Belvoir Castle National

[Beehpee]

Hi All, well we have decided after all this time of having a caravan to have a non electric pitch at the CC National at Belvoir, having never had to rely on battery power before I have no idea how long my battery will last, I am going to be using power for lighting and running the water pump, I shall have the water heater, the fridge and the fire all running on gas, I can't think of anything else that is going to be draining the battery other than maybe the radio at times and the alarm which both use very little, so I have my caravans own battery which was new last year and is if I remember rightly an 85 AH, I also have 3 car batteries, first one is 73 AH then 2 small ones of 40AH and 43AH, we go on the Friday probably early so it's going to be 4 full days and then probably half a day on the Tuesday when we will be leaving, so the big question is how do I work out if these batteries will keep things running for this time or in other peoples experience what are your opinions, the 3 extra batteries are ones that I've acquired FOC which is why they are such a random selection, carrying the extra weight of these isn't a problem at all and if need be I still have time to beg borrow or st**l another couple, any help or advice greatly received, I don't fancy having a noisy generator which I could hire and until I've tried basic caravanning I am not going to go splash out on a solar panel, who knows if we enjoy this trip we might start "roughing" it more often, thanks in advance peeps.

BP

 

[otherclive]

Given it will be lighter evenings ( and fabulously warm too) you have more than enough battery power available. I'd think that with your 85Ah and a fully charged 75AH that would be ample, but if you can afford the space and weight take all and just see how you get on with the 85Ah, followed (if required) by the 75AH etc. If you are careful about power usage I think you will be surprised at how long a good 85AH will last you.

 

[Beehpee]

Cheers Clive, I thought I would probably have enough but thought I'd get other opinions as well, our caravan is a 2 berth and I tow with a Mercedes Vito so weight isn't an issue at all, you should see how the caravan and the Vito get loaded when we take the grandkids to the coast for 2 weeks in the summer lol.
We have another 5 day trip booked before the Belvoir one but it has electric hook up so I might try leaving it disconnected for a couple of days and see how the batteries cope, means the wife can't use her hair dryer etc but at least I will have more idea if I need more battery power, having always used sites with facilities I took the doors off the shower in the caravan and converted it into a second wardrobe, my next job is to put it back into use as a shower, who knows I might even think about joining the woosie club afterwards as our on board loo to date has only ever been used for liquids so I'm also going to have to get myself thick rubber gloves and a mask for 4 days of not so pleasant waste disposal lol can't wait......

BP

 

[Beehpee]

Ps I will go with the lighter evenings but not so sure about the fabulously warm bit!!