OFF GRID Power Systems Explained! | How To Build A System To Suit Your Needs | Don't Waste Money!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ก.ค. 2024
- OffGrid Power Systems can be complex and confusing. In the 2nd Part of our Off Grid Travel Series, we're taking you through step-by-step how to specify a system that is going to suit YOUR needs.
This video covers all aspects of an off grid power system including batteries, solar generation, charging systems and much more.
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Video Chapters
00:00 Intro
04:24 Our Experience With Off Grid Power Systems
05:42 The Components Of An Off Grid Power System
07:01 How To Calculate Your Power Needs
14:37 How To Replenish Your Power System
16:14 Solar Charging Options
21:03 What Charging System Do You Need?
27:55 AC/DC... More Than Good Music!
31:36 What Batteries Do You Need?
36:59 Final Thoughts
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Thanks Simon and Liz my wife has been trying to wrap her head around 12v since we left on our lap 9 months ago. This video is very concise and well put together in a manner that anyone could understand the basics of how it works thanks again this is a great resource and I am sure I will pass it on to a lot of people
Thanks so much. That's great to hear. Safe travels!
Thank you so much. I have been attempting to wrap my head around off grid power systems and ended up totally confused that I felt like I need a degree in electrical engineering to be able to work things out. Your explanations are so clear, simple and really take out the requirements of needing a degree to work things out. As I watched the video I make notes in an Excel file including the handy hints you provided. Thanks heaps from the bottom of this newbie's heart. Very greatly appreciated.
You have been pretty lucky with the weather.... you have experienced some lovely days!!!
Really clear explanations thank you Simon and Liz for popping in occasionally!
Glad you enjoyed it
That was the best explanation of an off grid power system I have come across. You made it simple to understand Simon, well done. I have been following you for some time now and I really like your disposition on life and your down to earth attitude. I am going to be a full time traveler from April this year, I hope I will bump into you guys in the not to distant future.
Lots to get my head around, will watch again. Lol, my husband understood everything you said the first time 🙂 Great videos guys!
Love that!
OMG Liz I am very jealous that you have a Simon. Thank you Simon for dumbing this down. I have paused this blog so many times to make notes. Just an old shagga tryig to get this right and about to go on her first shakedown. Thinking just go away and figure it all out then, but full time work scares me! Internet is gold!
😂 Love it! Thanks Tracy. Glad it was helpful.
So pleased I found this channel. I am getting my new van in a week & upgrading from 85A agm to 200A lithium. Great explanation & easy to understand 😄
Glad to help
Thank you once again. This is great series to learn more about off grid caravanning.
Great information. I (wife) finally understand amps, watts and volts hahaha. Thank you Simon!
Absolutely brilliant. I’ve been doing my head in trying to work out what our system needs will be. Thank you so much.
You're very welcome!
Well then, what can I say to this......BRILLIANT BRILLIANT BRILLIANT! So clear, so helpful, so informative. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks Liz & Simon you kept it very simple. Great tips on off grid caravaning thanks guys.👍🍺
Great video. we have 400amps and wevt through the same process to understand what power we needed for our esperance motorhome. GO YOU
Right on!
Thanks heaps, there is so much practical advice that's easy to understand. Always some think to lean from those willing to share. 😊
Thank you for this episode. My husband has been talking about all things solar lately and it was all going over my head. Now I feel like I have a better understanding of what he is talking about. :)
wow thanks that information has probably just saved me a couple of thousand dollars cheers for that
Thanks guys I was able to get my head around what you were explaining it was easy to follow an d I was correct at times in what I was thinking of was the correct way to go made me feel like I was heading in the right directions
Thanks heaps
Thanks Simon and Liz for a very informative episode. We are really looking forward to your next Off Grid episode and love following your travels each week.
Great episode. Thanks Simon & Liz for the information on setting up for off grid.
Glad you enjoyed it
Thank you both so much - you explained it all perfectly, making it easier to understand
Thanks so much. Wow wish we’d had someone explain it so simply before we bought our van but we will be doing the exercise anyway to see how if it will be suitable for full time travel planned in a few years.
Awesome information Simon and Liz. So helpful as waiting on new van to arrive and now no what I should be looking for regarding Batteries and solar thank you
Starting to understand thanks neighbour, might need to watch it again, thanks Tosueny
Great series. I got a lot from both this video and the last one on water. More importantly my wife now has a far greater understanding of our own power system after watching your video. I look forward to the rest in the series.
Thank you for this video I really enjoyed the way that you simplified and explained what can be a complex and confusing process for people to get their head around. Great job, keep up the good work.
You are so welcome!
Thanks for an amazing video, best I’ve seen to explain the battery system, and we’ve watched a lot. Looking forward to seeing your portable battery system info.
Great insight, I cannot wait for the next offgrid episode. cheers
That was so good Simon & Liz- thankyou. We have a Zone with almost same system as you- 720W Solar/400Ah Lithium/2600W Inverter. Although I was "OK" with how it all worked you just completely simplified it all. Plus my Wife Michelle also understood it all better because of the way you broke it all down. I am now doing my spread sheet which will make it all easier again. Look forward to the next Off grid episode and all the others. Thanks .
Nice Work guys. Love the informative videos. Yep we I have done the full rounds of camping also, back to swags now.
You’re so great at explaining all of this. So informative! Thanks so much
You are so welcome!
Some incredibly handy info in this vid. I find that a lot of people have the knowledge on how to set up a 12/240v system but most have to compromise as budget is always the limiting factor.
Hey guys another great episode and lots of information. We are having a custom van built this year so this was helpful. Thanks heaps 😊
gday simon & liz, thanks for another great video. my wife loved the analogy of the amps to liters of water, i think she has finally got her head around it, loving these off grid episodes, keep up the good work,
Very interesting video on Off Grid camping. Keep up the good work
Well, I def learned a lot watching that. Now feel prepared for when i get to Melb caravan and camping show. Long trip there from Darwin, so I don't want to waste it. Thanks guys
The Off Grid series is excellent. Simon & Liz you explained all the componets of a Off Grid system really well in this video! 😃 We love tuning in every Sunday to watch your adventures. We have a new caravan being built and can't wait to pack the van and go. Setting up the Off Grid is so important to get it right. Great information!
Thank you! 😃
Great to hear!
Excellent video! So informative. The analogy using water tank made understanding so much easier! Great work again! 🌟🌟👏👏
So sensible and informative thanks
That was the best explanation of power we have heard we were so confused about power but you have made it so easy to understand!! 🤙
Awesome guys, thank you so much for all the information. We are on our shake up weekend. Realising we need to upgrade our off grid system. I work full time online using dual screens. Power usage can be a little thirsty at times. Your info is very helpful, thanks again 😊
Excellent video and I've subscribed for newsletter and have been watching for ages. cheers Graeme and Debs Wanderings
Excellent Information and very easy to understand, direct and to the point, thanks for that. Really happy to see your all enjoying Tassie. We love it here and in the next 2 to 3 months we're heading off around Aussie, hopefully for years to come. Your channel has been very informative and fun to watch. Thanks heaps for all your efforts and fun times you've shared with us. Looking forward to more. Hope to catch you on the road. All the best 👋
Very informative, thank you very much for this clip 😎
Great job, guys, made it very easy on the ears, simple informative, looking forward to the real use episode. Cheers
great video guys well explained
Great episode.
Very informative for the not so tech savvy minded. Keep up the great work. And teds Corner is high on our bucket list. 👍🏾
I am loving the off grid series, you guys are one of my favourite you tubers travellers. We have been in Aussie for 11 years now and we have also evolved in the camping journey. We have power aspirations but our needs are little as we are only two adults and two dogs.
Thanks, Simon. Great to hear!
Good, practical information and well explained as always. Well done and thank you!
Very informative. Thankyou
Another great episode team, lots of great info 👍
Great explanation. We are not heavy power users and get by easily with 200ah of lithium batteries and 320w of fixed solar panels.
Thanks guys. As always, very informative with the bs. See you next week.
That was excellent! Made it truly simple and understandable. Has put my mind at ease that our setup which is on order will be sufficient for our needs with the aid of a good 300w solar blanket.
Hi there, we're loving your channel and really enjoying your off grid series!. Finally, an explanation as to what a DC-DC charger does that makes sense! Also appreciate that you keep it real, with a no-frills approach to travel. 🌞🌿 thank you! Helen and Warwick.
Awesome, thank you!
Thank you I just found out so much about solar panels batteries and power generation as we are putting in lithium batteries on the 13th of next month an this video came at the right time for us ,you explained it so well, again thanks digger and stay safe 👍.
Glad to help
Thank you so much for this content. Simon provided the information in 'layman's terms' which made it all so easy to understand. Now to do some maths!
Great video 👍 we get our new Van in a week & I've been trying to get my head around what I need to upgrade for offgrid. Your explanations were very helpful & easy to understand
Thank you guys for all the info
Nice episode!! Thank you
A BIG thank you 😊 Now, I get it!!!
Excellent presentation. You guys are a great team. Keep up the good work 👏
Thanks guys we've just purchased our van 400 amp battery system so we are learning a lot. Looking forward to next eposide
Our pleasure!
Best explanation EVER legends, well put.
Gteat vid as usual. Loving the Off Grid series so far. Thanks Simon & Liz!
Glad you like them!
Another great video, Simon and Liz - thank you :) You're living the dream - great to see.
One potential point of confusion for some is that batteries are rated not in amps, but in amp/hours. What that means is that a 200 A/h battery for example, can supply a total of 200 amps for one hour, or 1 amp for 200 hours. So if your draw is 10 amps, it can supply that 10 A draw for 200/10 hours = 20 hours. In other words, you can work out from your total draw not only how many amps you have in the bucket, but how long that will last without any charging. That adds some useful relevance when considering, for example, how long you can use your air conditioner, once you know its current draw in amps.
Keep the good stuff coming :)
Thanks, Pete. Good point. I could have probably made this a little clearer.
Thank you Simon & Liz. Great easy to understand explanation of the Lithium System. Looking forward to your next video
Glad you enjoyed it
Awsome EP and breakdown 🤙even the Misso sorta understood watts, amps and thermomix 🤦♂️. Great work… safe travels guys 🍻
Love these videos.
Explained so well. I have an AGM battery with plug in solar panels and find it enough for what I need. I am looking forward to hearing what you have to say about the blue eddy because I would love to use my thermomix and using a blue eddy with its own solar may be an easy option for me. Glad you got to Teds Beach -I was back living in Tassie 29 years before going back there after they flooded it. Now I love to go there as often as I can.
Great overall coverage looking forward to seeing more episodes 👍
Much appreciated!
Chittima and I thoroughly enjoyed your Off Grid episode 2.
Your video was so informative and clear to understand. We have ordered our new caravan and really did not know where to start! Thank you so much! 😀
We look forward to every Sunday to follow your adventures! 😀
Awesome, thank you!
Thanks guys Love your videos 👏
Thanks Simon for your explanation on the off grid power system … so well explained. We look forward to the next off grid episode. 😊
Glad it was helpful!
Hi guys thanks for putting this together. I really liked your water analogy to explain battery ampere storage. Keep up the great videos.
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks. Some great insights.
Our pleasure!
Great information, thank you. Look forward to seeing the review on your setup, we'll then understand ours better (same van).
You bet!
Another great video guys
Glad you enjoyed it
Very informative, thank you very much
You are welcome!
Wow that now makes better sense for me using the water principle:)
Glad to hear!
Fabulous video, I learnt heaps about power on the road 😁
Glad it was helpful!
First time viewer excellent review 🎉
Great job guys and well explained,looking forward to the next series to hear what you have and what you would do different. Looking forward to the next one, waiting another 2 weeks will be too long away considering the Melbourne Caravan &Touring Supershow is on in 10 days and the information would be valuable before then. Anyway, keep up the good work.
Thanks Graeme. Don't be in a rush to buy at the show. Take your time
Great show very informative
Glad you enjoyed it
Another good episode guys.Watt got my wife lost haha cheers Rodjenny
Great video - thanks
Very welcome
Very informative, you have made this so much easier to understand. Lightbulb moment for me = converting watts to amps. Great job, thank you 😊
Glad to hear it!
Looking forward to your thoughts on the power pack. I decided to go that way - 200max in the car. It will mostly live in my study as a “sort of” UPS. Has also helped me through some long blackouts recently. So great for travelling but useful when not travelling too. Cost about the same as putting a permanent system in the car. Downside - it takes up room in the back of the car. I put a 1000W inverter in the car to charge it from alternator (only needs 400W so roughly the same as a larger DCDC) - so no DCDC unit required. I have 100Ah in the camper van for lights/fridge etc. So the bigger one in the car will keep camera gear charged (highest priority :) ) and run kettle/toaster/car fridge. Can also charge the van system if required. Solar on van roof along with portable solar for van and car systems. Subscribed to newsletter last week.
Thanks for sharing, Greg. Some good points you've made. We'll have the video out in the coming weeks.
Pretty sure you covered it all👍
Thanks for the advice I'm upgrading to lithium soon well explained
Gret content guys, enjoyed the episode.
Cheers, Kevin!
Good video. Like how you used simple language to explain what can get quite complicated. Just beware that inverters are only ~90% efficient, so when you work out your 240v total wattage, you need to add ~10% for inverter losses. I always recommend that people place as many solar panels on their vans as possible as it gives you the biggest bang for your bucks.
For sure, great points!
As a sparkie, I will say that this is a very well presented and informative video.....well done mate as it is 'good guts' and correct info for everyone out there....subscription earnt.
My setup = 2000Ah of lithium storage with 4Kw of solar panels........allows me to stay off grid for a while 🙂
But this is spread over 2 units - a 10m motorhome with an 8m enclosed trailer on behind.....basically I use the trailer batteries to replenish the RV batteries as and when required. (I also do this for water supplies)
Why such a big setup? as you correctly say mate, its horses for courses and I basically run my enclosed trailer as a site workshop as I travel around.....pays the bills.
Thanks so much. And welcome!
Great explanation and tips for customising an off-grid system according to individual needs.
Myself, I went for the Bluetti AC200MAX matched with 3 x 200W Portable Solar Panels rather than a secondary battery system in my vehicle due to the versatility and portability - the downside is that the AC200Max weighs a whopping 28 odd kgs which is a lot to cart around but then again, a secondary battery system isn't light either. It means that I can use the Bluetti either in the car (fridge, lights etc.) or in the caravan as backup.
My only other comment regarding setting up an off-grid power system according to needs is that getting a slightly bigger system than you have worked out, will give you more flexibility to undertake varying off-grid trips for either short trips or longer trips possibly travelling in the tropics to down south - similar to your setup. I reckon that slightly 'overspecing' your system upfront is cheaper and better all round than retrospectively upgrading your system if/when you realise that a less capable system isn't quite doing it for you.
Great points Rich and you're spot on, you'd rather have a little more than you need than be caught short. Cheers.
From a non practicing qualified electrician you knocked it out of the park ! Great presentation
Wow, thanks!
Induction cookers are heavy power users. Cooking with gas significantly reduces power consumption.
We have our needs down to the fridge-freezer, lights, chargers and a coffee pod machine.
We only use the aircon when on 240volts.
For sure. It all comes down to how you like to travel.
Sometimes the portable solar panel have slightly different output voltage compared to the fixed panel on the roof. In that case, separate voltage regulators are useful to get maximum efficiency out off all panels.
Yep, great info. We talk a bit more about that in this week's video, cheers.
Grreat Info .. One Day...
Thanks Simon and Liz. My existing car Aux Battery System is dual 130 amp Lead CRYSTAL batteries coup-led to a CTEK 250Se and Smartpass with Portable 340w Solar Panels in an aluminum bracket on the roof. It recharges the starter battery by pulse at about 10 amps per hour after the aux Batteries are full of solar from the Car panels. When I get the caravan, I would hope to get would have a Renogy 50 amp Charger with Mppt which also charges the 110-amp large starter battery when caravan batteries are full via 50 amp Anderson plug at the towbar on the car. The 240 v would be a Victron Multiplus which also pumps 4 amps to the Starter Battery system via 50-amp Anderson plug line connected to the starter battery side of the 300 A C/b under the bonnet. That means that current will also feed the aux batteries if needed. The Rear of the car holds a 90 ltr dual compartment Kings fridge/freezer. I have a portable a/c to d/c Battery charger which I can connect to any of the batteries if needed, although I think I will be lending it out to others more than using it myself. as well as using the winch to retrieve other people😊
NIce work. Sounds like you've thought it all through well 👍
Nice job guys. I agree many people explain this in a much more complex way to try and confuse you into thinking you need the biggest most expensive system available.
Are you thinking of touching on shunts and other management systems that help you measure the ins and outs of your system?
Again great job.
Thanks Guys. No plans at this stage but we'll keep it in mind