Campervan Newbie in need of a Guru

[Animac]

I've just bought a campervan which has a few electric appliances - fridge, tv, lights. It has lots of sockets and a cable for electric hookup. The festival we're going to in June doesn't have electric hook up, and we're not allowed to use a petrol generator. There's a leisure battery installed, but I'm fairly sure this alone will not power the fridge. I'm not even sure what powers the fridge - it's an Igloo, but that's all I know.

 

I bought the van (2001 Ford transit LWB Hiroof) from my aunt and uncle, who planned on travelling Europe. They had lots of work done on it, but then changed their mind on travelling - it had been stood for 6 months. They bought it from a private seller and didn't even ask the basics, so I'm flying blind. It's a thing of beauty though (in the eye of the beholder), and I've wanted a CV for so many years.

 

I need somebody with experience of these things to help me understand my van, and offer advice as to what I can do. I know less than nothing about it, but I'm keen to learn. If you're able to help me, I will gladly pay for your time and wisdom! If I need solar panels or a couple more batteries, I'd need to know fairly quickly so that we're ready for June 10th.

 

Thanks in advance, Andrea (Brighton)

[George Collings]

The first issue is that if the batteries have been allowed to run down and stay that way for some weeks they may have been severely damaged. You would not be the first newbie at a concert to find there were no sparks to run anything or even start the vehicle after a few hours. Make sure they are charged up( a couple of days on HU and get a garage who specialise vehicle electrics to test them.

 

There are two main types of fridge. One type known as a compressor fridge will be powered by the vans Leisure battery when parked up and maybe by the vans generator when under way. Do not expect the average leisure battery to last more than a couple of days on site with no HU.

 

The second type can normally use mains voltage on site with HU or from the leisure battery if no HU. Normally this type is also powered by tye vans generator when on the move. It can also be gas powered in which case think weeks as the amount of energy contained in gas is many times greater than the same weight of battery can store.

 

I suggest you take some photos of the equipment installed and post them here so we know what we are dealing with

[Tracker]

Welcome to the forum Andrea where there will always be a wide diversity of advice and opinions, most of it helpful!

 

Given your absolute lack of info and knowledge may I respectfully suggest that you contact a local motorcaravan or caravan dealer or service firm to ask if they would have one of their people explain how it all works to you and if needs be how to rectify any problems - along with the cost.

 

If you have the contact details of the owner before your family maybe he/she would be able to advise if you explain the situation, but you will need to make it quite clear that it is guidance only that you seek and you are absolutely not complaining or claiming anything from them.

 

Maybe the person or firm that did the work that your uncle had done might be able to advise?

[Robbo]

Welcome to the forum Andrea.

 

You won't be watching too much TV, hopefully, if you're planning on visiting a festival. The igloo fridge is available as a 3-way fridge (called an Eskimo), this runs off gas, 12v or 240v. They also do compressor fridges which run off 12v and 240v. If you are staying static for a while it's best to use gas (if your fridge has that facility). So best to find out what power source the fridge will take. Suggest you Google "igloo camping fridge" if you're not sure.

 

The van should have come with some manuals for the various facilities such as heating, cooker and fridge.

 

I have 2 leisure batteries (90Ah each) and reckon on lasting about 4 days without hook-up and the fridge works on gas. I don't have solar panels because we don't tend to stay in one place for long.

 

If the fridge only works on 12v/240v you may need to increase battery capacity and/or add a solar panel.

 

Expect others will be along soon with helpful advise.

 

 

[pepe63xnotuse]

I'd agree with Tracker, in that it may be worth looking to contact the previous owner?.. or the company/chap who converted the van..?

 

If it's a self-build, it may be worth asking about it on here: http://sbmcc.co.uk/forum/ you never know, the previous owner may be a member or be known to someone on there...?

 

As for battery use & longevity whilst off hook-up on a festival site, as has been said the fridge will be pivotal to that, so use it on gas if it's got it.

If it's electric only, then to save any doubt, just freeze plenty of stuff down prior to loading it, minimise the amount of times it's opened (...and maybe turn it off at night?). Apart from that, if you just treat the vehicle as a tin-ten (eg fill the kettle from container rather than via the pump, keep the use of lights to a minimum, keep phone charging to a minimum etc).then if the battery is in decent nick you should be find :-D

 

(We could easily manage from early Tues morning, until Mon midday off hook-up at the likes of Glastonbury)

[Brian Kirby]

If you're looking for a reasonably nearby motorhome dealer, try Stewart Mouland at Peaceheven, here: http://tinyurl.com/glgzh8t

 

I suspect you'd have to pay them for their time, but who knows. :-) What I think you want is the equivalent of a handover, which will take time, and they will need some time to find what's what on the van before they can do that.

 

However, I believer they are a reasonably helpful bunch, and they are a well established firm.

 

If you need new batteries I'd come back on here first for more advice though, as dealers tend only to sell what they have, and what they have is not always a) that new and b) not necessarily the best option for a particular van. If you van has a compressor fridge, for example, it may not be best to install a "conventional" leisure battery.

[AndyB]

10th June ? Are you by chance going to the Isle of Wight.

 

We manage fine with just a single 110AH leisure battery and 85w solar panel.

 

It looks like the igloo fridge might be a simple electric cool box which will have a very high drain on a battery.

 

Regards

 

Andy

[Animac]

Hi all, thanks for the speedy replies.

 

George - the leisure battery is hooked up to the van battery, so I'm thinking it should have charged as I drove the 3 hours back home. If the fridge is just 240v, I'd be inclined to take it out and just have a 12v cool box hooked up instead. The water pump and a couple of lights seem to be hooked up to the LB too, as when I went out earlier, the pump came on when I tested the tap (same goes for the light).

 

Tracker - I bought it off a couple who had just let it stand in their yard for 6 months or so, and unfortunately they don't have the details of the PO's - I'd already thought of contacting them.

 

Robbo, you're right, I won't be watching much TV, if any - it's just something that came with the van, so I included it.. also, the boys might want to watch a movie after the arena closes. I'll take the fridge out tomorrow and have a look, but the front doesn't mention Eskimo, so I'm doubtful that's what I've got.

 

pepe - thanks for the link, I'll have a look in a mo.

 

Brian - good idea re visiting a dealer, I'll give them a call and see what they say.

 

Andy B - No, not IoW - Download for us! And I like the sound of your set up, as we'll probably only be doing 2/3 days max. At least until the boys are old enough for their mum to go off on her travels and leave them home alone :D Can you give me some more info on what you have? Do you need an inverter with SP's? I've been looking at those, and I'm reading up on modified/pure sine as I type..

 

**forgot to add, the van does have EHU and also came with a petrol generator- supposedly silent - that has an inverter. The festival we're going to doesn't have EHU or allow a generator.

 

***never mind, I'd already told you all that.

 

 

 

[AndyB]

Hi

 

Enjoy Download, would have liked to have seen Iron Maiden again, but it's IOW again for us, probably last year for The Who, but really looking forward to Faithless.

 

Just noticed you've got a generator, I honestly don't think anybody will mind if you run it occasionally as loads of people run their engines to charge batteries at festivals. Downloads isn't exactly renowned for being a quiet festival !!!!!!!!!!

 

Motorhomes & campervans are the business at festivals !

[pepe63xnotuse]

Animac..

 

Please don't take a genny, a) They'll probably be prohibited anyway b) With sensible battery use, you really won't NEED one and c) IT WILL pish people off!.. ;-)

 

(..that the last thing I want,come the end of the night (or early morning), is someone rattling away with a genny, just because they want to watch tele' or dry / straighten their hair or their little Johnie can charge his games console..etc !? )

 

Personally, I'd make the tele' a clear no-no for the duration of the weekend ( *or lest until you have some idea as to how long your battery will last).

 

(* Why can't you have a "trial night" or two, before you go?, even if only on the driveway?..or a local site? it'd be better to flatten a battery there, than first thing Saturday morning at Download! ;-) )

[derek pringle]

hi,

If I were you and these 'off grid' events are something you may be doing a lot of [ or aires or wildcamping' I would seriously consider having a fridge installed that is 3 way-- presuming what you have proves not to run off gas. Good leisure batteries should cope with your other needs.

good luck

derek

[Animac]

Hi Andy - no, it's not that the noise would be a problem, it's that it's considered a safety hazard - I guess they don't want inebriated people to be in charge of a highly flammable device! Not even gas stoves are permitted any more, unless fitted professionally in a camper, you have to make do with a hexi or a disposable BBQ :(

 

Pepe, see above - no chance of me taking the genny! I do like your test run theory though, and I don't know why I didn't think of that myself.

 

Derek, I may see if I can get a bargain on eebs. There are plenty on there, but they're in high demand. I might just set an alert for new buy it now listings and try and get it before anyone else sees it.

 

Thanks again for all your input. I'm really leaning toward a panel/leisure battery, I'll see what the trial run brings.

[George Collings]

Hi Animac.

We still need more info. Post the names and if you can find them the model number of the fridge. If its a Dometic they hide the model details on a stick on label inside it.

 

People have got used to the starter battery being rapidly recharged after starting but with modern vehicles they start so easily the starter battery has a very easy life and only needs about 20min to put back what the starter used. The same generator when asked to recharge two nearly flat batteries takes a lot longer. Think 4-8 hours running. It all depends on how flat they were.

Standard practice is for the starter battery to get first call then as its voltage rises the available charging current is transferred to the leisure battery. Automatic devices called relays ensure the leisure battery is only connected to the generator while the engine is running. Another similarly only connect the generator to the fridge when the engine is running.

 

If at all possible leave the van on HU overnight .