Expedition Power Systems - Full Set Up Guidance

[goexplore]

I am a bit lost when it comes to power systems. I'm not an electrician, and I'm not looking to install anything myself, however I find that here in Dubai, people can talk the talk, but more often than not fall short on delivery.

So, I'm looking for guidance and recommendations if there are any "full kits" out there for a complete second battery install.

Some must haves; alternator charging, shore power and solar input.

Power requirements will be for Waeco 50l fridge, 12v water heater, water pump, a couple of 12v fans, charging camera systems and laptops.

I am looking at 200ah power (as we live in the desert, fans and fridge will be running quite a lot) and likely lithium to keep the build weight down.

So, does anyone sell a full kit with charge controller, battery monitors, split charge systems etc? I don't want to buy items, ship them to Dubai and then find they don't work with each other.

Thanks in advance.

 

[dogdaysindurham]

@goexplore What make and model vehicle will you be building? That could help narrow down components that would fit.

I don't know of any kit with everything together, but other's might.

 

[dogdaysindurham]

Also will your vehicle be using a roof rack for storage? Or can it be dedicated to solar panel mounting?

 

[goexplore]

Also will your vehicle be using a roof rack for storage? Or can it be dedicated to solar panel mounting?

The system will be going in to a 78 Troopy. The roof space will be used for solar and carrying items. The panel will be dismountable for the rare situations I need to utilise all of the roof space. I have a good idea of which panel will work best for my vehicle. It rated 160w.

 

[Ruggedly]

I am a bit lost when it comes to power systems. I'm not an electrician, and I'm not looking to install anything myself, however I find that here in Dubai, people can talk the talk, but more often than not fall short on delivery.

So, I'm looking for guidance and recommendations if there are any "full kits" out there for a complete second battery install.

Some must haves; alternator charging, shore power and solar input.

Power requirements will be for Waeco 50l fridge, 12v water heater, water pump, a couple of 12v fans, charging camera systems and laptops.

I am looking at 200ah power (as we live in the desert, fans and fridge will be running quite a lot) and likely lithium to keep the build weight down.

So, does anyone sell a full kit with charge controller, battery monitors, split charge systems etc? I don't want to buy items, ship them to Dubai and then find they don't work with each other.

Thanks in advance.

While they don't appear to sell a full kit, the site below does an awesome job of not only providing a list of everything you might need for different sized systems (with links to correlating items for sale on Amazon, etc.), but they also provide a diagram for laying it all out. Hope that helps!

400+ Watt Solar Panel Setup For A Van

 

[TonyP]

Will the shore be 120 VAC or 220 VAC?

Look at the Redarc Manager30, it's an all-in-one type deal. Except for the inverter (and solar panels). For an inverter I recommend GoPower or another pure sine wave (not a modified sine or whatever marketing BS they'll use) for clean power for your electronics.

 

[goexplore]

Hey, it'll be a 240VAC system I'm looking at, as most of my equipment, and uptime destination for the vehicle will be UK.

I've just started looking again at a CTEK 140A Off Road system, which seems to do practically everything the Redarc Manager30 can do, with the exception of shore power, for half the price.

Does anyone have any experience with the CTEK?

 

[projectcruiser]

I would advise against a 12V water heater. Have you looked at a heater exchanger or diesel hot water heater (or both)?

The 12V heater would seem to draw a lot of power...

 

[goexplore]

I would advise against a 12V water heater. Have you looked at a heater exchanger or diesel hot water heater (or both)?

The 12V heater would seem to draw a lot of power...

I’ve also started looking at a heat exchanger system. The Austratralian market seems to have such goodies - I did find one a couple of weeks ago that was a full kit but damned if I can find it again.

I had also looked at a Webasto or similar heater, which isn’t really required for the Middle East, but had water options too, and would be useful on the journey back to the UK.

 

[RFB]

Will the shore be 120 VAC or 220 VAC?

Look at the Redarc Manager30, it's an all-in-one type deal. Except for the inverter (and solar panels). For an inverter I recommend GoPower or another pure sine wave (not a modified sine or whatever marketing BS they'll use) for clean power for your electronics.

Ive been running a gopwer 700 watt PSW for over a year no probs and I really use it.

 

[TonyP]

Ive been running a gopwer 700 watt PSW for over a year no probs and I really use it.

GoPower is really good stuff. I had their IC2000 inverter/charger/switch in my 200 for a year.
It was great. Even had manually adjustable charge profiles so it could charge Lithium.
Pretty cheap too.

 

[RFB]

GoPower is really good stuff. I had their IC2000 inverter/charger/switch in my 200 for a year.
It was great. Even had manually adjustable charge profiles so it could charge Lithium.
Pretty cheap too.

Im tightening and rechecking, packing blaancing everything because around the 7th of Dec Im rolling west once again so you may see out in utah.

 

[TonyP]

Im tightening and rechecking, packing blaancing everything because around the 7th of Dec Im rolling west once again so you may see out in utah.

I'd love to go wheeling but I'm still stuck in the middle east for a couple more months.
Tear it up though!

 

[RFB]

I'd love to go wheeling but I'm still stuck in the middle east for a couple more months.
Tear it up though!

Hit me when you get back Ill come out again NP FIDO!!!

 

[Dave 2000]

Heating water in the desert should be free? I have a water bladder in the right rear wing of my 80, if needed I can have a warm shower at the end of the day, the dark colour paint keeps the panel very hot and thus the bladder.

In the winter here though I have been thinking about the glow plug heaters used on modern cars, certainly worth thinking about.

Regards

Dave