Van of enormous power Mk 4

[Stinsy]

I'm just generalising at the moment. Will likely work in a solar panel, controller and inverter too. Got a plan to head to Italy, again vague but I'd like to have some offgrid capability before we go.

I've still to test the current LB to see if it's any good. Idle thoughts while walking the dock. Indiana Jane has booked us for valley of the kings and Karnak, diving tomorrow too. It's all very nice but the brain does spin.

I'm still waiting for you to order 4x LF280k cells for the leisure side!

[Joeboy]

I'm just generalising at the moment. Will likely work in a solar panel, controller and inverter too. Got a plan to head to Italy, again vague but I'd like to have some offgrid capability before we go.

I've still to test the current LB to see if it's any good. Idle thoughts while walking the dock. Indiana Jane has booked us for valley of the kings and Karnak, diving tomorrow too. It's all very nice but the brain does spin.

I'm still waiting for you to order 4x LF280k cells for the leisure side!

I know you are!

I've got a 105Ah LB in place and another 80Ah LB which is good. Highly.unlikey I can fit both in on exterior so to speak. I might fit a panel and run a simple dc/dc charge controller and see how we go with the current LA. Probably a Victron unit and see how it plays out.

[Stinsy]

I'm just generalising at the moment. Will likely work in a solar panel, controller and inverter too. Got a plan to head to Italy, again vague but I'd like to have some offgrid capability before we go.

I've still to test the current LB to see if it's any good. Idle thoughts while walking the dock. Indiana Jane has booked us for valley of the kings and Karnak, diving tomorrow too. It's all very nice but the brain does spin.

I'm still waiting for you to order 4x LF280k cells for the leisure side!

I know you are!

I've got a 105Ah LB in place and another 80Ah LB which is good. Highly.unlikey I can fit both in on exterior so to speak. I might fit a panel and run a simple dc/dc charge controller and see how we go with the current LA. Probably a Victron unit and see how it plays out.

All the same benefits of LiFePO4 over Lead apply to your van as they do to any other application! Last longer (measured in decades rather than years), happily discharged right down to 10% (rather than 40-60% for lead), way more energy stored per unit volume/weight, I could go on you know all this.

You probably want a low-voltage cuttoff, Victron ones are thirty quid. I guess the roof would easily fit a jumbo 5-600W panel and you're already very familiar with getting Victron DCDC chargers working with lithium. If you want the leisure battery to be charged from the alternator when you're going along then you should avoid that happening at idle. A bigger pulley on the alternator or switch on the dash so you can connect them at cruising speed, or a small helix of wire in the circuit, are all solutions to this.

Otherwise, it is plain sailing!

[Joeboy]

I'm still waiting for you to order 4x LF280k cells for the leisure side!

I know you are!

I've got a 105Ah LB in place and another 80Ah LB which is good. Highly.unlikey I can fit both in on exterior so to speak. I might fit a panel and run a simple dc/dc charge controller and see how we go with the current LA. Probably a Victron unit and see how it plays out.

All the same benefits of LiFePO4 over Lead apply to your van as they do to any other application! Last longer (measured in decades rather than years), happily discharged right down to 10% (rather than 40-60% for lead), way more energy stored per unit volume/weight, I could go on you know all this.

You probably want a low-voltage cuttoff, Victron ones are thirty quid. I guess the roof would easily fit a jumbo 5-600W panel and you're already very familiar with getting Victron DCDC chargers working with lithium. If you want the leisure battery to be charged from the alternator when you're going along then you should avoid that happening at idle. A bigger pulley on the alternator or switch on the dash so you can connect them at cruising speed, or a small helix of wire in the circuit, are all solutions to this.

Otherwise, it is plain sailing!

All possible. I have to weigh up whether I need it all or not. Both the fridge & heater are dual fuel and we have an EHU.

[Krill]

Do you want cold beer and to worry about refilling a propane canister?

We all know you want to do this...

[Joeboy]

Do you want cold beer and to worry about refilling a propane canister?

We all know you want to do this...

That's a good one!

There is a split when looking to run the 12V basic system or step up to a 48V lifepo4 system. One needs a couple of LV100W panels and a low cost solar controller along with a bit of cable and voila the 12V LB is charging and the crank battery is getting a trickle. Can maybe dick about and chuck in a 0.5kW inverter and sockets..

The other needs a big ass panel.(cheap) but then all the ancillaries to go with it. 4pack 280lfks, solar controller and a decent sized inverter.

Il sit down and see what's running what when I get back. I know I've got domestic water and habitation space lights running off the LB....cold beer though eh?

[Stinsy]

Do you want cold beer and to worry about refilling a propane canister?

We all know you want to do this...

That's a good one!

There is a split when looking to run the 12V basic system or step up to a 48V lifepo4 system. One needs a couple of LV100W panels and a low cost solar controller along with a bit of cable and voila the 12V LB is charging and the crank battery is getting a trickle. Can maybe dick about and chuck in a 0.5kW inverter and sockets..

The other needs a big ass panel.(cheap) but then all the ancillaries to go with it. 4pack 280lfks, solar controller and a decent sized inverter.

Il sit down and see what's running what when I get back. I know I've got domestic water and habitation space lights running off the LB....cold beer though eh?

I wouldn't put a 48V LiFePO4 system in the van unless you're running a takeaway or something! just go for 4x cells and 12V, all your current stuff would run off it fine.

[Joeboy]

Do you want cold beer and to worry about refilling a propane canister?

We all know you want to do this...

That's a good one!

There is a split when looking to run the 12V basic system or step up to a 48V lifepo4 system. One needs a couple of LV100W panels and a low cost solar controller along with a bit of cable and voila the 12V LB is charging and the crank battery is getting a trickle. Can maybe dick about and chuck in a 0.5kW inverter and sockets..

The other needs a big ass panel.(cheap) but then all the ancillaries to go with it. 4pack 280lfks, solar controller and a decent sized inverter.

Il sit down and see what's running what when I get back. I know I've got domestic water and habitation space lights running off the LB....cold beer though eh?

I wouldn't put a 48V LiFePO4 system in the van unless you're running a takeaway or something! just go for 4x cells and 12V, all your current stuff would run off it fine.

I spotted this controller which could have a paIr of ecoflow 100W running into it Maybe run in some 5V gear too in the habitation space. Could probably do the whole thing for £300

https://www.12voltplanet.co.uk/photonic ... input.html

Boo hiss said the lads!

[Joeboy]

Victron also do a pwm version with usb ports. Handy for inside. There is defo a step up from just messing around to full offgrid.

[Joeboy]

Convenient yet pricey!

£800 for a 200Ah, do people really buy these?