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Quote: Originally posted by the black fox on 23/7/2012

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personally i think your flogging a dead horse ,either invest in a electric hook up and pay the site fees or if your into wild camping invest in a 3 way fridge that will run on gas .,the other options will work for a while ,but it will ruin your holidays/camping to be always faffing about with batteries and chargers

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I dont agree, I woudnt say it would ruin a holiday trying not to use EHU or gas to get a bit of free energy from the sun or wind. I would go for it, to make the effort to "live off grid" it is well worth the hastle and all part of the fun. If you have to be attached to a powerline you cant enjoy one of a real benefit a tent gives you, and that is to go to remote places away from infrastructure.  If they can run a whole festival with stage, lights, amps, etc off solar then its easily possible

http://www.croissantneuf.co.uk/information/green-ethics-2/

just spotted this.

http://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/Motorhomes/Features/Get-Practical/Solar-powered-motorhome-fridges/_ch1_ft751_pg1

worth a read.

Quote: Originally posted by oldham on 24/7/2012

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Bring this back to reality. ".   From carrying space for 55w panels big and heavy, expensive and not yet up to the job.  Yes technology will improve but until then the poster needs a system that will work.  So off grid, gas is the way to go. 

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You can run out of gas but the sun is always up at sunrise.

Its feasible and not that expensive for the freedom it gives. Especially if the OP has to get a gas fridge. " 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12v-Solar-Mobile-Power-Kit-Inverter-Panel-and-Battery-/280730036507?pt=UK_Gadgets&hash=item415cd0691b

" We are campers with limited resource's" - well were a planet with limited resources so lets soak up the sun and make it work for us. Someone has to pioneer it

I know this is in Australia were the sun shines more than here, but look at his set up!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0yqlF6iopo 

Charges the house when its at home and will charge as you drive to your campsite. I bet it will pay for itself in a couple of years with no EHU and providing some power to a house, but its not always about saving money. Its about having a project and feeling good about it. I know why people do this sort of thing and it should be commended not get negative reactions.  

Go for solar and tell us how you get on.

Elenman,  this is the real world

No as the penguin site says a 55 watt only good for opening fridge twice a day for 5 days and weekend surfers. Yes the panels are big and heavy.

No the sun is not enough,   a week of duff weather can seriously lower your battery charge.  Gas fridge cheaper that quality solar panel.

Have been solar for a few years now.  Family on rally site as we speak not an EHU in sight.  Nor will an EHU be seen for the next 6 weeks.  I will always back solar as the way to go.   But it is not suitable in this case, and threads like this do more harm to solar than good.