Winter project

[soothingduck]

I have a autotrail mohican (2000) which is fitted with a dual charger from the engine which charges the starter battery and 3 leisure batteries (in one pack) there is room for 4 batteries.
There is a mains charger to the leisure battery pack and a 100 watt-ish solar cell the the leisure batteries.

I have some medical equipment (Life support) that runs on mains or 12 volt that I need to use at night
When I run it on 12 volt it works fine.
My problem is when I flush the loo or put to many lights on the medical equipment starts to alarm.

So what I would like to do is buy 4 leisure batteries and divide them in to two packs of two, one pair to power the van and one pair to power me.

So what I need is:-

1:- The solar cell to charge both leisure battery packs even if I need to buy another solar cell and charging unit.
2:- The engine to charge the starter battery and both battery packs.
3:- The mains charger to charge both leisure battery packs even if I need to buy a new charger

I also have a 2kva generator that I would like to be wired in some how.

If anyone can help me out with a wiring diagram and what I need to buy to get what I need i would be most grateful.

 

[Deleted member 9849]

First thoughts are that is a lot of leisure batteries so consequently reducing the payload significantly.I would be inclined to look for an ehu.If you are off grid a lot then it can be done by having 2 separate pairs of leisure batteries with one set feeding the van internal 12v circuits and the other feeding a dedicated socket(s) for your medical equipment.You will have to calculate the load that the equipment takes,how long it is used to get a daily current draw and make sure the leisure batteries are adequate.The charging circuit should be a simple enough job,I wouldn't bother with an extra solar panel,the genny would be my choice to top up the batteries.Most people are understanding about generators being used for medical equipment,mobility scooters etc...

 

[Tbear]

Rather than have massive banks of batteries, generators and solar panels I would contact the manufacturer of your medical equipment and get advise from them. You don't say what you are using and the power demand varies hugely between devises but some run for hours on a battery the size of a couple of fag packets. They do sometimes need bespoke charging systems though and if indeed it is Life Support, you need advise from experts who understand exactly your equipment requires. Not well meaning folk that are guessing what may be a good system.

I do not wish to be arrogant but I have had 40 years of dealing with the foibles of life support equipment, that is with two of us constantly monitoring it and a backup system next door. Please don't let familiarity breed contempt as I would rather get a rude reply than read an obituary.

Richard

 

[n brown]

don't hardwire the genny, just have the normal blue socket to connect to EHU plug. 2kw seems overly large and heavy, i would be looking for a smaller genny with electric start, so if you're feeling a bit weak or poorly, you can just push a button to get power. if you want to connect the genny more permanently, you can have a second EHU plug,in or out of the van,but you'll need a changeover switch,to separate the genny from the 240v supply

 

[maingate]

My thoughts would be:

2 Leisure and Van battery connected as normal for everyday use with Solar supply also.

2 Leisure with Solar supply and Solar Regulator purely for overnight Medical purposes.

Backup Petrol or Gas Generator. 1 KvA would be sufficient but if you already have a bigger one, just keep that.

You should have covered all the bases that way.

 

[soothingduck]

My medical equipment draws 5 amp @ 12 volt

 

[soothingduck]

First thoughts are that is a lot of leisure batteries so consequently reducing the payload significantly.I would be inclined to look for an ehu.

Not really what I asked

If you are off grid a lot then it can be done by having 2 separate pairs of leisure batteries with one set feeding the van internal 12v circuits and the other feeding a dedicated socket(s) for your medical equipment.

This is what I said I wanted to do.

You will have to calculate the load that the equipment takes,how long it is used to get a daily current draw and make sure the leisure batteries are adequate.

5 amp @12 volt for 10 hours=50 amp

The charging circuit should be a simple enough job,

Thanks

I wouldn't bother with an extra solar panel,the genny would be my choice to top up the batteries.

Again not what I asked but Thanks for the reply.

Most people are understanding about generators being used for medical equipment,mobility scooters etc...

Thanks

 

[soothingduck]

Rather than have massive banks of batteries, generators and solar panels I would contact the manufacturer of your medical equipment and get advise from them. You don't say what you are using and the power demand varies hugely between devises but some run for hours on a battery the size of a couple of fag packets. They do sometimes need bespoke charging systems though and if indeed it is Life Support, you need advise from experts who understand exactly your equipment requires. Not well meaning folk that are guessing what may be a good system.

I do not wish to be arrogant but I have had 40 years of dealing with the foibles of life support equipment, that is with two of us constantly monitoring it and a backup system next door. Please don't let familiarity breed contempt as I would rather get a rude reply than read an obituary.

Richard

There is no contempt here but Thanks

 

[soothingduck]

don't hardwire the genny, just have the normal blue socket to connect to EHU plug. 2kw seems overly large and heavy, i would be looking for a smaller genny with electric start, so if you're feeling a bit weak or poorly, you can just push a button to get power. if you want to connect the genny more permanently, you can have a second EHU plug,in or out of the van,but you'll need a changeover switch,to separate the genny from the 240v supply

I know what you mean but I have a brand new electric start genny that will be mounted on the rear bumber. A 3 way switch would be fine(off input 1 and input 2)
Thanks for the reply.

 

[soothingduck]

My thoughts would be:

2 Leisure and Van battery connected as normal for everyday use with Solar supply also.

2 Leisure with Solar supply and Solar Regulator purely for overnight Medical purposes.

Backup Petrol or Gas Generator. 1 KvA would be sufficient but if you already have a bigger one, just keep that.

You should have covered all the bases that way.

Basic answer that doesn't quite cover all the bases but thanks for the reply.

 

[QFour]

Have a look at this ..

Schaudt Solar Controller

It will charge 2 battery banks. It charges the primary first then the secondary so you could hook it up to charge the important one first and anything that's left over can go in the leisure battery.

You could put a larger panel on the roof. The solar controller above copes happily with our 150w panel.

A 100 amp battery will give 50 amps of usable power so your unit will run for 10 hours + before needing a charge. You don't need a battery with a high cranking capacity you need one that will cope with a 5 amp drain over a long period.

You could also consider a wind generator. You will need to find a quiet one otherwise you may upset the neighbours. You may also have to sort the mounting out to stop any noise being transmitted into the vehicle. Upside of this is that the wind can blow 24/7 so when the sun goes down you can still have power.

Your Life Support uses 60 watts of electric. A small wind generator can produces 25W in 19 knots of breeze.

..

 

[maingate]

Well, if you don't want basic ........ try this.

Power on the move - Efoy fuel cells for quiet, reliable power anywhere. DETAILS FOR ALL MODELS

 

[Johnnygm7lsi]

I have a autotrail mohican (2000) which is fitted with a dual charger from the engine which charges the starter battery and 3 leisure batteries (in one pack) there is room for 4 batteries.
There is a mains charger to the leisure battery pack and a 100 watt-ish solar cell the the leisure batteries.

I have some medical equipment (Life support) that runs on mains or 12 volt that I need to use at night
When I run it on 12 volt it works fine.
My problem is when I flush the loo or put to many lights on the medical equipment starts to alarm.

So what I would like to do is buy 4 leisure batteries and divide them in to two packs of two, one pair to power the van and one pair to power me.

So what I need is:-

1:- The solar cell to charge both leisure battery packs even if I need to buy another solar cell and charging unit.
2:- The engine to charge the starter battery and both battery packs.
3:- The mains charger to charge both leisure battery packs even if I need to buy a new charger

I also have a 2kva generator that I would like to be wired in some how.

If anyone can help me out with a wiring diagram and what I need to buy to get what I need i would be most grateful.

Well for a start I wouldn`t like to depend on solar power for life support,

What type of dual charger have you that "charges from the engine which charges the starter battery and 3 leisure batteries"

 

[Tbear]

Well for a start I wouldn`t like to depend on solar power for life support,

What type of dual charger have you that "charges from the engine which charges the starter battery and 3 leisure batteries"

What do you mean by life support. I am beginning to think it's a beer fridge.

Richard

 

[maingate]

The OP wants to be fully covered for eventualities in case he is getting short of power.

We have covered the basics which don't seem to be enough. There is one more option he could use but it will be expensive ....... use a Site. :scared:

 

[soothingduck]

Well, if you don't want basic ........ try this.

Power on the move - Efoy fuel cells for quiet, reliable power anywhere. DETAILS FOR ALL MODELS

Wow that's fanastic I just need 4 grand now

 

[soothingduck]

Well for a start I wouldn`t like to depend on solar power for life support,

I'm not going too.

What type of dual charger have you that "charges from the engine which charges the starter battery and 3 leisure batteries"

I dont even now where it is never mind what type it is,I just know it charges

 

[soothingduck]

The OP wants to be fully covered for eventualities in case he is getting short of power.

We have covered the basics which don't seem to be enough. There is one more option he could use but it will be expensive ....... use a Site. :scared:

I did all year but I would like to wild camp and I thought this would be the place to ask.

 

[Johnnygm7lsi]

I would put in another battery so you have 4 batteries in total, but your alternator, your battery charger if its the onboard Elektroblock type, and you genny will struggle to charge up all those batteries, so I would fit a 120amp Sterling batt to batt charger, and then fit isolator switches to separate 2 of the 4 sets of batteries to stop you getting a voltage drop when you switch your lights ECT on, it looks like your life support system is voltage drop sensitive. Your 2 isolated batteries will keep your Life support going all night, then switch them over to charge them in the morning with the engine running (about 30/40 minutes) or driving will do the same.

 

[maingate]

I would put in another battery so you have 4 batteries in total, but your alternator, your battery charger if its the onboard Elektroblock type, and you genny will struggle to charge up all those batteries, so I would fit a 120amp Sterling batt to batt charger, and then fit isolator switches to separate 2 of the 4 sets of batteries to stop you getting a voltage drop when you switch your lights ECT on, it looks like your life support system is voltage drop sensitive. Your 2 isolated batteries will keep your Life support going all night, then switch them over to charge them in the morning with the engine running (about 30/40 minutes) or driving will do the same.

I think he is much like yourself ...... a bit paranoid about running out of power. :lol-061: In his case it is more understandable.

I offered the solution of a standalone 12 volt supply of around 110+ amps (2 x 110 Ah batteries @ 50% discharge), kept topped up by solar with a petrol generator as backup.

On top of that he would have a further 2 x 110 Ah batteries with some spare capacity after domestic use.

As the OP has a generator also, I am totally confused at what his problem is. He has not given details of what kind of van he has, if he Fulltimes or has a dwelling that he can use. Therefore I will leave it up to the rest of you to sort him out with only minimal input from the OP.

I'm out.