The Ultimate Off-Grid System: What Works & What Doesn’t

[@myhomeonthehillside]

Hello there both :) Being endlessly off grid will be such a feeling of freedom for you.... and save a fortune too lol I bet you are getting excited about your upcoming trip, so exciting! I bet you will miss this UK weather though😂

[@TheHappyTravellers]

So much going on at the moment. Plus Just William has to return to dealers for a week. More on that in future vlogs 🧐 Yes looking forward to sunshine and will not miss the weather here in England 👍😎😀

[@greglewis8843]

Hi steve the toilet can be easily solved. Bag in the bowl for solids use a bottle for liquids.doggy bin and water a hedge ,much better than carrying all that chemical slush around. Love the new rig.

[@TheHappyTravellers]

Thanks Greg, top tip 👍😀😎

[@johnstringfellow9275]

Hi guys. With our 8.4M Motorhome back in the day we went through all the options for off grid living. We finished up fitting an E Foy unit running through an inverter. We ran all the unit the same as being on hook up. Microwave, fridge, kettle, etc etc. The Efoy unit ran on methanol with water as the by product. Loved the unit actually kicked in and off when necessary and ran silently so no upset neighbours and relatively cost effective and lightweight. Water and grey water discharge was never a problem but toilet disposal was helped by having a second unit. Tended to use high street laundry as campsites were expensive.

[@TheHappyTravellers]

Thanks john, yes I've looked at the efoy system a few years ago but it was not so easy to obtain the fluid for them. Maybe it's time to relook at them :)

[@mrLoftladder]

hope the Portugesse weather improves for your visit, We've been here 3 weeks with 2 weeks in Spain prior and its rained about 50% of those 5 weeks. Seem to get 3-4 really nice days followed by 2-3 days of storms. Had one last night and heavy showers all day today, without a doubt its the wettest winter in the 5 years since we bought "Melanie" and started touring the southern Iberian coast in Autumn/Winter

[@TheHappyTravellers]

I've ordered up some sunshine to bring with us in December :) I hope you've not suffered too much from the bad weather :)

[@Sidetops11]

Hi Steve and Wendy, I toured Scotland including the Outer Hebrides in April 19 for four months and was off-grid "wild camping' with my Coachman caravan fitted with a 80w solar panel. I fitted the largest battery that would fit in the tray - a 115ah battery. The gas powered the heating and water, fridge/freezer, and oven. I only used the battery for lighting, rare use of the TV which had a 12v adapter, and the fan for the Trauma heating system, power to run taps, and charging of my phone. Although when out in the car during the day I would charge my devices during the day. Unable to use the microwave or the kettle, but used a whistling kettle instead! I never had any issue with power, even during overcast days the battery charged to 14.2v by lunchtime everyday. Darkest winter might be a different story, but it makes me wonder if everything you mention, while impressive, is necessary? When I first went off grid I was worried about losing power, and we used candles to saver power! I learnt to conserve power, but most importantly water because the nearest water point was at the ferry port 24 miles away!

[@TheHappyTravellers]

Thanks for the comment :) From our previous experience of running out of battery power, especially on Lead Acid batteries, I think the system is looking about right. We are VERY power hungry with LOADS of 12 volt charging required. A 300 Amh lithium battery will give us at least 240 Amh of usable power plus the solar, DC charger, and other power banks we'll "manage" I think. Time will tell I suppose. Let's call it a £3000 experiment :)

[@martinfield1484]

I’m sure you can do off grid I follow a few people on utube who very rarely go to a camp site to charge up sounds like your going the right way with your planned electrics

[@TheHappyTravellers]

Thanks Martin, Yes I feel like we're getting it about right and not too over the top this time LOL

[@susannetoon2709]

Very interesting John Stringfellow seems to have found a good option te E Foy running through invertor and back in the day Anthony has ideal option if not planning to be parked up for very long and you have plenty of sun for solar panel. Am just learning about everything .The Eco Flow do a really large portable power station people are in their domestic homes just charging it up on economy 7 night unit rates 1p. Lots of food for thought.Thank You x

[@TheHappyTravellers]

Maybe I'll take a look at efoy again :)

[@antonybeaumont2697]

Hiya Steve and Wendy have you heard about the device bluettie have brought out 😮 it's basically a power boosting box that ups the charging voltage when you are driving to 500 watts which means when solar is not working a short run out will recharge quickly 😅

[@TheHappyTravellers]

Hi Anthony, yes I have looked at that, all of the powerbank manufacturers are coming out with that sort of thing. The Victor Orion XS is sort of the same thing. I'm only having one fitted so as to minimise the load on the alternator, although I think it could prabably take 2 X 50 amp chargers. One 50 amp charger should be plenty for our needs es[ecially as we'll have the 2 powerbanks connected to the house battery.

[@vanscran1672]

Hi, I think you should fit the system yourself, and save at least a £1000 you know how it all works. You can order the kit and have it done before the grand tour down south. I did my similar setup in two leisurely days, so you could also. 🤔🤔🤔😀😀😀😀

[@TheHappyTravellers]

HAHAHA! I've been banned from fitting stuff myself. The boss can't stand the swearing LOL

[@zeproo]

interesting

[@TheHappyTravellers]

Yes, I thought the guy at Sunstore Solar was very helpful :)