Ethanol Fuel Cells

[Canalsman]

Thanks for the comments thus far.

I definitely don't want a portable generator due to size/weight/noise issues. I also would not wish to have ANY risk of petrol vapour and the associated smell in my 'van.

I already have 200 watts of solar panel and 200Ah of battery capacity. The LPG under vehicle genny sounds a possibility, but I still think the noise would irritate me.

The methanol cost would possibly deter me, but maybe that cost will reduce ...

 

[Canalsman]

A nice idea, but NOT including the fuel, you could have one day in every 3 on a campsite to recharge for 5 years for the purchase price.

Crazy money!

For me this is irrelevant ... I never use campsites!

 

[Fazerloz]

See what you can find on Ethanol fuel cells, as Ethanol production is greatly on the increase, which should see prices come down and the distribution outlets increase making it far easier to obtain in the future compared to Methanol.

 

[trevskoda]

I've seen a standard genny fitted in a soundproofed aluminium box mounted on the back of the van which was very quiet.

How would it get cooled without cold air for the fan?,think you will find its just for storage.

 

[st3v3]

How would it get cooled without cold air for the fan?,think you will find its just for storage.

You can get sound damped vents Trev - pricey though for decent stuff. Much like a car exhaust silencer.

 

[trevskoda]

I have a we chepo £50 cosmo 650 watt two stroke genny which has a 12 v 5amp outlet or i can use the 230 mains outlet which i can plug into van 10amp onboard charger or if i want i have a 150ah boost starter charger which i can get a flat battery to start engine in 5/10 min,it is very qt like a we mouse chewing paper.
It runs 4 & a half hrs on 4 litres of two stroke mix.
Never used as my 200w solar panels keep me at 13.7 even in these dark days and im out working on van with all lights on for 2/3 hrs at night and the batts are up next day at about 11 am.

 

[colinm]

We have 250 w solar panel and was going to fit 2 more taking us to 750 w but have now decided solar panels are not the way to go for us.
They are about as much use as a chocolate fire guard after September if mounted flat on the roof,yes it would run a few lights and keep the battery bank topped up but for real world use running blown air heating and a bit of tv it is useless.
We now have a Honda eu20i it is ok on tickover but any load it sounds like a cage full of demented monkeys,not impressed and far from being silent or even quiet.
We have a 4 ,kva onboard generator but at about £6 an hour to run we very rarely use it.

We have a 85w panel, led lights, avtex led tv and truma heating, little if any problems into early November if not moving.

 

[Deleted member 8180]

Apollo 13.
That is all...

 

[10para]

efoy fuel cell

I wouldn't invest in one if I knew back then what I know now, initial coat is expensive and what charge you get back my model only pushes out 3.5 amp , and to top it off the fuel is expensive and apparently there's only one courier willing to deliver.

The only plus is its virtually silent, I'd go for a sterling power battery to battery charger mine is rated at 50amp s, cost off ebay used £130 , so a no brainer

 

[Admin]

Just as a comparison my Eberspacher heater is 56 db

 

[Canalsman]

I wouldn't invest in one if I knew back then what I know now, initial coat is expensive and what charge you get back my model only pushes out 3.5 amp , and to top it off the fuel is expensive and apparently there's only one courier willing to deliver.

The only plus is its virtually silent, I'd go for a sterling power battery to battery charger mine is rated at 50amp s, cost off ebay used £130 , so a no brainer

Thank you - that's an useful perspective ...

 

[DavidB963]

We have 250 w solar panel and was going to fit 2 more taking us to 750 w but have now decided solar panels are not the way to go for us.
They are about as much use as a chocolate fire guard after September if mounted flat on the roof,yes it would run a few lights and keep the battery bank topped up but for real world use running blown air heating and a bit of tv it is useless.
We now have a Honda eu20i it is ok on tickover but any load it sounds like a cage full of demented monkeys,not impressed and far from being silent or even quiet.
We have a 4 ,kva onboard generator but at about £6 an hour to run we very rarely use it.

Interesting. I have 300W of solar a single 115Ah Leisure battery and a second 80Ah for Amateur Radio work. Dual charge controller (PWM)
Just lasted 23 Dec - 04 Jan in a Scottish winter. Roughly 2hrs of TV per day, charging two phones, two tablets and Mifi. Blown air heating on and loads if LED lights.

Yes it has been mild but SWMBO thinks 25 deg C is cold.

Regards
David