Caravan/Backup power advice needed

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Nimitz

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Please advise.

My requirement is to build a small backup unit that can power a few items at home for 2hours and also travel along when camping with the caravan.

I was looking at this battery, any reviews on this will be greatly appreciated.

Checking Your Browser

onlineshop.gcsolar.co.za
This battery does come with a 100ah continuous discharge, which is not to bad

And then I need to pair that battery with a 12V 1500w-2000W inverter, and this is where I need recommendations please.
I was looking at these options.
www.securityandmore.co.za

1500w Devel Pure Sine Inverter | 12v Dc To 220v Ac | Inverter -Pure Sine Wave (3000w Peak)

1500W DEVEL PURE SINE INVERTER | 12V DC TO 220V AC | INVERTER -PURE SINE WAVE (3000W PEAK) Features Pure sine wave output. Input & output full isolation High efficiency design up to 88% ,energy saving mode Excellent loads...
www.securityandmore.co.za www.securityandmore.co.za
www.securityandmore.co.za

2000w Devel Inverter | 12v Dc To 220v | Ac Inverter -pure Sine Wave (4000w Peak)

2000W INVERTER | 12V DC TO 220V | AC INVERTER -PURE SINE WAVE (4000W PEAK) Connect to battery: 220V AC output: (2 x 3 Pin Plugs Included)
www.securityandmore.co.za www.securityandmore.co.za
www.securityandmore.co.za

Sky King - 1500W Pure Sine Wave Inverter | 12V DC TO 220-240V AC| 3000W Peak

1500W PURE SINE WAVE INVERTER | 12V DC TO 220V | 2000W PEAK 2 x 220V Socket Outlets 2000W peak
www.securityandmore.co.za www.securityandmore.co.za
www.securityandmore.co.za

Sky King - 2000w Pure Sine Wave Inverter | 12v Dc To 220-240v Ac | 4000w Peak

2000W PURE SINE WAVE INVERTER | 12V DC TO 220V | 4000W PEAK 2 x 220V Socket Outlets 4000W peak
www.securityandmore.co.za www.securityandmore.co.za

Anyone with previous experience of these inverter brands?

Battery will be charged by a victron bluesmart 15A
 
Nimitz said:
Please advise.

My requirement is to build a small backup unit that can power a few items at home for 2hours and also travel along when camping with the caravan.

I was looking at this battery, any reviews on this will be greatly appreciated.

Checking Your Browser

onlineshop.gcsolar.co.za
This battery does come with a 100ah continuous discharge, which is not to bad

And then I need to pair that battery with a 12V 1500w-2000W inverter, and this is where I need recommendations please.
I was looking at these options.
www.securityandmore.co.za

1500w Devel Pure Sine Inverter | 12v Dc To 220v Ac | Inverter -Pure Sine Wave (3000w Peak)

1500W DEVEL PURE SINE INVERTER | 12V DC TO 220V AC | INVERTER -PURE SINE WAVE (3000W PEAK) Features Pure sine wave output. Input & output full isolation High efficiency design up to 88% ,energy saving mode Excellent loads...
www.securityandmore.co.za www.securityandmore.co.za
www.securityandmore.co.za

2000w Devel Inverter | 12v Dc To 220v | Ac Inverter -pure Sine Wave (4000w Peak)

2000W INVERTER | 12V DC TO 220V | AC INVERTER -PURE SINE WAVE (4000W PEAK) Connect to battery: 220V AC output: (2 x 3 Pin Plugs Included)
www.securityandmore.co.za www.securityandmore.co.za
www.securityandmore.co.za

Sky King - 1500W Pure Sine Wave Inverter | 12V DC TO 220-240V AC| 3000W Peak

1500W PURE SINE WAVE INVERTER | 12V DC TO 220V | 2000W PEAK 2 x 220V Socket Outlets 2000W peak
www.securityandmore.co.za www.securityandmore.co.za
www.securityandmore.co.za

Sky King - 2000w Pure Sine Wave Inverter | 12v Dc To 220-240v Ac | 4000w Peak

2000W PURE SINE WAVE INVERTER | 12V DC TO 220V | 4000W PEAK 2 x 220V Socket Outlets 4000W peak
www.securityandmore.co.za www.securityandmore.co.za

Anyone with previous experience of these inverter brands?

Battery will be charged by a victron bluesmart 15A
Click to expand...
You are limited to 100A with a 12V LFP battery. So 12V x 100A = 1200W max.
15A charger will take 200/15 = 13 hours to charge.
 
Nimitz said:
Please advise.

My requirement is to build a small backup unit that can power a few items at home for 2hours and also travel along when camping with the caravan.

I was looking at this battery, any reviews on this will be greatly appreciated.

Checking Your Browser

onlineshop.gcsolar.co.za
This battery does come with a 100ah continuous discharge, which is not to bad

And then I need to pair that battery with a 12V 1500w-2000W inverter, and this is where I need recommendations please.
I was looking at these options.
www.securityandmore.co.za

1500w Devel Pure Sine Inverter | 12v Dc To 220v Ac | Inverter -Pure Sine Wave (3000w Peak)

1500W DEVEL PURE SINE INVERTER | 12V DC TO 220V AC | INVERTER -PURE SINE WAVE (3000W PEAK) Features Pure sine wave output. Input & output full isolation High efficiency design up to 88% ,energy saving mode Excellent loads...
www.securityandmore.co.za www.securityandmore.co.za
www.securityandmore.co.za

2000w Devel Inverter | 12v Dc To 220v | Ac Inverter -pure Sine Wave (4000w Peak)

2000W INVERTER | 12V DC TO 220V | AC INVERTER -PURE SINE WAVE (4000W PEAK) Connect to battery: 220V AC output: (2 x 3 Pin Plugs Included)
www.securityandmore.co.za www.securityandmore.co.za
www.securityandmore.co.za

Sky King - 1500W Pure Sine Wave Inverter | 12V DC TO 220-240V AC| 3000W Peak

1500W PURE SINE WAVE INVERTER | 12V DC TO 220V | 2000W PEAK 2 x 220V Socket Outlets 2000W peak
www.securityandmore.co.za www.securityandmore.co.za
www.securityandmore.co.za

Sky King - 2000w Pure Sine Wave Inverter | 12v Dc To 220-240v Ac | 4000w Peak

2000W PURE SINE WAVE INVERTER | 12V DC TO 220V | 4000W PEAK 2 x 220V Socket Outlets 4000W peak
www.securityandmore.co.za www.securityandmore.co.za

Anyone with previous experience of these inverter brands?

Battery will be charged by a victron bluesmart 15A
Click to expand...
Doesn't it make more sense to still have an inverter you can plug in?

I have the Skyking similar to that in 600W guise, it has served me well with no issues.
 
What about those portable power stations? Probably more expensive but come with LFP batteries and some have input for a solar panel, like this...

powerprovider.co.za

Pps750 And 100W Foldable Mono Solar Panel | Energy Independence

Efficient PPS750 Power Station with 100W Foldable Mono Solar Panel for portable power. South Africa's best back-up power and solar solutions.
powerprovider.co.za powerprovider.co.za
 
wingnut771 said:
You are limited to 100A with a 12V LFP battery. So 12V x 100A = 1200W max.
15A charger will take 200/15 = 13 hours to charge.
Click to expand...
The dataspec does mention 400ah peak discharge, but thats probably only for a few seconds.
Atleast it is possible to exceed 100ah discharge even if its only for a few seconds.

His little brother also has a discharge of 100ah. Should I rather think about two of these in parallel, will that double the available discharge I have available?

Checking Your Browser

onlineshop.gcsolar.co.za

"15A charger will take 200/15 = 13 hours to charge."
Yes that is true, IF i ever get to that point of fully discharging a 200ah battery in a caravan which is unlikely.
Perphaps look for a stronger charger anyway.
Any suggestions for a stronger charger please?

I also do plan to add a MPPT solar charger with 1 or 2 100w panels in the future, this should also assist with the charging rate.
 
TheChamp said:
Doesn't it make more sense to still have an inverter you can plug in?

I have the Skyking similar to that in 600W guise, it has served me well with no issues.
Click to expand...
Then I have to look at 24V inverter or bigger. And that means more or bigger batteries.
Very few 12V inverters includes a charger for an affordable price, except victron and a few others.

But yes, a good charger is probably another R3k
 
Nimitz said:
The dataspec does mention 400ah peak discharge, but thats probably only for a few seconds.
Atleast it is possible to exceed 100ah discharge even if its only for a few seconds.

His little brother also has a discharge of 100ah. Should I rather think about two of these in parallel, will that double the available discharge I have available?

Checking Your Browser

onlineshop.gcsolar.co.za

"15A charger will take 200/15 = 13 hours to charge."
Yes that is true, IF i ever get to that point of fully discharging a 200ah battery in a caravan which is unlikely.
Perphaps look for a stronger charger anyway.
Any suggestions for a stronger charger please?

I also do plan to add a MPPT solar charger with 1 or 2 100w panels in the future, this should also assist with the charging rate.
Click to expand...
Yes 2 in parallel will double the power output. Maybe consider the 100/30 victron? That way you still getting 15A per battery but I doubt a couple of 100W panels would be enough. Maybe someone can confirm?
 
The Hubble S120 seems like a nice sweet spot.
120ah is enough for caravan backup and its C1 rated, 120ah discharge. Also smaller and lightweight

Any negative comments about the hubble?
 
Nimitz said:
The Hubble S120 seems like a nice sweet spot.
120ah is enough for caravan backup and its C1 rated, 120ah discharge. Also smaller and lightweight

Any negative comments about the hubble?
Click to expand...
Nope. Just the price. They used to go for R5500.
 
Nimitz said:
The Hubble S120 seems like a nice sweet spot.
120ah is enough for caravan backup and its C1 rated, 120ah discharge. Also smaller and lightweight

Any negative comments about the hubble?
Click to expand...
This is the hubble rebrand apparently:
powerforum-store.co.za

HALO S100 12.8V 1.2KWh

Internal Battery Management System. configuration. 4 in series and 4 in parallel.BMS protects internal cells and ensures ¢ Compatible with most UPS & Inverters usingsmooth operation. AGM/VRLA charge setting.Excellent high temperature performance. ¢ Low self-discharge.High Cycle Life and Service...
powerforum-store.co.za
 
Nimitz said:
Please advise.

My requirement is to build a small backup unit that can power a few items at home for 2hours and also travel along when camping with the caravan.

I was looking at this battery, any reviews on this will be greatly appreciated.

Checking Your Browser

onlineshop.gcsolar.co.za
This battery does come with a 100ah continuous discharge, which is not to bad

And then I need to pair that battery with a 12V 1500w-2000W inverter, and this is where I need recommendations please.
I was looking at these options.
www.securityandmore.co.za

1500w Devel Pure Sine Inverter | 12v Dc To 220v Ac | Inverter -Pure Sine Wave (3000w Peak)

1500W DEVEL PURE SINE INVERTER | 12V DC TO 220V AC | INVERTER -PURE SINE WAVE (3000W PEAK) Features Pure sine wave output. Input & output full isolation High efficiency design up to 88% ,energy saving mode Excellent loads...
www.securityandmore.co.za www.securityandmore.co.za
www.securityandmore.co.za

2000w Devel Inverter | 12v Dc To 220v | Ac Inverter -pure Sine Wave (4000w Peak)

2000W INVERTER | 12V DC TO 220V | AC INVERTER -PURE SINE WAVE (4000W PEAK) Connect to battery: 220V AC output: (2 x 3 Pin Plugs Included)
www.securityandmore.co.za www.securityandmore.co.za
www.securityandmore.co.za

Sky King - 1500W Pure Sine Wave Inverter | 12V DC TO 220-240V AC| 3000W Peak

1500W PURE SINE WAVE INVERTER | 12V DC TO 220V | 2000W PEAK 2 x 220V Socket Outlets 2000W peak
www.securityandmore.co.za www.securityandmore.co.za
www.securityandmore.co.za

Sky King - 2000w Pure Sine Wave Inverter | 12v Dc To 220-240v Ac | 4000w Peak

2000W PURE SINE WAVE INVERTER | 12V DC TO 220V | 4000W PEAK 2 x 220V Socket Outlets 4000W peak
www.securityandmore.co.za www.securityandmore.co.za

Anyone with previous experience of these inverter brands?

Battery will be charged by a victron bluesmart 15A
Click to expand...
With a Caravan system. Good and reliable brands is a must as mentioned in the previous posts. You dont want to go cheap on this and have a failure or worse, Caravan crying in flames.

Get someone that has good knowledge on installing the system so they can have it DC to DC coupled with your alternator so while you are driving, the battery can still be charged even if there is no sunlight.
 
I think this is going to be my build.

Phase 1
futurama.co.za

Hubble S-120 1C 2nd Life Battery - 12.8V, 1.5KWh

High Performance Lithium battery Internal Battery Management System Excellent high temperature performance
futurama.co.za futurama.co.za
www.sustainable.co.za

Victron MultiPlus 1.6kVA 1.3kW 12V-24V-48V Inverter-Charger

Features Multifunctional, with intelligent power management. Parallel operation and three phase capabilities. PowerAssist - Boosting the capacity of shore or generator power. Search Mode. Programmable relay. On-site system configuring, monitoring and control. Remote configuring and monitoring...
www.sustainable.co.za www.sustainable.co.za
This inverter boosts 70A max recharge, UPS and most importantly reliability.

Phase 2 will be a solar charger and 2 panels for that off the grid places
 
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