Home Log in or Register

Message Forums

Welcome Guest

Reception - All Forums

Caravans and Caravanning

Topic: Electric Set-up

Jay Adler

05/9/2019 at 3:11pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: None Entered

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 05/9/2019

Standard Member

Forum Posts: 3

Site Reviews Total:	0

Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	0
Site Reviews 2021:	0
Site Reviews 2020:	0
Site Reviews 2019:	0
Site Reviews 2018:	0

Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	0
Site Nights 2022:	0
Site Nights 2021:	0
Site Nights 2020:	0
Site Nights 2019:	0
Site Nights 2018:	0

Hi All,

My first post on here.

I have recently renovated an old 1988 Monza Vitesse. We've been out in it and all is well, I'm currently looking at improving the electrical set-up. We only have the ability to use EHU at the moment, which works fine, but i'd like to be less reliant on this.

I do have ambitions to install solar panels next summer, but in the meantime, I wanted to introduce a simple leisure battery that could be charged via EHU and become self sustainable for a day or two on the back of the charge.

I guess the main question is the best way to do this. I have seen a number of diagrams that all include charging from an alternator, which isn't an option. I simply want to be able to charge the leisure battery and use it (isolated).

Is it also possible to include the fridge to be powered directly through the battery? As that currently wires directly into the consumer unit.

I hope that makes sense, as I'd love to hear a couple of options.

Best,
Jay

Post last edited on 05/09/2019 15:34:43

Post last edited on 05/09/2019 15:39:05

Grandad Kenny

06/9/2019 at 9:56am
Location: Essex
Outfit: Fiat Ducato 3.0 Autotrail Mohican

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 19/5/2015

Platinum Member

Forum Posts: 789

Site Reviews Total:	33

Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	0
Site Reviews 2021:	2
Site Reviews 2020:	0
Site Reviews 2019:	11
Site Reviews 2018:	8

Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	0
Site Nights 2022:	0
Site Nights 2021:	6
Site Nights 2020:	0
Site Nights 2019:	57
Site Nights 2018:	60

If you have EHU then you can fully charge a leisure battery using a standard battery charger, depending on what you use 12v for will depend on how long it will last before being recharged assuming you want to go off grid without EHU. A fridge cannot be run from 12v, it’s either electric or gas, the 12v part becomes active if connected to a running vehicle assuming it’s all been wired up correctly to do that. In reality there is nothing to stop you doing what you want to do, cooking will be on gas (12v ignition), fridge on gas (12v ignition)with lighting on 12v (and toilet flush?). Hope this helps

Discounted Insurance Quotes for UKCampsite.co.uk visitors! Up to 12.5% off!

UKCampsite.co.uk users are rewarded with up to 12.5% off Caravan Guard touring caravan insurance, folding camper and trailer tent insurance, and 5% off motorhome and campervan insurance. Static caravan insurance is also available. Get an online quote now

Jax365

06/9/2019 at 10:41am
Location: south cheshire
Outfit: VW Caddy Maxi

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 07/9/2007

Diamond Member

Forum Posts: 4034

Site Reviews Total:	7

Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	1
Site Reviews 2022:	0
Site Reviews 2021:	0
Site Reviews 2020:	0
Site Reviews 2019:	0
Site Reviews 2018:	0

Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	7
Site Nights 2022:	0
Site Nights 2021:	0
Site Nights 2020:	0
Site Nights 2019:	0
Site Nights 2018:	0

My caravan (Kip 1982) works in the same way. I charge a L. battery before I go away, with a smart charger. When away, without EHU, I use the fridge on gas, gas for cooking. I fitted a manual whale lever water pump, as the electric pumps use a lot of battery power. Only my lights are on the 12v system. And the motormover, so I have to make sure that I have enough charge in the l. battery to be able to get my caravan back on the drive when I get back home!

I charge mobile phone and kindle from the cars 12v ciggie sockets. I rarely use a tv, but I have one with a rechargeable battery which runs for four hours max, then also recharge that from the car.

-------------

Colin21

06/9/2019 at 2:28pm
Location: East Herts
Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 05/11/2013

Diamond Member

Forum Posts: 6281

Site Reviews Total:	18

Site Reviews 2024:	1
Site Reviews 2023:	1
Site Reviews 2022:	2
Site Reviews 2021:	2
Site Reviews 2020:	0
Site Reviews 2019:	2
Site Reviews 2018:	3

Site Nights 2024:	7
Site Nights 2023:	8
Site Nights 2022:	12
Site Nights 2021:	18
Site Nights 2020:	0
Site Nights 2019:	21
Site Nights 2018:	18

Yes it is true that water pumps use quite a bit, but only when they are running which is rarely more than a minute or so except maybe when using the shower. We normally use on-site ones as they are usually much bigger than ours and you don't have to keep refilling the water container.

It is easy to fit to fit a battery charger to charge the battery while on EHU. Plenty available on ebay, or from a caravan breaker I would imagine.

-------------
Best Regards,
Colin

Jay Adler

06/9/2019 at 3:03pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: None Entered

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 05/9/2019

Standard Member

Forum Posts: 3

Site Reviews Total:	0

Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	0
Site Reviews 2021:	0
Site Reviews 2020:	0
Site Reviews 2019:	0
Site Reviews 2018:	0

Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	0
Site Nights 2022:	0
Site Nights 2021:	0
Site Nights 2020:	0
Site Nights 2019:	0
Site Nights 2018:	0

Thank you guys, and an inverter from the battery for the output, yes?

Pickled Onion

06/9/2019 at 3:34pm
Location: Near Alton Towers
Outfit: Bailey Burgundy S7 H

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 23/2/2006

Diamond Member

Forum Posts: 3042

Site Reviews Total:	11

Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	3
Site Reviews 2021:	1
Site Reviews 2020:	2
Site Reviews 2019:	1
Site Reviews 2018:	1

Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	0
Site Nights 2022:	11
Site Nights 2021:	5
Site Nights 2020:	9
Site Nights 2019:	8
Site Nights 2018:	1

Using an inverter always sounds a good idea at first thought Jay, but converting 12 volts to mains draws heavy current from your battery for most things. Better to use EHU supply to run mains stuff and keep 12 volt circuit for other uses as mentioned.

Dave.

-------------
Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day,
Teach a man to fish and you can get rid of him for a whole weekend.

Jay Adler

06/9/2019 at 4:06pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: None Entered

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 05/9/2019

Standard Member

Forum Posts: 3

Site Reviews Total:	0

Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	0
Site Reviews 2021:	0
Site Reviews 2020:	0
Site Reviews 2019:	0
Site Reviews 2018:	0

Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	0
Site Nights 2022:	0
Site Nights 2021:	0
Site Nights 2020:	0
Site Nights 2019:	0
Site Nights 2018:	0

Thanks Pickled Onion, and sorry to sound silly. Without an inverter, how do you access the battery power?

In my head; the battery will be charged by a charger that is plugged into the mains or EHU, then you would use the inverter to access the power?

All we really need battery power for is lighting (low energy led fairy lights) and phone charging, so pretty minimal.

Example: EHU comes into the caravan mains, battery charger is plugged into a socket (charging the battery), inverter coming from the battery, providing power when not on EHU.

Sorry if i'm over-complicating this...

Colin21

06/9/2019 at 4:18pm
Location: East Herts
Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 05/11/2013

Diamond Member

Forum Posts: 6281

Site Reviews Total:	18

Site Reviews 2024:	1
Site Reviews 2023:	1
Site Reviews 2022:	2
Site Reviews 2021:	2
Site Reviews 2020:	0
Site Reviews 2019:	2
Site Reviews 2018:	3

Site Nights 2024:	7
Site Nights 2023:	8
Site Nights 2022:	12
Site Nights 2021:	18
Site Nights 2020:	0
Site Nights 2019:	21
Site Nights 2018:	18

The inverter is only necessary if you intend to run mains appliances from the battery. This is best avoided if at all possible, especially anything containing a heating element of any kind, as this will kill a leisure battery in no time at all! Inverters use power just to run themselves, even before you plug anything into them.

Mains equipment is best run from EHU if you need it, and just stick to 12 volt stuff off the battery. If you want to camp without EHU, my advice would be don't take any mains equipment with you. Phones etc can be charged from the car socket while you are driving. It's definitely not worth running an inverter to charge a phone, as that way you are converting 12 volts to mains, then back down again to low voltage for the phone. Very inefficient.

-------------
Best Regards,
Colin

In order to post a reply you will need to register, or if already registered please log in here

Prev Next
Quick Links - All Forums - Caravans and Caravanning - Top of Page

Printable version

Latest News, Discounts and Competitions see all...

4030 Visitors online !

Free UKCampsite.co.uk Window Sticker - Recommend to Friend - Add a Missing Campsite

[Message Forums] [Caravan Sites & Camping] [Company Listings] [Features / Advice] [Virtual Brochure] [Shop!]
[Reception] [Competitions] [Caravans & Motorhomes For Sale] [Event Diary] [Contact Us] [Tent Reviews]

Please note we are not responsible for the content of external sites & any reviews represent the author's personal view only. Please report any error here. You may view our privacy and cookie policy and terms and conditions here. All copyrights & other intellectual property rights in the design and content of this web site are reserved to the UKCampsite.co.uk © 1999 - 2024

UKCampsite.co.uk
2024 Advent Calendar

24 Daily Prizes PLUS a Christmas Day Star Prize worth £999

Request a Reminder