Efoy fuelcell

[Wully]

Please do review it. We are contemplating a genny. Gulp! Moving very little and a lot of cloud and rain, and that is in Greece! Had to resort to a campsite to fully charge batteries last night ��.

How much does it weigh? How Much methanol are you getting through? Amp limits? Etc

Thanks
K[/QUO

The unit itself weighs about 6 kilo and the fuel cartridge about the same it’s preaty compact. Just two wires to you’re battery and one to the remote control size wise it’s quite compact. I had an lpg top of the Range genny fitted to my last van with its own exhaust system great piece of kit but still noisy under load
When just running to charge batteries still noisy and a bit of vibration.think this is a good option because you can let it work 24 hours it turns itself on using a sensor do determine how low battery is. And practically silent with no fumes.im running a few tests with van to see it’s streanths and weakness’s,

 

[colinm]

think this is a good option because you can let it work 24 hours it turns itself on using a sensor do determine how low battery is. And practically silent with no fumes.im running a few tests with van to see it’s streanths and weakness’s,

It strikes me that will need some intervention as you learn what it does, cutting in to top up in evening if needed is good, but if it decides to fire up early morning before solar can pick up, or if you are soon to drive off, not so good.

 

[jagmanx]

I tend to agree

I looked at the Ifoy. Good idea, but a bit expensive. But what killed it for me is the fuel cost and availability.
If I am to pay that much for a device, I'd need to use it a fair bit. But the cost of the fuel rules that out.
There is a firm making gas-powered fuel cells, which can run on LPG. The problem is that they are making domestic units at present, not suitable for a motorhome. Perhaps they will branch out?

Telair TG480 - Automatic LPG Generator 12v 20A - Products
You might find this of interest
Chainsaw Charlie posted another link which appears cheaper but (I think) It does not include all the necessary parts.
Then there is fitting.. again my link looks better !

 

[Wully]

I had a dometic lpg generator fitted to my last van worked well when I needed it and ran of same gas tank that done heating and cooking. Even had its own exhaust system but you had to time when you used it so as not to upset people and it was still noisy then there’s the vibration and you couldent just leave it running 24 7 So I’ve realy had both and I’ve done my homework it’s early days yet but looks like this ticks all the boxes for my needs I know the fuel is expensive but it’s only running when you’re batteries drop below a certain level charges then automatically turns itself off so used correctly shouldend be too bad I’ve been talking to somebody who’s had one for over a year now and he’s only used just over a half of a container of fuel that equates to around £30 to £40

 

[jagmanx]

I had a dometic lpg generator fitted to my last van worked well when I needed it and ran of same gas tank that done heating and cooking. Even had its own exhaust system but you had to time when you used it so as not to upset people and it was still noisy then there’s the vibration and you couldent just leave it running 24 7 So I’ve realy had both and I’ve done my homework it’s early days yet but looks like this ticks all the boxes for my needs I know the fuel is expensive but it’s only running when you’re batteries drop below a certain level charges then automatically turns itself off so used correctly shouldend be too bad I’ve been talking to somebody who’s had one for over a year now and he’s only used just over a half of a container of fuel that equates to around £30 to £40

Thanks
That does allay fears about cost ! and Fuel availability
Simple question is how long does a
EFOY Fuel Cell Methanol M10 (Box of 2)
£96.00 inc. VAT last
Your post suggest maybe 2 years
In our case maybe longer as
1 We only use MoHo in summer
2 We have solar and 1 85AH battery which has never gone below 12.5
WE are very frugal almost ridiculously so with using or LB !

 

[Wully]

Im just going what I’ve been told not my own experience but I’ll keep an eye on it there’s a handy app that comes with it so you can run and change settings via Bluetooth on you’re phone lets you know what power you’re generating and how much fuel being consumed over a period of time you can monitor you’re battery from phone and start stop as required.

 

[ChrisInNotts]

Thanks
That does allay fears about cost ! and Fuel availability
Simple question is how long does a
EFOY Fuel Cell Methanol M10 (Box of 2)
£96.00 inc. VAT last
Your post suggest maybe 2 years
In our case maybe longer as
1 We only use MoHo in summer
2 We have solar and 1 85AH battery which has never gone below 12.5
WE are very frugal almost ridiculously so with using or LB !

If it were me I would be looking to see if it is possible to re-fill their fuel cartridges Pure methanol is available on ebay for £27 for 20L so I wonder why the cartridge is so dear? I may be because methanol is pretty toxic and there may also be duty implications?

Keith

 

[jagmanx]

Thanks WUSSY

Im just going what I’ve been told not my own experience but I’ll keep an eye on it there’s a handy app that comes with it so you can run and change settings via Bluetooth on you’re phone lets you know what power you’re generating and how much fuel being consumed over a period of time you can monitor you’re battery from phone and start stop as required.

I think, as I posted before, My main problem will be where to fit the item and the Fuel supply unit.
But if this can be resolved given your very helpful info It may well be a good investment for us
I have reviewed my assessment of the "3 fuels issue"
As I have posted we do not use MoHo in winter so fuel costs and more importantly availability should be OK.
As it is we rarely use campsites and even then do not pay extra for EHU so say £15 a night x150 (summer travelling days) nearly pays for it in one year !
We rarely pay £15 a night but I think that is a useful value.
This is an over-optimistic payback scenario but 5 years will do !
As you post/infer the real plus is reliable power irrespective of the weather and of course if the weather is bad you need power and solar is less effective.
Given you "full-time" (I think) it is a "No Brainer" and the fuel cost simply won't really matter.
I may well buy in April but your continued feed back (I hope) will inform me and others.

A very useful and helpful thread

 

[saxonborg]

I had a dometic lpg generator fitted to my last van worked well when I needed it and ran of same gas tank that done heating and cooking. Even had its own exhaust system but you had to time when you used it so as not to upset people and it was still noisy then there’s the vibration and you couldent just leave it running 24 7 So I’ve realy had both and I’ve done my homework it’s early days yet but looks like this ticks all the boxes for my needs I know the fuel is expensive but it’s only running when you’re batteries drop below a certain level charges then automatically turns itself off so used correctly shouldend be too bad I’ve been talking to somebody who’s had one for over a year now and he’s only used just over a half of a container of fuel that equates to around £30 to £40

And on the basis that you shouldn’t really ever need a hook up you would easily save that money back.

 

[mistericeman]

If it were me I would be looking to see if it is possible to re-fill their fuel cartridges Pure methanol is available on ebay for £27 for 20L so I wonder why the cartridge is so dear? I may be because methanol is pretty toxic and there may also be duty implications?

Keith

I suspect it's possibly more complicated than just topping the methanol up....

Shame as the last lot I picked up (mid last year) was less than £80 for 204 litres of top grade M1 Stuff.....



Goes in this.... 10.5 litre supercharged monster

 

[st3v3]

I suspect it's possibly more complicated than just topping the methanol up....

Shame as the last lot I picked up (mid last year) was less than £80 for 204 litres of top grade M1 Stuff.....

View attachment 60642

Goes in this.... 10.5 litre supercharged monster

View attachment 60641

I want a go! Swap for a go in my escort cosworth *




* When I eventually get around to changing the gearbox lol.

Where do you go with it?

 

[mistericeman]

I want a go! Swap for a go in my escort cosworth *




* When I eventually get around to changing the gearbox lol.

Where do you go with it?

Not mine (far too expensive toy for me)

It's a mate of mines.... Runs 7 seconds over 1/4 mile at santa pod etc.

This was a year or two back when he was running 8's without methanol but a big hit of nitrous instead [video=youtube_share;Gk5d5MWsFwI]https://youtu.be/Gk5d5MWsFwI[/video]

 

[st3v3]

Nice. Pod is great, but I prefer shakey - have you heard if it's going to be open again? They were talking of building houses on it. Shame.

 

[mistericeman]

Nice. Pod is great, but I prefer shakey - have you heard if it's going to be open again? They were talking of building houses on it. Shame.

Yup he races at Shakey and York....

Think it's all still looking decidedly grim at moment BUT who knows in fullness of time.

 

[Canalsman]

View attachment 60632Fitted my efoy 140 fuelcell today took about 1 hour to completely install. I’m even more impressed when I heard it running or dident hear it. For me it was a hard decision because of initial set up cost and listening to everyone saying how good solar was well it’s pitch black outside and this things still charging my batteries at a cost I know but the piece of mind it’s giving me is great a constant 24 hour energy without sun or a noisy and polluting generator I’ll keep youse posted on running costs over time. View attachment 60627View attachment 60628

Where did you install the unit?

How did you route the flue?

And where did you locate the control panel?

 

[Wully]

Hi Chris I installed it in a cupboard under main bed as near to garage and batteries as I could get I’ve atached a couple of photos and a link the vent only lets a little bit of hot air so left it in garage area as you can see from video they actually vent this inside habitation area the main one to vent is the small grey pipe which vents through floor. You’ll see a small thing sitting on top of efoy that’s a Bluetooth dongle it states a range of ten meters but I can control it from house about 15 meters away using app on my iPhone
YouTube

 

[Wully]

I’ve been running it in driveway for a couple of days now putting lights on tv and sat for a few hours at a time even ran fridge from batteries for a while to see how it coped just so that I know it’s streanths and weakness’s so far I’m impressed I’ve had it running under pressure and think it’ll do the job that I need it to do. The app lets you know fuel usage charge going in and condition of batteries.

 

[Canalsman]

Looks neat ...

I think I may well install one of these on my return to the UK in May. I have a suitable location in mind.

I note that Roadpro sell them quite a bit cheaper than Fuel Cell Systems.

There were a couple of questions over refilling and system life.

Refilling will invalidate warranty and any impurities introduced may affect the fuel cell.

Anticipated life is at least 5,000 hours with no reduction in performance.

 

[Wully]

Chris road pros price £3775 plus £104 for fuel and it looks like they charge £99 for heat duct and £25 for exhaust flu pipe. Making it £4013. I managed to get a discount from fuelcells direct by telling them I found one on eBay from Poland at £3350 and asked them to Mach price and they did so I realy done my homework before buying the price I paid was £3450 with two m10 tanks of fuel the Bluetooth dongle was £100 total £3550 installed myself so I recon I saved £500 on the best price by anyone hope you understand my figures cheers wully

 

[Canalsman]

Don't worry. I'll shop around!