POWERFUL AND ENERGY EFFICIENT, OFF-GRID HOME AWAY FROM HOME CARAVAN.

When a chippy and an electrician with a shared passion for off grid camping get together to renovate a caravan….the results are mint!

This one is for all those caravan renovators out there! 

In this camping power build we feature a complete off grid power upgrade in a Great Escape Caravan - Family Escape and also their tow vehicle - Isuzu NPS 75/155

Caravan Renovation - First The Gutting

The main bed, entire kitchen, table and cupboards throughout was removed to make way for an entirely new design and install by Driftwood Renovations and Maintenance.

The Caravan Electrical Power System - 12 volt and 240 volt.

A clean slate made way for the Outech Off Grid team to design and install a complete upgrade of the caravan electrical system. This setup is specifically designed for power when off grid, incorporating 12 volt and 240 volt power, and is perfect for a family of 5, plus two fur babies, travelling around Australia full time in the caravan.

All gas appliances and gas bottles were removed to make this power upgrade a 100% fully electric caravan EV.

In this off grid caravan power upgrade we used a suite of Enerdrive electrical components complimented by the Simarine Monitoring System and Simarine PICO Monitoring display screen. Location of the monitoring screen was wired to an overhead cupboard making it easier to see and interrogate the caravan battery management system, check on solar charge, battery load, remaining charge in batteries. Additionally tank sensors where installed to monitor fresh water and grew water. Again, monitoring water levels is simply viewed via the Simarine PICO monitoring display screen.

It is the finer details, executed with care, no corner cut, and no stone left unturned, it is a robust off grid electric caravan, it is the ultimate home away from home on wheels!

Caravan Off Grid Power Set Up

• 600Ah 12V Battery Bank LITHIUM BATTERIES, designed to be recharged via mains power, roof mounted solar panels or portable solar panels, and DCDC from the tow vehicle.

• 2600W Enerdrive INVERTER Enerdrive INVERTER hard wired to all caravan 240 volt circuits, so that all of the caravan power outlets are live at the wall – literally plug-in 240 volt appliance, such as coffee machine, air conditioner, laptop at any power point in the caravan and there is power off grid and when on mains power.

• 12V 40A DC2DC+ Battery Charger Enerdrive BATTERY CHARGER

• 12V 40A AC Battery Charger Enerdrive AC BATTERY CHARGER ePOWER

• 1040W Fixed SOLAR Panels, Caravan Roof Mounted.

• 2 x MPPT Solar Charge Controllers.

• SIMARINE Pico 3 Monitoring System & control panels & with display for battery & load monitoring; (voltage, current, amp hours, battery capacity in %), temperature indications, Solar Current input, Load output, grey water and fresh water tank levels.  BMS wired to central point in overhead cupboard.

• Simarine Tank Level and Voltage Module – monitor water levels and batteries at Simarine Pico Screen

• Anderson plug at drawbar with connection to DCDC charger (with the CORRECT cable size to optimise performance!), plus extra external anderson plug for portable solar panels or a portable fridge.

• The 240 volt is integrated = at ‘the wall’ power while off the grid, compliant with AS/NZ Standards AS/NZS3000:2018 and AS/NZS3001:2012.  Installed in house by qualified electrician!

• Monitors and Control panels wired to overhead cupboard at a central point for easy access.

• Integrated & hard wired 12V & 240V wiring & electrical components to customised control panel to incorporate the inverter display.

• The 240 volt is integrated throughout the caravan, enabling all electrical appliances to be plugged in at ‘the wall’ while off the grid!

  
  Caravan 240 Volt Power

• 240V  Switch Board Upgrade.

• REPLACE & REWIRED 240 volt electrical wiring, 240V Switch board, and RDC’s; compliant with AS/NZS3000:2018 and AS/NZS3001:2012.

• 240 volt power wired to all caravan power points. 

CARAVAN ACCESSORIES

Eberspacher Diesel Air Heater and Water Heater

Diesel heater is where it’s AT!

We replaced the Trump hot water system and old diesel heater with an Eberspacher system for hot water and air heating!

It uses surplus capacity in your existing solar system and then boosted with diesel when insufficient solar to heat hot water and air heating. This air and water heater is the same system that we have in our caravan and it is by far superior to other systems we have used.

Check out our website blog for everything you need to know about caravan air heaters and caravan water heaters.

Caravan Anti Theft

• WiTi Anti-Theft System -specifically designed for caravans, camper trailer or any trailer fitted with electric brakes to prevent theft was already installed in this van.

Caravan Anti Dust

• An anti dust system was not installed into this caravan because the owner practically rebuilt the van and is confident it isn’t needed. Should there be a change of mind, we recommend the CaraFan Sahara CP700 Caravan Anti-Dust Pressuriser unit -  keeps your caravan… DUST FREE!

The Caravan Tow Vehicle!

Let’s take a look at the electrical fit-out in the canopy of the Isuzu Truck!

Isuzu NPS 75/155

• Enerdrive B-TEC 12V 200Ah G2 Lithium Battery

• Enerdrive 2000W Pure Sine Wave Inverter With RCD, hard wired to:

• Double Pole Double socket outlets

• 800W Canopy Roof Mounted Solar Panel Enerdrive

• Anderson Plug and holder -external Solar panel input

• Anderson Plug and holder Outlet in canopy

• Dual USB and Cig. outlet

Like the caravan, there is no gas on board, dual battery and off grid power system has been designed to power the families coffee machine, canopy fridge / freezer, charge power tools, charge electronic devices etc.

This is one hell of an off grid touring setup! With a combined total of 800ah battery bank + 2kW Solar + 4600W Inverter in the Isuzu truck and caravan, it will make most travelling families envious!

Look out for this rig and bloody awesome family on the road!  

You can follow them @simmos_adrift

This Outech Off Grid Caravan Power Upgrade gives the owners the freedom to camp from outback to ocean with all the power they need to run not just the lighting and basic 12 volt appliances, but also the air conditioner, microwave, induction cooktop, coffee machine, air fryer and even a hair dryer, straightener and blender if need be – all without plugging into mains power!

The roof mounted solar panels give 1.04kW of charge to the massive 600AH lithium battery bank efficiently and quickly, plus the power system is designed to top up the batteries from solar and from the car when in tow!

Off Grid Caravan Lithium Power Setup designed and installed by #outechoffgrid

We are here to answer your questions about caravan power systems, caravan 12 volt power, caravan 240 volt power, caravan battery management systems and all the electrical , including caravan accessories.  

We are qualified and licensed electricians approved to work on 12 volt and 240 volt power.

Ask your questions in the 'Comments’ below or contact our technical team directly.