Hi Guys, first post so excuse the ignorance!
We are shortly to buy a 2006 Defender 110 Pickup with FWC Eagle camper. It currently has one leisure battery in the camper & no way to charge it (excluding pitching up at a powered campsite which defeats the purpose IMO!).
Power requirements are minimal: internal/external camper lighting/fittings, charging personal electronics. I'm pretty sure the fridge runs on propane. What power setups would you guys recommend?
I used to have a Hilux with an electric fridge, various lights etc. I set it up with a DC to DC from the crank battery & had solar panels as backup (which we never needed as we were driving most days). Given that we now have a propane fridge (which seemed to be the main power draw) I'm weighing up the pros & cons of a solar only setup:
Pros
1) Likely simpler (not having to run wiring from front to back, prev solar units I've seen also have inbuilt regulators & just needed plugging in to the leisure bat)
2) Will continue to charge even when FWC is detached from truck (vs just using a DC to DC)
3) Cheaper than a dual setup (gonna be so broke after buying the truck/camper so aiming to keep costs LOW)
Cons
1) Enough juice? Trips will be in Europe so variable sunshine.
2) Hard to mount on a FWC (I've read here the flexible ones are less durable & its better to mount a proper unit properly)
Thanks in advance! Read so much of this forum already and you seem like a great bunch!
James
We are shortly to buy a 2006 Defender 110 Pickup with FWC Eagle camper. It currently has one leisure battery in the camper & no way to charge it (excluding pitching up at a powered campsite which defeats the purpose IMO!).
Power requirements are minimal: internal/external camper lighting/fittings, charging personal electronics. I'm pretty sure the fridge runs on propane. What power setups would you guys recommend?
I used to have a Hilux with an electric fridge, various lights etc. I set it up with a DC to DC from the crank battery & had solar panels as backup (which we never needed as we were driving most days). Given that we now have a propane fridge (which seemed to be the main power draw) I'm weighing up the pros & cons of a solar only setup:
Pros
1) Likely simpler (not having to run wiring from front to back, prev solar units I've seen also have inbuilt regulators & just needed plugging in to the leisure bat)
2) Will continue to charge even when FWC is detached from truck (vs just using a DC to DC)
3) Cheaper than a dual setup (gonna be so broke after buying the truck/camper so aiming to keep costs LOW)
Cons
1) Enough juice? Trips will be in Europe so variable sunshine.
2) Hard to mount on a FWC (I've read here the flexible ones are less durable & its better to mount a proper unit properly)
Thanks in advance! Read so much of this forum already and you seem like a great bunch!
James