Half way there and a slight change of direction

elantan

We have those reduced power kettles TV etc Z ... not sure if they are the ones you are talking about though ...shower is gas as well fridge is 12 volt as well ( or gas or 240 volt)

Thinking of the solar panels for topping up basically ...

Although I do also kinda plan on being out through the day so may not actually need the panels lol

Am thinking of eventually getting a new bike as well ... so we can walk or bike about

ZTD

elantan wrote: »

We have those reduced power kettles TV etc Z ... not sure if they are the ones you are talking about though ...shower is gas as well fridge is 12 volt as well ( or gas or 240 volt)

The problem with using electricity to heat stuff up, is that you

1. Start with a fossil fuel
2. Burn it and produce electricity (can be 40+% efficiency in a coal power plant, aim for 20% from a portable generator)
3. Convert the electricity from one voltage (240V down to 48V)to another (maybe 80% efficiency)
4. Store the electricity (maybe another 90% efficiency)
5. Return the electricity from storage (probably 90% efficiency)
6. convert from one voltage (48V) to another 12V (probably 80% efficiency)
7. Heat water (maybe 90% efficiency)

Alternatively, stick fossil fuel up the backside of some water and set fire to it (the fuel, not the water... ). Probably 90%+ total system efficiency, more if using some kind of heat exchanger.

Also, don't (unlike some MEPs :doh:) confuse power and energy. You want to conserve energy, power is irrelevant - though usually, the more power, the more efficiency.

elantan wrote: »

Although I do also kinda plan on being out through the day so may not actually need the panels lol

Batteries...

You don't need to be there.

Also, consider thermal solar power. Yes, the collectors are glass, but you can stick them in a tray on the roof, put plenty support on them, and chicken wire them in.

se999

Just thought in Scotland have the windows got fly screens. Never went up to Scotland with a caravan, but needed them elsewhere in the UK for flies/midges.


Also when camping in Scotland we came across adult only sites, which in school holidays are a lot quieter as normally less people on each pitch etc..

elantan

ZTD wrote: »

The problem with using electricity to heat stuff up, is that you

1. Start with a fossil fuel
2. Burn it and produce electricity (can be 40+% efficiency in a coal power plant, aim for 20% from a portable generator)
3. Convert the electricity from one voltage (240V down to 48V)to another (maybe 80% efficiency)
4. Store the electricity (maybe another 90% efficiency)
5. Return the electricity from storage (probably 90% efficiency)
6. convert from one voltage (48V) to another 12V (probably 80% efficiency)
7. Heat water (maybe 90% efficiency)

Alternatively, stick fossil fuel up the backside of some water and set fire to it (the fuel, not the water... ). Probably 90%+ total system efficiency, more if using some kind of heat exchanger.

Also, don't (unlike some MEPs :doh:) confuse power and energy. You want to conserve energy, power is irrelevant - though usually, the more power, the more efficiency.



Batteries...

You don't need to be there.

Also, consider thermal solar power. Yes, the collectors are glass, but you can stick them in a tray on the roof, put plenty support on them, and chicken wire them in.

were going to the caravan show in Glasgow shortly so will hopefully pick up some useful information there, we would like to eventually live off grid as well so it will be important to learn anyway

elantan

se999 wrote: »

Just thought in Scotland have the windows got fly screens. Never went up to Scotland with a caravan, but needed them elsewhere in the UK for flies/midges.


Also when camping in Scotland we came across adult only sites, which in school holidays are a lot quieter as normally less people on each pitch etc..

Thankfully yep that was one of the first things I checked as I do take a bad reaction to midge bites


Will check out some sites, and see if there are any adults only that are where we hope to go ... thanks for the idea

elantan

well today its back to uni for a wee bit more studying ... sigh


have tilly tidied some pennies which is always good, the mortgage is slowly going down


am meeting up with a MSE'r tomorrow ... looking forward to that

elantan

Heading into town to meet my fellow mse'r


If Ed was free he could join us ?

Karmacat

Have a lovely time, El!

elantan

Thanks KC ... wish you lived closer xxx

Karmacat

Me too .... I'm sure I'll regain my strength after I retire, and I'll be looking for catsitting jobs, a couple of weeks here and there I bet there'll be some up your way