Wild Camping- How to get Power Off-Grid in your motorhome or camper- Part 2!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.พ. 2025
- Answering some more wild camping with a motorhome questions- specifically about how to get power off-grid when wild camping with a motorhome or campervan.
In this video, we're looking specifically at motorhome power systems- including solar panels (with explanations for beginners), motorhome inverters, motorhome generators and how much gas you need in a motorhome.
If you're not really sure about the difference between 240v or 12v- or why you can't use your electric kettle when you're not plugged in, look at Part 1 of this series: • Wild Camping- How to g...
We start at the beginning (because I don't really understand it all either!!) and discuss power, batteries, looking after your batteries and much more.
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For anyone who wants to wild camp with their camper or motorhome, we talk about battery management, amp hours (!), watts, volts and all that other fun electrical system stuff! I ask stupid questions (shocker) but I hope they help you understand more about the motorhome/ camper electrical system and how to get power off-grid.
As always, thanks for watching.
#motorhome #campervan #wildcamping #UK #Europe #vanlife
If the term 'wild camping' offends you with regards to motorhomes or campers, feel free to use the terms 'free camping', 'free parking', 'informal parking' or whatever makes you happy. It's all the same thing.
Having listened to all this - and yes I sort of get it - I’m glad I bought a Bluetti Power Station as all that inverter stuff is built in.
We try not to use the 240V 3 pins if we can avoid it.
Why use an inverter to charge the laptops? If the charger is 18v DC (that is what my ASUS computer is) you are taking 12v DC (Direct Current), using the inverter to make it 240v AC (Alternating Current), then the charger reduces it to 18v DC (Direct Current) to put into the PC. That is so inefficient! Buy an adapter that will take 12v DC directly to 18v DC. Way more energy efficient. In my caravan the only thing I use the inverter for is to run the printer, which is rarely used. My PC is charged as above, my TV is 12v, my router is 9v (use a 12v to 9v adapter) my IPTV box is 12v, my phone charges from a USB adapter (5v). Sorry about the rant. Just might give a pause for thought.
Hi, i thoroughly agree that you are wasting energy charging anything through an inverter. Greg Virgoe has a good video on what you can run from a 100watt solar panel..
i really enjoy your vids.
We have two AGM batteries 125 amp each will run the inverter for 2-days just watching TV the batteries are now 12 years old and still work like new we worked them hard used them till flat and then charged with driving van and that has kept them in good condition
This is unintentionally misleading, for you to get the life and use out of your batteries you describe, you have a system that turns the power off before the battery is taken too low. It seems they are flat to you but they won't be they're just protected. Also, they clearly have plenty of power for your needs but you will have lost storage caoacity simply due to age.
Great video wen u doing generator video plz?
Great content, thank you for making these vids
You're very welcome- pleased you find them helpful.
Generally the best number of solar panels is the most watts you can fit on the roof that way your batteries don’t generally get drained much lower than 30 percent reduction. I have 500 watt so never need to use mains or gen 👍
Nick Lovell jeez what are you running? NASA control?
Nice one kat good info there hubby knows his ins and outs good advise guys hope u well stay safe my friend .kev
Thanks Kev. Mr WB is way more knowledgable about all things tech than I am, so I'm glad you found it helpful.
You seem to be over careful with your leisure battery is a storage device to hold power for you to use it when you want it the inverter will sound an alarm when the voltage is getting low like 10 volts and needs charging so you can use your inverter when the engine isn't going and most alternators are capable of charging 70 or 90 amps. I use a 600 watt inverter pure sine wave fan only switches on when it's getting hot and switches off after about 30 seconds when cool. it sounds like you keep your leisure battery fully charged all the time but leisure batteries are designed to be charged and discharged continuously. Better to have pure sine wave inverter less liable to damage things that you are charging and less hum. When I was a teenager I spent years building inverters they were great heavy things in them days because of the large transformer they needed. With modern technology they are much lighter today.
Hi Mrs WB x watched vid last year but just re/watched as now bought a new 110amp gel battery & 150watt solar panel, is that enough for 2/3 nights max off grid? Should I buy another battery or maybe another solar panel? Just TV and lights will run or heating if cold, please clarify, any help greatly appreciated x
I am about to fit a dc to dc charger which will deliver 30 amps to my leisure battery whilst driving. Have you considered this?
Yup. I have one fitted
@@WanderingBird More power than solar.
My 7
excellent, but Mr.WB voice needs to be a lot louder.
The video was great for the knowledge but would have been better if you were both in it. A little annoying listening to someone you can’t see.
Mrs WB you did indeed interrupt Mr WB when he started talking about switching over to the vehicle battery if needed. 😆 Can he advise further please?
You should only switch over in an emergency situation, preferably never do it. If you take power from your engine battery, you may well not be able to start your engine when you want to go as it needs a lot of power to make it run. The engine battery is designed to give a lot of power for a very short time, it will become damaged if used as a leisure battery. Simply put, you will have to get assistance to start (probably cost) and then you will have to buy a new starter battery, either straight away or certainly a lot sooner than you should have if you didn't swap over.