Off Grid Caravan Solar, How it works for us in New Zealand

[@CaptainSpock1701]

Talk about a video that addresses my questions *spot-on.* Greetings from Invercargill!

[@KiwiWanderers]

Appreciate! The comments thanks for watching from invercargill

[@brettmorrow1868]

Really enjoying this. I find the whole solar thing very confusing as I’m just not “wired “ to grasp these things very well. Thanks guys and keep up the fab info. Brett

[@KiwiWanderers]

Yea it’s not straight forward that’s for real. We got a specialist involved for that very reason

[@KiwiWanderers]

Thanks for watching cheers Greg

[@mystq101]

I like the way you 2 put everything across, it's like watching a infomercial on morning television :)

[@KiwiWanderers]

Thanks, I think , Appreciate you taking the time to comment , Cheers Greg

[@musicman53]

We've finally bitten the bullet and added two more solar panels (so now 4 x 160W), plus installed a new Victron 100/50 Smart Solar Converter like yours. Before I installed the Victron the batteries were still declining each consecutive day even with 640W solar feeding the Jayco BMS, but now that all the solar goes into the Victron, our batteries are fully charged by 9am, Hallelujah! Even better, any daytime load from our 1000W Powertech Inverter, generally only a hair dryer and e-bike battery charger, is now trivial for our solar and Victron setup. I'm now a Victron convert!

[@KiwiWanderers]

Yea it’s good gear sounds like your all set now

[@robertpaviour-smith337]

It was nice to meet you both at the mca show today. Thank you for your content you put out.

[@KiwiWanderers]

Hey Robert - it was nice to meet you guys too. It was a great show eh!

[@nzhillbilly6468]

Great vid, those lithiums should last for years, with only 240 amps battery power i thought a DC to DC charger would be a big help, charge those batteries while driving, wouldnt have to deprive a man from his coffee in the morning lol...

[@KiwiWanderers]

Yes good call I think the next tow vehicle will have a dc to dc charger... appreciate your comments and thanks for watching Cheers Greg

[@kakapokampas996]

Another great tech video - made it easy to understand the dark art of solar power. Humm the list of wattage use of appliances was certainly a surprise.

[@KiwiWanderers]

Yea its I complete change when your in a house... you never give "watts" a thought. thanks for taking the time to comment. Cheers greg

[@mattbreingan7247]

Love you guys thanks for the vids I’ve used plenty of the Victon gear it’s excellent. Hope one day to have some of the experience’s your having. Good on you full respect. I also realise that creating these vids takes a lot of time editing etc so Thank you.

[@KiwiWanderers]

Thanks For watching Matt. appreciate your comments Cheers Greg and Sandy

[@musicman53]

Thanks for another great video guys, and thanks for your “don’t leave your inverter on” tip. I’ve installed a Powertech inverter under the bed (from RV Supercentre), and it has a remote on/off switch with a bright green LED which I’m mounting in an obvious place. A flat battery in the morning takes the edge off things! And I trust your first cup of coffee @ $6000 tasted super delicious :)

[@KiwiWanderers]

Yea the Powertech stuff looks good, you will have to do a review on it... Thanks For watching.. Cheers Greg

[@AdventuresWithRosy]

Good setup! It’s amazing how little solar you can get on a grey day in Dunedin haha, looks like you will be fine 😊

[@KiwiWanderers]

Thanks guys… yea the South Island is a bit mean with solar in the winter but makes up for it in other ways.. thanks for watching cheers Greg

[@nortonmolly]

Great video very informative and explained clearly 👍

[@KiwiWanderers]

Thanks For watching Andrew

[@NigelCorbett]

Nice work. Solar System. Like it

[@KiwiWanderers]

Thanks brother

[@brucereid6272]

Great video guys. Very informative

[@KiwiWanderers]

Thanks Bruce... hows the body ... recovered ??

[@vanzijlp]

Great information! Cofee machine - I had one before i got an Aeropress...

[@KiwiWanderers]

Very cool! I just looked Up Aeropress I think I will make an application to the war office.... would be great on a low power day.. Thanks for watching Cheers Greg

[@pr5991]

in Australia it is way cheaper if you do it yourself.

[@NZCaravanLife]

I reckon $6k is more than worth it just for a coffee, but wait there’s more, I saw hairdryers, hair straighteners, bike charging hahaha… great video guys really informative, thanks a lot 👍

[@KiwiWanderers]

Thanks for watching Guys .... your D day approaches. Whoop Whoop

[@NPCmiro]

Looking good guys. Interesting to hear about the amount of actual wattage those panels pull in under different conditions.

[@KiwiWanderers]

Yea they are so many variables, time of year, how far down the island you are, if the panels are dirty(pollen really slows them down) I have started logging what we get but it will be a while before i have any serious info. Appreciate you taking the time to watch, Cheers Greg and Sandy

[@morewanders]

Hmmmm.... the risk of no coffee machine in the morning even after those upgrades doesn't have my war office that keen on winter in the South Island ;-) Thanks Greg and Sandy for delivering another entertaining and very informative vid! One question from your months on the road before these upgrades - do you carry a generator and how often have you resorted to using it?

[@KiwiWanderers]

No we don't have an Genny. We got the upgrades pretty much from new so we haven't really needed 1...Although I think if I had one it would get a bit of use... might have to start an application to the "war Office" for next winter... Thanks for watching Cheers Greg

[@patrickvanrinsvelt4466]

A bit off topic, but do you have a black water tank, or cartridge?

[@KiwiWanderers]

We have a thetford c260 cassette toilet with a ventilation kit fitted (like a SOG) it’s great.. thanks for watching cheers Greg and Sandy

[@patrickvanrinsvelt4466]

@@KiwiWanderers Thanks guys. Love the videos. We'll be joining you on the road in a couple of years.

[@LittleCamperNZ]

I use a powerstation. Have you seen them?

[@KiwiWanderers]

Not sure I’ve seen that one do you have a link … thanks for watching cheers Greg

[@LittleCamperNZ]

@@KiwiWanderers They come in all different sizes. Here is the link to a small one that we use.kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZmjOfn-ZrLeBn7c

[@KiwiWanderers]

Thanks for that … how do you charge yours

[@LittleCamperNZ]

@@KiwiWanderers they can be charged by 12v 240v and a very small solar. We charge ours from the car as we are travelling and it keeps 2 fridges going. Have a look at the video. They are extremely light and you can run 240v and 12v and 5v at the same time. Also being portable you can start your car battery.

[@leopardsgowild]

man you guys are getting flash with all your different camera angles.... I'm so confused by all this Solar power stuff, I'm glad the caravan is basically sorted for what we need... I do worry a little bit about running out of power in the South Island.

[@KiwiWanderers]

Thanks for that Mike... Yea it. is amazing how much solar you don’t make when in the south island. Might see ya at the show Cheers Greg

[@leopardsgowild]

@@KiwiWanderers yea we'll be there. I'll have the gopro, so make sure ya'll are ready

[@KiwiWanderers]

@@leopardsgowild yea me too heheheheh

[@leopardsgowild]

@@KiwiWanderers sounds like it could go viral...... 2 youtubers collide

[@NZCaravanLife]

Will be good to see plenty of footage from the show for us South Islanders that can’t make it this year 👍