Practicality of non-propane Camper
Is it possible to have an all-electric (or, at least, no propane) camper? Of course, been doing it since 2013. (OK, true confession, our outside grill is propane as you usually can't use charcoal we...
Forum Discussion
K3WE wrote:
Very simple: Do you want, or need to camp with batteries/no electrical hookup?
This nails the essence of what I am talking about - extended camping without propane or shore power. None of this is relevant if your normal mode of travel is to go to campgrounds with power/water/etc.
I am NOT proposing that this is better or required, simply noting that it is the way some of us travel.
Typical battery setups fall way way way short on heating, cooking and AC .
This is exactly my point - typical setups can't do it. But it is not that hard to build a camper than can, and easily. I do have a microwave, toaster, Nespresso, cooktop, computer, vacuum, etc. Don't use (need) :(a hair dryer.
As noted, I have once, in 8 years, bothered to actually start the engine for meal prep, and this was more of a precaution in a tropical storm, rather then a necessity due to dead batteries.
A basic set up would entail:
-- Diesel, gasoline, or heat exchanger for cabin heat and hot water.
-- Around 150Ah of battery for every day that you expect no sun and will not start the engine. That is more than we have ever used. We went for years with a 600Ah AGM battery which gave us between 300 and 450Ah usable. Lithium batteries are not required, but they do save a lot of weight and space.
-- A 2000 - 3000w inverter. We have a 2000w with a 12v air conditioner. With a 110v air conditioner, we used a 2800w unit.
-- The rule of thumb is 100w of solar per 100A of battery. The magic numbers come in the 1000 - 1500w range. At 1500w you can feed 50-75A to your air conditioner and still have 50+A to charge your batteries. (Friend of mine has this and I am sooooo jealous! He doesn't even bother to charge from his engine and runs his air conditioner 24/7 in Mexico. Of course, he does have really good sun! Everlanders)
Offered for your consideration.
