Keep Her Cool | Give Her Coffee | Extend Her Stay RV Lithium Battery & Caravan Solar Electrical Upgrade
Unleashing Off-Grid Luxury: 12V & 240V Caravan Power System for Ultimate Camping Comfort!
After decades of working hard this Australian couple, John and his wife upgrade their 12 volt caravan electrics with a luxury 12V & 240V lithium power system so that the can free camp at the most remote locations and campgrounds of Australia all while being able to run their household appliance off-grid – such as their coffee machine and air-conditioner. They are preparing to hitch up their caravan and head off around the country to live the ultimate retirement dream.
John came to us with his 2022 Snowy River SCR22, which had the most basic 12v system: with 1 x deep cycle batteries & 1 x solar panel on the roof. John asked us to upgrade his caravan lithium battery bank and to give him more solar on the roof with an inverter for COFFEE and to run his Houghton Belaire 3500 caravan air-conditioner.
He said: “We want you to upgrade our RV power to be off-grid ready for when we retire in the near future.”
We designed a power system for John’s caravan and named it, The ‘Retire Right’ package!
The Caravan 12 volt Power Set-Up:
🔋620Ah RV Custom Lithium Battery Bank
🔋1800W Caravan Solar Panels - 1200 Solar Panels Caravan Roof Mounted & 600W portable Caravan Solar Panels (See YouTube for more info)
📍Plus external Anderson for portable solar panels enabling backup solar boost, monitored through main Simarine Pico Monitoring System.
🔋2600W Inverter -ePOWER Enerdrive 2600W 12V True Sine Wave Inverter with AC Transfer & Safety Switch
📍LED Remote Control Display Panel located in the overhead cupboard for easy viewing and operation.
📍Inverter is fully integrated and 240v Hard wired to all GPO power points for power to air-conditioner, microwave, coffee machine, Starlink etc while off-grid,
📍External power outlets for 240v power access from outside of caravan
PLUS hardwired to all internal and external power outlets.
How To Run Your Caravan Air Conditioner On 12 Volt
How To Run Your Caravan Air Conditioner On 12 Volt
In this video we explain the different brands and types of caravan air-conditioners, such as the inverter based air-conditioners like the Dometic Ibis 4, Dometic Freshjet and Dometic Harrier. We compare the Houghton Belaire 3500, which is a ‘direct online’ or DOL compressor meaning it has no starting assistance on the motor, which is the most harsh starting current type of starting setup for a motor. And we explain why we had to installed a soft start to run the air-conditioner.
🔋DCDC Battery Charger - Enerdrive | Dometic ePOWER DC2DC 40A+ Battery Charger.
📍Installed to utilise the multi input battery charging function. 3 charging sources; charging house battery via alternator battery while in tow, + solar simultaneous dual charging while in tow, plus solar charging the RV battery while camped up and disconnected from the tow vehicle.
🔋AC Charger - Enerdrive | Dometic ePOWER 40A AC Battery Charger
📍Battery bank charging via mains power or caravan park powered site.
🔋MPPT Solar Regulator Chargers Controllers - Enerdrive
📍Multiple solar regulator charges installed to maximise this specific caravan solar array where low voltage and hight voltage panels have been installed to increase the ration of energy utilisation to achieve rapid recharge while camping off grid.
🔋50 amp Anderson plug installed at the drawbar at the front of the caravan to power the Black Jack Caravan Trainer Jack.
📍With optional benefit to power other caravan accessories such as an air compressor, pump, portable fridge etc.
🔋Rectified existing12 v and 240 volt wiring to make it compliant to electrical standards.
NOTE: It is illegal and unsafe for unqualified persons to install or modify caravan 240v electrics. An auto electrician is not qualified or licensed to install caravan 240 volt electrics, including the hardwiring of caravan inverters and caravan main switchboard.
Only a Qualified Electrician with a Contractors Licence is legally certified to install caravan 240 volt electrics, including the hardwiring of caravan inverters and caravan main switchboard.
The Caravan Battery Management and Monitoring System
🔋Simarine Advance Battery Management and System Monitoring Package
Simarine Advance Battery Management & Pico Monitoring with personalised programming installed in caravan by Outech OffGrid.
📍Simarine PICO Screen displaying Comprehensive battery monitoring with precise information for state of charge from DC, AC and solar, power inflows and outflows, ability to monitor 240 v loads such as the air-conditioner, as well as all of the 12 volt power load in the caravan such as lights.
Complete control with no more guessing giving peace of mind in your caravan power set-up.
We Retained The Existing Caravan Projector System for Water Pumps & Water Tank Monitoring - and we show you more details in the video.
Why is an inverter necessary for caravan appliances?
An inverter is necessary for caravan appliances because most caravans and motorhomes are equipped with a 12-volt DC electrical system. However, many household appliances and electronics operate on 120-volt AC power. An inverter converts the 12-volt DC power from the caravan's battery into 120-volt AC power, allowing you to use and power these appliances and electronics while on the road. Without an inverter, you would be limited to using only 12-volt DC appliances, which are typically smaller and less powerful.
Here are some common household appliances you can run with an inverter in your caravan:
🥶Caravan Air conditioner,
⚕️CPAP Machine
👨🍳Caravan Microwave
☕Caravan Coffee machine
🧼Caravan Washing machine
👱♀️Hairdryer
🍳 Caravan Induction cooker
🍞Caravan Toaster
🍞Thermomix
🌐Caravan Starlink
🔌 Charge laptops and drones
Benefits Of An Outech Off-Grid Caravan Power System:
📍No more Guessing / No More Stressing. This off-grid caravan power setup packs a punch and comes with a comprehensive battery monitoring for state of charge from DC, AC, Solar, as well load monitoring. Control via integrated screen or remotely
📍No more costly caravan park fees
📍Choose unpowered sites to save cost
📍No lengthy setup – simple park and flick the switch
📍No more running out of power
📍Hassle Free Camping
📍NO HIDDEN INSTALLATION COSTS
📍Design & installation of 12v 240volt electrical systems are completed in house by our qualified electrician. We deliver a seamless solution and give you 1 Quote Inclusive of 240 volt installation and hardwiring
Our builds | Our Promise :
✅ Entire 12v to 240v Installation by Licensed Electrician | Qualified 12 volt and 240 Volt Electrician
✅Installation by Qualified Electrician with over 20 years’ experience
✅External Anderson for portable solar panels
✅ 240v fully integrated (power at all GPO’s)
✅Thorough handover
✅Unlimited technical support
✅Lifetime warranty on workmanship
✅5 year warranty on electrical components and battery.
✅Compliant to AS/NZS3001.2:2022
✅Electrical Safety Certificate Issued
Outech OFFGrid are qualified electricians; specialising in the design and installation of caravan off-grid power. Including 12v, 24v and 240v systems in caravans, motorhomes, campers and 4WD’s.
Beach Free Camping WA
Outech Offgrid design and install reliable 12 volt & 240 volt caravan power systems so you can free camp for longer while using your air-conditioner and charging your drone!
Call on 0483 100 950, our technical team is ready to answer your off-grid caravanning questions!