The Camping Thread

[prydey]

Setting off for another trip down to Naracoorte


Some threatening looking clouds made for a nice backdrop. Thankfully they didn't drop their load on us.


The view for the weekend...





We offloaded the kids this trip. Just me and the wife. Very peaceful weekend. Campground was full but we choose this particular site now as it's away from the main area and faces out to the bush so it feels quite peaceful still.

The new van is great. Tows really well. A nice size for my car and for me.

[stefcio007]

I’m looking to replace my ageing lead acid battery but my inverter and solar charger ( MI5720 from JayCar) only lists lead acid batteries. I understand the charging profile is different for AGM so do I replace it or get a li-ion 12V battery that has its own BMS that will play nicely as a drop in replacement?

[prydey]

Lithium isn't automatically better. Depending on what size inverter you have and what you run off it, Agm can still be the better option. Lithium output is sometimes limited even though the storage capacity is better.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by stefcio007

I’m looking to replace my ageing lead acid battery but my inverter and solar charger ( MI5720 from JayCar) only lists lead acid batteries. I understand the charging profile is different for AGM so do I replace it or get a li-ion 12V battery that has its own BMS that will play nicely as a drop in replacement?

Were you going to replace it with a lithium, I didn't read anything about LiPo. AGM is very similar to lead Acid only uses glass matting across the plating making it safer in tilt moving objects, eg yachts etc. Lipo as Prydey stated isn't necessarily better.

Edit found you referred to it as Li on.

[stefcio007]

Just running electric blankets about 300W.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by stefcio007

Just running electric blankets about 300W.

I remember seeing some 12v electric blankets somewhere recently cut all the inefficiencies of inverters if you are already wired for DC.

[stefcio007]

I’m running this at home so when the battery is empty I switch to mains power which is AC.

[Trevor 57]

My wife and i have just been on a 6 day jaunt around the Riverina area of NSW, here are a coupe of pics

This was just east of Griffith in the Binya State Forest



We camped for one night only at Lake Cargelligo, but it was too cold and windy to get out of the van to take a photo - LOL


We spent 3 nights at Wooloondool Campground, just west of Hay, that is the Murrumbidgee River


And spent the last night with some friends on the edge of the Edwards River at Deniliquin. This spot is on private property - sorry everyone

[buggerlugs]

Camping out at our bush block. Got about 140 fires to burn, big clean up. Love the peace and quite. And no traffic........

[Trevor 57]

I actually found one at Lake Cargelligo

[GasoLane]

I know that this isn't camping but it popped up on a friends FB page and he sent it to me.

If anyone is thinking about going to Qld it seems that Qld Plod are getting serious about Van axle weights.

https://fb.watch/eFXe7MYYQl/

[roKWiz]

Far north Coast of NSW had a few blitzes, doing the same in recent years.
They reopened a couple of "non used" roadside inspection bays to do it.

Put a few overweight winter migrating "Snowbirds" on their way to QLD off the road.

[Tonz]

i agree with this so many (not all !!!!) yobs have their 'van loaded like a tank and its swinging its sweet as se on the road.

but if your 1000K from home and get 'put off the road' what happens then.
send half your gear home by courier/aus post
try and reload which might be OK until next stop then you pull everything our again...

every complex issue and please dont fine them a paltry amount, smack the wallet hard.

[prydey]

It's good to see some activity in this area. The whole industry is largely unregulated and the more owners that get proactive with looking at their weights the better.

There's been a couple of exercises similar to this in Qld but with the promise of no fines. Just an education event.

The problem is, in the big scheme of things there isn't really that much money to be made so the police would struggle to justify the resources to really ramp up weighing vans.

They generally only pull in the obvious looking ones as well, which does skew the stats a bit.

[Honest Gaza]

Had our Maiden Voyage a couple of weekends ago to Nelson Bay (Halifax)
Ford Everest with Jayco Penguin (Camper Trailer).

Everest performed brilliantly...plenty of power for our needs.
We had a 'powered' site but took the opportunity to test BMPRO 12V system by turning off the power for a couple of hours.
3-Way Fridge switched successfully to Gas bottle, lights all working.

Even our 'bagged' awning and annex survived the wet and windy conditions.

[naddis01]

Is anyone looking for an Ezytrail Lincoln LX dual fold camper? We are thinking of selling ours.

[Trevor 57]

We just spent 2 weeks on Fraser Island, got home last Friday evening

[Trevor 57]

some pics

campsite


an old abandoned airport on the western side


Champagne Pools


a beach on the western side


A beach on the eastern side


One of the many inland freshwater lakes

[stefcio007]

What's the better option here?
Are they the same quality really at this price point?
Currently using the old battery out of my MK3 Focus I had not sure of capacity since it's not a deep cycle.

Kmart 80 Ah AGM $149
https://www.kmart.com.au/product/rec...-12v-42963905/

Jaycar 100 Ah AGM $199
https://www.jaycar.com.au/12v-100ah-...=12V+relevance

[Trevor 57]

I just bought a 105ah deep cycle battery for the caravan $275, be careful of quality

[stefcio007]

Originally Posted by Trevor 57

I just bought a 105ah deep cycle battery for the caravan $275, be careful of quality

My issue is if I spend about $300 then I would sell my 20 A, 600W PSW Solar Charger and inverter and replace it with one of those lithium power stations from EcoFlow which would be a modern all in one unit.

[Tassie f100]

I don’t know the best way to know the quality of batteries,but I have tended to go on the theory that the heavier the battery,the more lead,so on that basis a better battery.Maybe I’m right maybe not.Don’t know what the technical way of picking a good lithium from a not so good.As we all know different sellers put very variable markups on price,so is a $900 better than a $500 or is it different retail rather than wholesale price

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Tassie f100

I don’t know the best way to know the quality of batteries,but I have tended to go on the theory that the heavier the battery,the more lead,so on that basis a better battery.Maybe I’m right maybe not.Don’t know what the technical way of picking a good lithium from a not so good.As we all know different sellers put very variable markups on price,so is a $900 better than a $500 or is it different retail rather than wholesale price

You're on the right track. I believe a 100ah should be about 30kg.

There is also a 20hr testing standard I believe. Some cheaper batteries claiming higher capacity aren't tested to this standard, so you aren't comparing apples with apples.

I get a lot of my stuff from this guy.
https://www.batteryvalue.com.au/#NPP

It's a pretty basic website but he is genuine and very helpful and there is good info on there about knowing the good from the bad.

I've used the NPP batteries and they last many years.

[stefcio007]

Decided to take the plunge and get the JayCar 12.8V 25 Ah lithium battery which is a drop on replacement as the battery itself has an internal BMS. What attracted me was low weight so easy to move when camping, drop in replacement, no need to reconfigure my existing gear. Being able to more accurate determine battery SoC being a lithium battery.

The other part was managed to convince the wife that this will have a ROI since we won’t need to book powered sites

[prydey]

So, finally got around to getting the solar panel, solar controller and inverter fitted to my van.

I got it done at a place called Dario here in Adelaide. Good pricing and workmanship although they did leave the van in a bit of a mess.

Solar panel up front


Mppt controller


Inverter, fitted under dinette seat


And single powerpoint from inverter to run the small coffee machine


All Bluetooth too so turns on and off via the victron app.

I gave the coffee machine a quick test, making the equivalent of 2 drinks one after the other, plus some flushing etc and all seemed ok.

Nice to have that all done ready for our trip to Uluru in July. Just the folding mattress to address now. Don't want to spend much on this van as it's not a long term van so likely just go with some sort of mattress topper.

[BENT_8]

Is the panel only stuck on?

[prydey]

Originally Posted by BENT_8

Is the panel only stuck on?

That's how most panels are done these days. As long as the prep is done right, it's not going anywhere.

[BENT_8]

Originally Posted by prydey

That's how most panels are done these days. As long as the prep is done right, it's not going anywhere.

https://www.caravancampingsales.com....arning-126938/

Im not so sure Rob.

A very recent article on the subject.

And this.

https://rvdaily.com.au/flying-solar-...your-rvs-roof/

Chris told RV Daily that it is very important to use both a mechanical and a chemical form of connection to secure a solar panel to the roof of an RV. “In layman’s terms, they must be both screwed and glued to the roof.”

[Tassie f100]

Originally Posted by prydey

That's how most panels are done these days. As long as the prep is done right, it's not going anywhere.

There was an incident here couple of years back where a panel unstuck from the roof and flew into the path ofva following car which swerved to miss the panel and hii an oncoming car resulting in deaths.pretty sure it is a requirement that panel have to have a mechanical fixing ( screws rivets or bolts)and glue to affix panel now.And for your own peace of mind you should insist on having more than glue

[BENT_8]

Originally Posted by Tassie f100

There was an incident here couple of years back where a panel unstuck from the roof and flew into the path ofva following car which swerved to miss the panel and hii an oncoming car resulting in deaths.pretty sure it is a requirement that panel have to have a mechanical fixing ( screws rivets or bolts)and glue to affix panel now.And for your own peace of mind you should insist on having more than glue

Completely agreed, just spoke to my Nephew who fits panels to vans everyday and he was like WTF.

He said they only use full panel length angle to prevent wind getting underneath, especially when installed on the vans leading edge, and affixes it with no less than 3 fasteners plus adhesive sealant which he said is really only for sealing purposes and not securing alone.