New Build

xsilvergs

xsilvergs

Forum Member
In this time of global warming shouldn't we be be using 100% solar and using our 240 volt hook up to make up for anything the solar can't do? In this crap British climate solar will never be a 100% alternative in 2020, in my opinion.

Shame the solar and EHU aren't combined. :unsure:

Now 2 Victron solar controllers one doing solar, the other doing EHU charging, would that work or is it time for a Raspberry Pi?
 

wildebus

Forum Member
xsilvergs said:
In this time of global warming shouldn't we be be using 100% solar and using our 240 volt hook up to make up for anything the solar can't do? In this crap British climate solar will never be a 100% alternative in 2020, in my opinion.

Shame the solar and EHU aren't combined. :unsure:

Now 2 Victron solar controllers one doing solar, the other doing EHU charging, would that work or is it time for a Raspberry Pi?
Click to expand...
The way I configure the chargers, I have the mains charger absorption voltage set slghtly lower than the Solar Controllera absorption voltage.
That way the mains charger thinks the battery is charged a little bit earlier and goes into float mode while the Solar Controller finishes the job. And when a bit of load happens, the solar controller will take care of it and the mains charger won't normally cut in.

You can get a combo unit if you wanted though - the Redarc Manager 30 (BMS30) is a combined Mains, MPPT and B2B charger with integrated SOC Monitor
 
Debs

Debs

Forum Member
Nabsim said:
Did you actually need the relay Deb? Would it not just lose any excess if both solar and mains fed together? I ask as on very good harvesting days I overfeed my controller but it just takes what it can handle
Click to expand...
David has answered that question nicely.
 
linkshouse

linkshouse

Forum Member
Erm? I have a smart charger connected to my batteries and a solar charge controller connected to my batteries at the same time, is that wrong? It seems to work okay.
 
Nabsim

Nabsim

Forum Member
I
linkshouse said:
Erm? I have a smart charger connected to my batteries and a solar charge controller connected to my batteries at the same time, is that wrong? It seems to work okay.
Click to expand...
don’t think you have any problem with that. Wait for someone who knows though as my logic isn’t always right lol
 

wildebus

Forum Member
This is not the same one as Deb's has but in appearance it looks the same style - https://amzn.to/2JjOIaw
I have 3 of these (18V, 24V and 48V) and they look pretty well the same exterior design. (Use them to drive solar controllers oddly enough :) )
 

wayne

Forum Member
hi guys. Ive just joined the group. really nice work out there. I'm in need of some advice, Im converting my mwb hightop transit. Ive spent oodles of cash and time only to find the rules have changed from the DVLA. So I have to put another window in, which is annoying as its either in a cupboard on one side or make some changes to the kitchen. So anyway I rang DVLA for some clarification regarding the awning rail. I have an awning that clips to the gutter. I just wanted to be clear what was meant by a rail. The response was less than helpful, I have to submit the photos first, I pointed out that I'm already going to have to spend hundreds more on an unnecessary window and decals and I don't want to buy an awning pod for the side increasing fuel consumption. and therefore not be classed as a camper. She couldn't tell me what a rail was without seeing the van. she was like a tory minister repeating "ive been very clear you must submit photos first and well make a decision" I asked her for her name and she hung up.
I've already spent loads and my insurance almost doubled because they say its a modified van not a camper.
So has anyone out there had more joy than myself about the rail?
 
SquirrellCook

SquirrellCook

Forum Member
wayne said:
hi guys. Ive just joined the group. really nice work out there. I'm in need of some advice, Im converting my mwb hightop transit. Ive spent oodles of cash and time only to find the rules have changed from the DVLA. So I have to put another window in, which is annoying as its either in a cupboard on one side or make some changes to the kitchen. So anyway I rang DVLA for some clarification regarding the awning rail. I have an awning that clips to the gutter. I just wanted to be clear what was meant by a rail. The response was less than helpful, I have to submit the photos first, I pointed out that I'm already going to have to spend hundreds more on an unnecessary window and decals and I don't want to buy an awning pod for the side increasing fuel consumption. and therefore not be classed as a camper. She couldn't tell me what a rail was without seeing the van. she was like a tory minister repeating "ive been very clear you must submit photos first and well make a decision" I asked her for her name and she hung up.
I've already spent loads and my insurance almost doubled because they say its a modified van not a camper.
So has anyone out there had more joy than myself about the rail?
Click to expand...
If you have to put stickers on the sides, make one that looks like a window! As for insurance, it's an agreement between you and the insurance company. Betty is insured as a motorhome, but not on the road as not finished.
 
Bouydog

Bouydog

Forum Member
wayne said:
hi guys. Ive just joined the group. really nice work out there. I'm in need of some advice, Im converting my mwb hightop transit. Ive spent oodles of cash and time only to find the rules have changed from the DVLA. So I have to put another window in, which is annoying as its either in a cupboard on one side or make some changes to the kitchen. So anyway I rang DVLA for some clarification regarding the awning rail. I have an awning that clips to the gutter. I just wanted to be clear what was meant by a rail. The response was less than helpful, I have to submit the photos first, I pointed out that I'm already going to have to spend hundreds more on an unnecessary window and decals and I don't want to buy an awning pod for the side increasing fuel consumption. and therefore not be classed as a camper. She couldn't tell me what a rail was without seeing the van. she was like a tory minister repeating "ive been very clear you must submit photos first and well make a decision" I asked her for her name and she hung up.
I've already spent loads and my insurance almost doubled because they say its a modified van not a camper.
So has anyone out there had more joy than myself about the rail?
Click to expand...
I think in your shoes I would get an agreed insurance valuation as a camper and not worry about DVLA, it would more than likely come back as a van with windows.......
 

wayne

Forum Member
Bouydog said:
I think in your shoes I would get an agreed insurance valuation as a camper and not worry about DVLA, it would more than likely come back as a van with windows.......
Click to expand...
any insurance companies you recommend?, all the ones I spoke to only went off the taxation class on the v5.
 

wildebus

Forum Member
wayne said:
any insurance companies you recommend?, all the ones I spoke to only went off the taxation class on the v5.
Click to expand...
There are quite a few that will insure a Campervan that has 'failed' the DVLA recertification.
(PS. It is not the Taxation Class, it is the Body Type that gets reclassified)
My own favourite is A-Plan. My current campervan is insured with them on an Agreed Valuation basis. It is a "Motor Caravan" on the V5C, but I also insured with them as a Camper when it was still a normal van while doing the conversion. My two previous conversions were insured in the same way - as Campers, both pre and post conversion completion.

I think it is very important to have a discussion with the specialist brokers as if you take out some policies, they might just cover the value of a base vehicle, which will always be a lot lower than the value of a conversion.
 

Silver sprinter

Forum Member
wayne said:
hi guys. Ive just joined the group. really nice work out there. I'm in need of some advice, Im converting my mwb hightop transit. Ive spent oodles of cash and time only to find the rules have changed from the DVLA. So I have to put another window in, which is annoying as its either in a cupboard on one side or make some changes to the kitchen. So anyway I rang DVLA for some clarification regarding the awning rail. I have an awning that clips to the gutter. I just wanted to be clear what was meant by a rail. The response was less than helpful, I have to submit the photos first, I pointed out that I'm already going to have to spend hundreds more on an unnecessary window and decals and I don't want to buy an awning pod for the side increasing fuel consumption. and therefore not be classed as a camper. She couldn't tell me what a rail was without seeing the van. she was like a tory minister repeating "ive been very clear you must submit photos first and well make a decision" I asked her for her name and she hung up.
I've already spent loads and my insurance almost doubled because they say its a modified van not a camper.
So has anyone out there had more joy than myself about the rail?
Click to expand...
You talk about wanting to register it as a camper With dvla. Not sure that's possible. At best would be a motor caravan. Or van with windows. While it might say camper or motorhome with insurance. I would love to see a log book that says that. So I'm not sure I would be that bothered what dvla will say. Think it's very hard to get motor caravan now. Gerry
 

wayne

Forum Member
cheers for advice, like i said my insurance almost doubled as they said it was a modified transit, not a camper or motor home, and other companies just wouldn't insure as a motorhome as it wasn't changed on the logbook.
I was gonna go down the DVLA route but they couldn't tell me what was meant by an awning rail. worlds gone mad. cheers guys
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who viewed this discussion (Total:0)

Top