Club 80-90 Forums

Hi all.

Pondering battery charging for an 8day stay at Eweleaze farm down Dorset in August. Going with some friends, so there'll be maybe 4 vans between us all.

No leccy hookup down there. I could and might install 200W of solar panels on the top of the poptop, which would keep the battery topped up nicely in August. 300+ notes.

Orrrr, I could buy a 1.5kw genny for £125!

Ok, the solar option is more Eco, but the genny has a lot going for it too.


Would I be considered a scumbag glamper from hell and generally disliked if I fired up a 65dB genny for maybe a couple of hours during each day?

I'm an affable sort of chap, but have never used a generator before and don't know if they come with social leprosy / pariah status attached?

What's the opinion? Generator or solar?

Ta.

Ed.
P.s. whilst this might be applicable in the tech section, I'm really interested in whether or not people will complain, hence I posted it in here.

As long as during the day shouldn't be a problem tho take the time to piont the exhaust away from pointing at other campers will cut the noise they hear down!
Can you really only last 24hrs on battery before needed to charge um up tho??? might be every other day?

Those cheap petrol generators make a right racket. If you go with a quiet Honda or the like it will cost you as much, if not more than solar panels. The thing is if you fit Solar, although it might be more expensive it will be stress free and you can use it again and again in places that are not so acceptable. I would think (and this is only my opinion) that if you start up a generator everyone else who has paid to stay and want a nice holiday will hate you and you will be on edge the whole time. I am not being funny but if I was a paying customer on a campsite and I had to listen to a generator I would be straight over to ask you to turn it off. People in tents might beat me to it though as they have to lay on the ground and have canvas al around them.
I have been wild camping in places that other Motor homes And Campervans use and they think because everyone isnt paying they can be as rude as they like and and a couple have started up generators, I have asked them to turn them off and after some ranting and raving from them two minutes later they felt they had to because everyone else applauded me.

I say go solar plus you don't have to carry or buy extra fuel, I went with a Sterling charger and extra batteries but thats a whole different topic

Hope this helps.

Jed

Ask your self would you camp next to some road works?

Because thats what is like camping next to someone with a generator - go solar

Sorry but both Gill and I hate generators of any sort on a camp site. I just couldn't use one on a camp site close to others. My sense of guilt just wouldn't allow it. We have more than once, broken camp and moved to the other side of the field just to get away from it. And anyone using one after dark should be immediately shot (not literally )

Would quite a number of campsite owners ask you to turn a generator off anyway? As I am sure most don't allow them

Torches for when the battery is dead. Everything else is not needed

If you took a normal battery charger, you could take the leisure battery out (or take a spare one) and ask the campsite owner if you could charge it up during the day, for a small consideration

Hey, that's a good idea isn't it (?)

chriscburgess wrote:Ask your self would you camp next to some road works?

Because thats what is like camping next to someone with a generator - go solar

+1

Thankyou for your thoughts, folks. I hear you loud and clear! The above posts are exactly why I asked - im not selfish and I like to get on with people

I shall go solar, I'd like 200w on the roof and I plan to fit a 180ah battery. Might have to start smaller tho...

Ta.

Ed.

ed_crouch wrote:I shall go solar, I'd like 200w on the roof and I plan to fit a 180ah battery.

Definitely the best plan. We've camped at Eweleaze and a generator would make you stand out like a sore thumb there.

ed_crouch wrote:Hi all.

Pondering battery charging for an 8day stay at Eweleaze farm down Dorset in August. Going with some friends, so there'll be maybe 4 vans between us all.

No leccy hookup down there. I could and might install 200W of solar panels on the top of the poptop, which would keep the battery topped up nicely in August. 300+ notes.

Orrrr, I could buy a 1.5kw genny for £125!

Ok, the solar option is more Eco, but the genny has a lot going for it too.


Would I be considered a scumbag glamper from hell and generally disliked if I fired up a 65dB genny for maybe a couple of hours during each day?

I'm an affable sort of chap, but have never used a generator before and don't know if they come with social leprosy / pariah status attached?

What's the opinion? Generator or solar?

Ta.

Ed.
P.s. whilst this might be applicable in the tech section, I'm really interested in whether or not people will complain, hence I posted it in here.

There is no etiquette in using a generator. Dont do it – it will pi$$ people off. Eawleaze is a basic site, so adapt to it.

I find solar a waste of time unless it is a very clear day with the sun high in the sky, then it works fine.

So, I still reckon this is a good idea =

ghost123uk wrote:If you took a normal battery charger, you could take the leisure battery out (or take a spare one) and ask the campsite owner if you could charge it up during the day, for a small consideration

Hey, that's a good idea isn't it (?)

.

ghost123uk wrote:I find solar a waste of time unless it is a very clear day with the sun high in the sky,

Then you'd be wrong John. Even here in dappled shade our's totally charged both batteries up and had switched off before we woke up.

ghost123uk wrote:I find solar a waste of time unless it is a very clear day with the sun high in the sky, then it works fine.



.

Wrong John me old mucker , Mine was working this week , half covered in 2 inch of snow ( could only reach that far and didn't fancy going up on t'roof )

Any chance we could get some pics of your solar panels? Are they permanently mounted or not? And what size?

(sorry for all the questions - always fancied a solar panel on the van.)