Touring caravan just setup on seasonal pitch but electric keeps tripping out-site owner not interested

[Buckman]

After heating, the fridge is probably the biggest consumer of gas?

 

[Dustydog]

After heating, the fridge is probably the biggest consumer of gas?

My Dometic will use the whole 6 kg propane in approx two weeks. About 250g per 24 hours.
The Trumatic heater on gas at max just under 2kw output will use 500 g per hour🙉

 

[Mark T]

In May it will be lighter so tend not to be in the caravan watching TV, or if the lighting used is halogen rather than LED, no great call for that, both big drains on our batteries, when off EHU.
Plus, space heating ought to be minimal. There the heating energy must be gas, but electrical energy is needed in most cases to enable it.

As said, unless there is a cultural focus on minimising electrical energy use 4 days on our batteries, which hold just over 1/2 kWh of usable energy, will be a challenge. Focus on that really very measly bit of energy a battery holds, you can squeeze a tad more but very quickly wreck, even a good quality leisure battery, should you do so.

You will need to be using gas, fridge is almost certainly going to, as is cooking, and water heating. The latter will have to be used with considerable restraint, only on when really needed, and for small amounts, washing up and light ablutions, simply boil a kettle on gas.
6 or 7 kgs ought to amply get you through 4 days in May, probably way longer.

A solar panel, say a freestanding one of 100Watts, come May, come hopefully nice weather could make the outcome better and the restraints less tedious for all. But be aware it needs redirecting to be pointing the right way three or four times through the day. And standing clear of the ground so its function is not compromised by its base cells sitting in the shades from grass blades.

Then given its nice weather, you could indulge in two hours of evening TV, and the typical previous days drain from the battery be fully replenished by noon, if not earlier. A very different experience and through summer 28-day meets are as doable as a weekend.

[ IMO solar made off grid as different as chalk & cheese, to the pre solar days, where we needed to have a spare battery recharged in the car boot, and driving out to recharge it]

The purpose of going off grid is a 4 night music festival so will likely be out of the caravan from 6/7pm and back late just to sleep. Then sleep late the nexr day as we won't have our kids with us haha!


I'd just like to be able to cook and minimal tv use I suppose.

 

[Mark T]

Does the site you're staying at have battery charging facilities? I would have thought that 4 days on a single battery would be a struggle but I've never tried.

No. Its not a site at all. Its just a spot near the beach so no facilities to speak of. I will find somewhere suitable to empty the waste

 

[Mark T]

Unfortunately we are remote from the situation and we can only rely on the information you are giving us. So far we do not have enough information to be able to confirm your conclusion that its the sites problem or not.

However if when agreed to take the site, I assume your contract was based on the inclusion of an Electric hook up point, which would include a reasonable assumption that it was was both safe and functional. If you can provide the evidence the supply is faulty (by proving your caravan and hook up cable are up to standard) then you might have grounds to claim breach of contract.

It would be better not to be confrontational though that might be difficult in your position.

Its a 10 amp supply and is quite a new setup

 

[ProfJohnL]

The purpose of going off grid is a 4 night music festival so will likely be out of the caravan from 6/7pm and back late just to sleep. Then sleep late the nexr day as we won't have our kids with us haha!


I'd just like to be able to cook and minimal tv use I suppose.

Realistically if you want to survive 4 days on only your habitation battery then Make sure it is fully charged befor yoy leave home, and forget the TV. Perhaps consider a portable radio with its own batteries instead.

TV's are a bit of an insidious power user. they tend to be bused for longish periods and whilst it may only be rated at 3A or so it soon adds up and can account for a significant proportion of battery capacity.

For much the same reason make sure you swap out any incandescent of fluorescent lamps for LEDs

Hot air circulation fans also tend to draw about 1A when they run.

When you add up all the small items of 12V power usage it can be surprising how much it will impact even 100Ah battery. I suspect if your not very careful about what you use and for how long, you may find yourself with a flat battery after a couple of days.

In cases like this, one of the most useful things to consider is a 100W solar panel to top up the battery. This even in the spring and autumn can provide enough power to extend the number of days you can survive off grid.