full at the start, and had 20% charge left. Remember that what power is used has to be replaced, which can take a longtime, when back on to hook up.
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John
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via mobile 27/2/2025 at 11:56am
