Over the top prices

Hi Angus, I have to agree regarding non EHU sites being less crowded- I never have problems booking now- yet another benefit of non EHU! 

You don’t say what wattage your SP is.? As regards the 2000w inverter, mine at the moment is a ‘no name’ and it sounds very similar to yours. It is a fact that some of these No name components are not what the are cracked up to be so I am not surprised regarding 1800w tripping it. I will, hopefully be putting that right this year when I buy an NDS or similar inverter which will be the correct rating- you live and learn. NDS (Italy) is the maker of my Lithium Battery. LION Brand.  A life4po battery of 100ah. Roadpro at Daventry is the supplier and fitter of the battery and electronics. You could do worse than give them a quick ring and pick their brains re your inverter trouble- I’m sure ANDY, the MD will tell you similar to what he told me- but a brand you can trust!   You only need pure sine wave if you have equipment on board that require PSW. You need to find that out. I was a little lazy about it I must admit- I just bought a PSW simply because, if any of my phones, tablets, television or electrical appliances needed PSW, it was available.

Now you mention the microwave. Yes, we use our microwave while offgrid but we only use it to heat food or drinks- so it’s only on for 3 mins or so as is the toaster as is the vacuum when used. You can’t kick the backside out of it by trying to cook full meals as I’m sure you are aware as you are only on battery but you can  use it to make life easier on board. It sounds as though you are committed to at least trying non EHU camping and that’s great. Once you have bought the kit, that’s it- it’s all transferable to the next vehicle - particularly if you use a suitcase type panel. Yes, my best advice is to buy kit that is good quality and branded. You get what you pay for. If you wish to contact me you can get me at ynotkickaroonow@hotmail.com -I would be only too pleased to help where I can. The microwave is the one fitted by Bailey and for the life of me I can’t think of the make or model but I’ll get back to you on that one unless you email me first. 

Not sure how we have survived this long as tourers coming up for 36 years now, but have never required any expensive gadgetry, beyond the solar panel that came with our current MH. We have cooked, kept warm and run our admittedly small fridge on gas for long periods, all times of the year. Even with all Merv’s gadgetry, you will still be keeping on eye on what you use, although as he says, it does give you cheaper places to stay. We sometimes stay on similar places, but without the gadgets! It all depends what you need onboard, and what you do while away. Ditch the TV, ditch the microwave, pack a hot water bottle and a nice throw and life is just so easy! And cheap! We recharge gadgets while on the move. Our one luxury is an electric toothbrush, but there’s always somewhere to plug it in usually!

I think you just got on with things AD, if you had never had it you never missed it We mix our sites, and don’t mind a few days without hook up, but tend to spend more time nowadays on sites with EHU. I suspect we would be like you if abroad, hardly inside van at all. When I couldn’t get a long break because of caring, my OH asked me what I wanted to do as I met up with him off train......just park up somewhere remote, by a beach, that was all I wanted. We found the spot, on dunes just up from Alnmouth. Sunshine, a paddle, a nice hot meal, and watch the sun go down. Bliss.

We do meet some proper “old timers” occasionally on basic CLs. Often with classic vans, well into their 80s, but still enjoying basic caravanning. Got a way to go yet though!

I think that post says it all TTDA. Even non EHUERS do things differently as a group. Brue also  puts his finger on the point I wish to make But, to return to the OP, the only way one can reduce ones ppn is to go non EHU. That’s a fact. How you do that is very individual, from the ’back to basics’ approach ( and I have absolutely no problem with that) to the more ‘sophisticated ‘ way of doing non EHU. 30 or even 20 years ago, the technology we have today wasn’t really on the scene. LEDs I remember were good enough to glow but not give out the astounding amount of light they are capable of now. The SP , as far as caravanning was concerned, was at a stage where it was little more  than a novelty  And so people went into the great outdoors and managed without EHU in the manner they were happy with. Generators!! Ahhhh! Remember those?  Foot pumps and gas mantles I remember well. Although a solution to a problem, it was hardly comfortable living? The gas mantles got so hot that I spent most of the evening as a youth outside for fear of melting!  and the foot pump was a good workout for the right leg. The technology has come on so much, it’s exciting to think what might be next to add positively to the caravanners life. Whatever way you decide to do it, I have always viewed non EHU rather like sailing- you feel you are getting something for nothing when being pushed along by the wind- I get that feeling with the SP and as I’ve said, it brings other benefits. Some of the quietest sites and most beautiful I’ve been to, no frustration because you can’t get on because it’s full- never had a problem. I think it’s good to talk about these things- we as enthusiastic users of mobile homes whether Caravan or MotorHomes will always do things differently  to the guy up the field in my case and on the next pitch in most cases. Whatever I have decided to do I have always found a helping hand and a friend if I ever needed help. 

Merve, have sent you a pm on the other forum.

Email sent Brian 

A pragmatic rather than a dogmatic approach BB, my approach to life as well.  

Thanks TDA, we are all fine now after a couple of setbacks in the last month, hope you and yours are doing well. Sorry from me as well OP

for sure, Boff...

and always happy to learn others' approaches and to pass that gained experience back into the hobby...

Hi MichaelT , you are at the same stage I was 5 or 6 yrs ago. I will admit that you get what you pay for as far as equipment is concerned. You have the same 135w panel as I do and I have always found it adequate . Having said that, more solar power can only be a good thing. I have definitely recouped my costs and now look to improve things. The Lithium is a leap forward. I am in Scotland at the moment, not on site, but visiting relatives - 6 degrees of frost and bright sunshine. I’m sure that the system I have could cope as the heating and water comes from the Safefill- the heating pump using just 1 amp. There is no doubt that the EHU gives a feeling of complete assurance as far as power is concerned, particularly in weather like this but, as long as there is sunlight and power can be fed to the panel or the battery charged from the vehicle, there should be no issues. A Motorhome of course is a different animal and with, as you mention, the engine able to recharge if the skies are dark for an extended period, it’s all good. The 11kg Safefill is what I use most of the time as my main cylinder. If I am away for an extended period I take the small 5kg Safefill too to use if I need to refill the 11kg. Your batteries sound good batteries which is an absolute essential. Mine, unfortunately were bought just as the company (( elecsol) who many on here will remember as a company who must have been the rudest in history) went bust and the batteries were nothing like as advertised- thank goodness they are now gone! I wish you the best and I’m sure you will recoup the investment. Although I had one eye on costs when I went non EHU I also love the freedom it gives me- no more crossing my fingers when ringing up for sites!! 

Hi I need to contact arrivakids. Anyone know him please thanks jim