Electrical systems planning

[rinella]

I am trying to plan out my electrical system so I can prewire before I install the insulation in my 2007 e250. Please tell me your opinion on what I'm installing and what else I should plan ahead for. When it comes time to install the items, I plan on starting at the top of the list and adding items as money allows.

Coach battery - size, type and placement?
Continuous duty solenoid or dfna.info SBI Isolator - opinions?
Battery monitor - recommendations?
Led lights - qty, type and placement?
12v iPhone/iPad charger
12v MagSafe charger for MacBook
Fantastic fan
12v fridge
12v electric skillet
Solar panel and charge controller
12v 19-24" TV/DVD combo

What is the best way to keep the batteries charged from 120v ac?

Thank you for all of you help!

 

[SoulRaven]

Greetings!

Answers in green...

Rinella wrote:

I am trying to plan out my electrical system so I can prewire before I install the insulation in my 2007 e250. Please tell me your opinion on what I'm installing and what else I should plan ahead for. When it comes time to install the items, I plan on starting at the top of the list and adding items as money allows.

Coach battery - size, type and placement?
<font color=green><b>Any Battery Exchange type $20 deep cycle battery should work and last 2-3 years.</b></font>

Continuous duty solenoid or dfna.info SBI Isolator - opinions?
<font color=green><b>These can work while driving, but I recommend carrying a 12v DC Generator to make sure you'll always have power.</b></font>

Battery monitor - recommendations?
<font color=green><b>I have a "battery saver" on both my house and vehicle batteries. When my Laptop shows that it is no longer on house power, it's time to fire up the generator. (15-20 mins, once a week)</b></font>

Led lights - qty, type and placement?
<font color=green><b>I'm not a big fan of built in lighting. Portable lanterns and lights can be had that will charge via solar, hand crank, or use dollar store batteries. I'm a full timer, and I have LED lanterns that get a lot of use, that have had the same dollar store batteries in them for several years. Get the dimmable kind.</b></font>

12v iPhone/iPad charger
12v MagSafe charger for MacBook
Fantastic fan
<font color=green><b>These should plug into any 12v accessory outlet...</b></font>

12v fridge
<font color=green><b>Not too sure about this one, I've heard they'll drain your batteries rather quickly.</b></font>

12v electric skillet
<font color=green><b>Not familiar with these, but they will probably plug into any 12v accessory socket.</b></font>

Solar panel and charge controller
<font color=green><b>Other's will argue, but I'm not a big fan of solar. Using my 12v DC generator uses about 1 gallon of gas per month, with no sunshine needed. When I had solar, and an AC generator, it cost me a whole lot more to have full time power.</b></font>

12v 19-24" TV/DVD combo
<font color=green><b>Not sure about this one, if it doesn't draw too much juice it should work. You can also use your laptop for a TV/DVD player...</b></font>

What is the best way to keep the batteries charged from 120v ac?
<font color=green><b>Any cheap automatic battery charger should work, but I'd just use your 12v DC generator.</b></font>

Thank you for all of you help!
<hr>
<b>
I'm not a big fan of built in wiring for a van. 40+ years ago, a very wise friend told me that if you consider your van to be a big metal tent, and nothing more, and keep all of your systems portable and self contained, each item will be easier to fix or replace.

Along with my 12v DC generator, I built a simple battery box, and have cord reels to extend power to any point in the van. Simple, handy, and trouble free. Each outlet in the battery box has it's own separate 30 amp fuse. I have 4 of the cord reels, so I have 100 feet of power cable if needed.

Here's a pic of what I use:



Hope this helps...</b>

Cheers!

The CamperVan_Man

 

[SoulRaven]

I am trying to plan out my electrical system so I can prewire before I install the insulation in my 2007 e250. Please tell me your opinion on what I'm installing and what else I should plan ahead for. When it comes time to install the items, I plan on starting at the top of the list and adding items as money allows.

Coach battery - size, type and placement?
Continuous duty solenoid or dfna.info SBI Isolator - opinions?
Battery monitor - recommendations?
Led lights - qty, type and placement?
12v iPhone/iPad charger
12v MagSafe charger for MacBook
Fantastic fan
12v fridge
12v electric skillet
Solar panel and charge controller
12v 19-24" TV/DVD combo

What is the best way to keep the batteries charged from 120v ac?

Thank you for all of you help!

View attachment 685Greetings!

Answers in green...

Rinella wrote:

I am trying to plan out my electrical system so I can prewire before I install the insulation in my 2007 e250. Please tell me your opinion on what I'm installing and what else I should plan ahead for. When it comes time to install the items, I plan on starting at the top of the list and adding items as money allows.

Coach battery - size, type and placement?
<font color=green><b>Any Battery Exchange type $20 deep cycle battery should work and last 2-3 years.</b></font>

Continuous duty solenoid or dfna.info SBI Isolator - opinions?
<font color=green><b>These can work while driving, but I recommend carrying a 12v DC Generator to make sure you'll always have power.</b></font>

Battery monitor - recommendations?
<font color=green><b>I have a "battery saver" on both my house and vehicle batteries. When my Laptop shows that it is no longer on house power, it's time to fire up the generator. (15-20 mins, once a week)</b></font>

Led lights - qty, type and placement?
<font color=green><b>I'm not a big fan of built in lighting. Portable lanterns and lights can be had that will charge via solar, hand crank, or use dollar store batteries. I'm a full timer, and I have LED lanterns that get a lot of use, that have had the same dollar store batteries in them for several years. Get the dimmable kind.</b></font>

12v iPhone/iPad charger
12v MagSafe charger for MacBook
Fantastic fan
<font color=green><b>These should plug into any 12v accessory outlet...</b></font>

12v fridge
<font color=green><b>Not too sure about this one, I've heard they'll drain your batteries rather quickly.</b></font>

12v electric skillet
<font color=green><b>Not familiar with these, but they will probably plug into any 12v accessory socket.</b></font>

Solar panel and charge controller
<font color=green><b>Other's will argue, but I'm not a big fan of solar. Using my 12v DC generator uses about 1 gallon of gas per month, with no sunshine needed. When I had solar, and an AC generator, it cost me a whole lot more to have full time power.</b></font>

12v 19-24" TV/DVD combo
<font color=green><b>Not sure about this one, if it doesn't draw too much juice it should work. You can also use your laptop for a TV/DVD player...</b></font>

What is the best way to keep the batteries charged from 120v ac?
<font color=green><b>Any cheap automatic battery charger should work, but I'd just use your 12v DC generator.</b></font>

Thank you for all of you help!
<hr>
<b>
I'm not a big fan of built in wiring for a van. 40+ years ago, a very wise friend told me that if you consider your van to be a big metal tent, and nothing more, and keep all of your systems portable and self contained, each item will be easier to fix or replace.

Along with my 12v DC generator, I built a simple battery box, and have cord reels to extend power to any point in the van. Simple, handy, and trouble free. Each outlet in the battery box has it's own separate 30 amp fuse. I have 4 of the cord reels, so I have 100 feet of power cable if needed.

Here's a pic of what I use:

View attachment 685

Hope this helps...</b>

Cheers!

The CamperVan_Man

 

[Ken in Anaheim]

The CamperVan_Man , what type (make/model) generator are you using ?
Thanks...........KinA

 

[SoulRaven]

The CamperVan_Man , what type (make/model) generator are you using ?
Thanks...........KinA

Greetings!

It's a home made 12v DC generator.

Mine is a little fancier than most, I'm using a 12v Golf Car starter/generator just to make it an electric start.

Most people don't go that fancy, they just mount a go cart engine and an alternator w/regulator.

Mine are connected via a drive belt, but there are couplers available to eliminate the belt. Other brackets for mounting the alternator are also available to make it a quick and easy build.

Using a 12v DC generator is much more efficient than using an AC generator with a battery charger. It usually takes me 15-20 minutes, once a week to keep my house battery charged.

Another advantage of 12v DC generators is that they'll easily charge, and/or jump start your starting battery.

If you need an AC generator too, you can just add an inverter to have the best of both worlds.

Cheers!

The CamperVan_Man

 

[psytechguy]

A few thoughts from my own experience using a 12v. system:

Fridges like the Engels and ARB 12v. models use very little power and work well for a solar install in an RV.

re: 12v. skillet. - Any 12v. appliance that uses electricity to generate heat, i.e. skillets, coffee makers, water heater, etc. will use a lot of power. I wouldn't recommend any of them unless you have a very large battery bank. I use a propane stove to make coffee.

In my opinion, a good battery monitor is essential. I use a Trimetric 2025.

re: solar controllers - I use Morningstar controllers. I have several and use a TriStar 45 amp MPPT model in the camper. It's overkill, but I had it on hand and it does the trick! They also have a very nice 15 amp MPPT which runs about $230.

My current setup is in a slide-in truck camper. I have one 230 watt panel that charges a single 108AH. battery. I have a 50qt. ARB fridge, Fantastic Fan, Shur-Flo water pump, USB charge ports for iPad and Kindle, LED interior lights, 19" LED TV w/ WD media player, and a WiFi repeater.

The only item that runs 24/7 is the ARB fridge. I have it set to 34 degrees and overnight, by itself, it will drop my overall system charge to 90-93%. Everything else is turned on as needed. I've yet to pull my charge down past 75%. Even on a cloudy day I've always been charged back to 100% by sunset, and this is with the panel mounted flat and the camper not parked optimally to align with the track of the sun most of the time.

I have a Honda EU2000 generator, but haven't needed it so far. Maybe this summer I'll wind up using it to power the 110v. rooftop AC, we'll see. I have another 230 watt panel and if I find that I'm not using the AC so much this summer, I plan to do away with the roof top AC pod and put the second panel up in that space.

Anyway, as you can see, 12v. is very do-able. There's tons of info online. Good luck to you!

 

[Bdog1]

Campervanman said


"Mine is a little fancier than most, I'm using a 12v Golf Car starter/generator just to make it an electric start."

Man! You have all the cool stuff! I like it!

 

[SoulRaven]

Campervanman said


"Mine is a little fancier than most, I'm using a 12v Golf Car starter/generator just to make it an electric start."

Man! You have all the cool stuff! I like it!

Greetings!

I have been lucky over the years, garage sales, or flea market finds that I thought I could put to good use, or something in a friends garage that they asked me if I had a use for, or an abandoned boat in the middle of the desert with a 4 foot hole in it, that had lots of live-aboard stuff on it...

And I love doing stuff that way... Much more fun than just going to a store and buying it... I do love my goodies too... I listen to my old time crystal radio almost every night, no batteries, or electricity required, yet in the still of the night, it gets clearer reception than it's battery powered, more modern cousin.

You too can have all this cool stuff, I can give you directions, nothing is overly complicated, and it is never too soon or too late to start living the GOOD LIFE! Today is the first day of the rest of our lives... While the past can not be changed, it's hard earned lessons reside in our memories... But the future.... The future is ours, we own it, and we can make it as bright, cheerful, and promising as we choose. Only death can steal our dreams, and with life comes hope and great possibilities.

Live long & prosper my friend, and I can probably supply you with plans for most anything you might need.

Cheers!

The CamperVan_Man

 

[Bdog1]

Well said sir. And, thank you.

 

[WheelEstate USA]

Even in the RV we are going with more 12V (or propane) stuff and less AC. Like the 12V generator with inverter.
What engine did you use on yours??

 

[SternWake]

Squeezing in the last 20% of charge back into Lead acid batteries takes time.

The best recharging methods available, anywhere, are not going to bypass laws of physics.

If you are keeping recharging voltages below 15.5v, going from 85% to 100% state of charge on any lead acid battery, takes hours.

Exceeding 15.5v will cause excessive positive plate shedding higher water loss and early battery failure. It might also damage any electronics still hooked to the battery. Exceeding 15.5v will only recharge a relatively small percentage faster.

GOing from 50% to ~85 can take much less time, depending on the amps the charging source can feed, but 85% is not 100%

Surface charge voltage after removing a charging source is NOT indicative of true state of charge.

Batteries regularly taken back to true 100%, will perform better, for longer.

http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/charging_the_lead_acid_battery