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electric would only be to power devices not for heating etc. Like i said, just looking for a decent (and reasonably priced) setup. Recommendations etc.

thanks again

Can we assume from your post that you will mainly be static? If you will be moving, even if not daily, then wiring your batteries to charge while your driving will mean you need fewer solar panels. Don't forget more panels equals more weight and more fuel used.

If you are concerned about running out of power then you should be looking at equipment that use less power, like led bulbs for lighting.

Hi Kryten,

i have no plans to be static. I don't know how much the normal engine running will keep the batteries charged. I will be looking in depth at energy management but want to ensure that i have enough to warm the van etc.

thanks for the response. All very much appreciated.

i know it's a massive topic. But looking for some help/guidance/pointers etc.

i reckon i will go for as many panels as i can fit on the roof (300-400watts) and 2-4 110AH batteries. Looking for recommendations on panels (prices seem to be all over the place) and if anyone has any installation tips/videos (i've already got some from youtube) then they'd be really helpful too.

trying to get a good few days worth of energy (even in the winter) until i need to find somewhere to plug in. I really want to avoid a genny if i can get away with it.

cheers

I'd thoroughly recommend a luton. Their squareness makes it really easy to work on.

Have a look at my blog, I've just started it. I should be adding some interior stuff over the weekend too.

www.myhousecanmove.com

cheers mate, appreciate the feedback. I've been looking at your site. very impressive build you're doing there. I'll have to see what i can afford. Once they've finished with me

thanks for the advice. These life glitches are just that. Once over the hump we'll get down the other side. I'll research the YT videos mentioned. I think (as with everything), there's some serious learning to be done. But needs must and the adventure is giving me no option.  i shall (by hook or by crook), be prepared.

thanks again

Rich

Hi All,

I've been away for a while (not in the in prison way  just not able to access the forum)trying to sort out life. But, it's decided to give me a kick in the nuts and i think i'll be evicted in the next couple of months.

So, I gotta go find me a cheap van that the two of us can live in, kit out (basic) and heat (plumping for a woodburner) that'll keep us going over the winter.

Any ideas, pointers, guidance, advice etc. all gratefully received.

Cheers

Rich

Here you go, anyone in the UK can easily put two of these on their van roof. 160 watts each (320 watts total) which is more than enough for most people's needs. (12V fridge, laptop, TV/DVD, LED lighting etc;)

Just £133.76 each including post. With the best offer option available, try at £125 and chances are you'll get it. With free delivery that's not bad at all.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/160W-12V-Photovoltaic-Solar-Panel-160Watt-12Volt-Monocrystalline-Solar-Module-/350934331204?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item51b550ef44

If you want to aim the solar panels straight at the sun, just use car hatchback boot struts available for less than a fiver a pair.

To wire them up in parallel the waterproof connectors can be bought for less than £10 on eBay.

The solar charge controller for these would cost no more than £30 max on eBay.

The roof grommet can be made out of a plastic food/sandwich container and can be bought new for £1.

The wire going from the charge controller to the 12V batteries similarly would cost no more than a fiver.

The battery connectors can be bought for less than £5 new or much less from a vehicle breakers yard.

The 12V batteries you can use ordinary car batteries the bigger the better for holding a longer charge. These can also be bought at any car scrapyard for between £15-20 each. I use 3 in total in the back of the van, they've lasted so far 5 years and they're still going strong.

4 hours approximately to fully charge a 12V battery from flat.

Each battery will easily last the night.

A pure sine wave inverter can be bought for under £50 into which you can plug in a 3-pin ordinary household electrical plug, for example a four socket extension.

Put an extra 12V battery under the bonnet and you can use this battery to power your on board stereo. Use a relay switch on the dashboard to switch to the main engine battery for starting up in the morning. As soon as you start the engine both batteries will be charging up again.

Total outlay: +/- £400 total depending on the options you choose to use.

Simple.

that's a great and very much simplified explanation. I think the thing with this type of topic is people don't really know where to start. I know I don't. It just feels, seems all a little too daunting. Whereas you've kind of got it sorted and now have the confidence having done it. I'll be coming to you for some help when i get my van in the next couple of months 

I have been working on the electrical and am modeling my system based off vandog's "12V electrical and wiring for my campervan conversion," except I will not be installing a mains hookup and am not even sure what battery monitoring is therefore have not included it. 

I am wondering how to correctly use the 12V fuse box without having it connected to my MPPT controller?  I had planned to connect it directly to my leisure battery, is this possible? 

Also, I have no idea what the terminals for the switches are doing in your system? 

All a bit overwhelming so any help would be great. Thanks and killer site Vandog.

Hey. Battery monitoring is just a volt readout display to monitor battery condition and also a current readout to monitor instantaneous power usage (in Amps) - but yeah you don't really need it.

I'm not sure what you mean about not wanting to connect the fusebox to your solar controller though. If you are using a solar controller, the things you are powering will have to connect to it, which means the fusebox as well.

I think with stuff like this, it's really useful to know just the minimum about DC circuits since everyone has different requirements - then you can build it up bit by bit yourself however you want

My post isn't very clear though - it wasn't really done with the intention of it being reproduced. I'm working on another version

Mike. you need to do a step by step. It'll give folk an idea and perhaps the confidence to tackle it themselves.

Also it might be worth considering European breakdown cover.

For this service go to the German equivalent of the AA, it's cost effective and excellent value for money - ADAC. (You might need to confirm on the telephone that this is still being made available to drivers in the UK - don't worry they speak perfect English). This breakdown company was established 112 years ago.

I think it's less than 100 euros for full European cover. In other words, if your van develops a major fault in lets say Corinth, Greece - you will get the full recovery service back to the French port for the ferry crossing back to the UK where your UK breakdown cover will take over and take you back home or to a garage for repairs.

More information can be found here:

http://www.adac.de/mitgliedschaft/adac_membership/

really useful stuff too. thanks.

Rich

A lot of Euro countries have different approaches to the MOT situation, as long as you are insured and have all your docs, you will be okay. I don't know about 6 months out of date though. Me personally would arrange to be back for the MOT and your tax.
If you are going away long term, sort it before you depart.
Ie: get it Moted and taxed, plus full insurance. 
You will get away with a lot of lax stuff, until you run over something/one, then all your docs have to be squeaky clean. Otherwise you are in clink before you can say Bobs your watsit.
Don't chance it, Euro drivers are as bad as ours, even if it's their fault you are the foreigner.
Besides if you are travelling for more than a year all the local rules will apply, whatever.

so maybe a couple of dashcams? (seem to be the rage anyway). Still wondering though, what happens if you go long term >1 year.

Rich

I haven't thought about this yet, we always come back for the winter and the MOT is due in Jan.
After talking to the guys at the testing station they told me I would need to get it booked in for a test as soon as I got back in UK to be legal here. They did not want to comment on the legalities of MOT expiring and still using your vehicle abroad.
I guess your insurance would be invalid as soon as it ran out as with tax.
Whenever we have been stopped by the police for vehicle checks in other countries they only seem interested in driving license and insurance and as long as we have supplied these have had no problems. Whether they can do other checks by radio or computer like they do here I do not know but I have always thought at border crossings they can get information about the vehicle and it's occupants from the registration and as long as the names tally with the reg you get waved straight through. Exeptions to this being Albania and Montenegro where we had to buy insurance as we entered as our ins company did not use the 'green card' system.
I did hear something about the driver penalty points system becoming a Europe wide thing last week so the European authorities must have access to each others record systems to keep track on driver details so if this is the case for vehicle records to we will need to find out, you can bet they ar not going to let you continue in an old van if you are 3000 mile from home and your MOT expired 6 months ago, and whether the vehicle testing can be done in the country you are in will let you proceed.
We really need to find these things out before we get caught out.

it was why i asked ;-) mainly because i don't know myself.

thanks for the response though, some real insight in there.

Rich

1. renewing tax/MoT whilst NOT in the UK? Do you bother?

2. legalities of driving mainland Europe (taxing or testing) your vehichle?

Anyone got any links to extended travels across mainland Europe (in excess of 1 yr)

mike? what are you doing or plan on doing related to this?

What happens when/should you arrive back in UK?

Cheers

Rich

Good of you to post the warning. It's not much fun when it comes to the cost but you'll have no doubt saved others a pretty tidy sum too. Thank you for that.

it's normally uncomfortable waking up from a deep sleep.

if you think about it. The indoctrination has been beautifully carried out. Not a peep from the masses, whilst the "very few" profit from the sweat equity of others.

Life should be about the journey rather than the destination. Ultimately, i suspect we're all searching for the "escape" from the gang-masters and those that wish to (and have effectively and very successfully) enslave us.

Moving on.... 

Maybe we can get a bit of a collective together and get some buying power in terms of a number of folk all going as a group rather than individuals? Gives a little bit of bargaining power?

Rich