Almost every motorhome and many caravans use an inverter. These clever electronic devices take the low voltage direct current (DC) power from our batteries and convert it to the same high voltage alternating current (AC) that our household sockets deliver. This allows us to have 240 volt mains power with us no matter how […]
Every vehicle has an alternator, we know that it is responsible for keeping the starting battery from going flat. But can we use the alternator to charger our motorhome house batteries too? What is the best way to do this? Before we look at the options, let’s look at the issues: Crank batteries differ […]
Most people who have anything to do with solar power know that a solar regulator is necessary. Not too many of these people understand the exact function of a solar regulator or how it does what it does. For the purpose of this discussion and unless I state otherwise, I will be talking about the […]
As we travel, we often meet people who are in caravans and mobile homes. It always surprises me how many people continue to have issues with the electrical systems. In most cases the conversation starts with “why does my fridge cut-out during the night” or perhaps “my caravan lights go very dim by about 10pm”. […]
We often get asked “how many solar panels do I need?”. The person asking the question normally expects me to look at the size of their caravan/motorhome then immediately offer a valid technical opinion. To offer any kind of meaningful answer a number of factors must be known: Average daily power consumption (normally measured in […]
For someone wanting to equip their motorhome or caravan with solar panels to collect free power from the sun, there is an almost endless list of technical terms rumours and myths to wade through. Terms like polycrystalline, amorphous and temperature co-efficient to name just a few. Sales pitch aside, how is the average person supposed to […]
Setting up a motorhome electrical system for long term travel Having now lived in our motorhome for over 6 years, and during that time almost constantly tweaked and tuned the electrical system, we feel that we have got it pretty much right. So what makes a good electrical system in a motorhome? The answer […]
For many years there were a number of issues with most wind turbine systems that prevented them from being seriously considered by the average traveller. The turbines we have seen did nothing to make me want one … they were: Large and heavy They required gale forced winds to have them produce […]
Our motorhome is a 1968 Bedford bus. At the time of writing that makes it 40 years old. Having a vehicle this old has many advantages and just as many disadvantages. On the plus side I count the fact that the bus was designed and built at a time when the majority of roads were […]
Some thoughts on how to setup a motorhome for free camping Written June 2008 Before beginning any discussion about setting up a motorhome for free camping, it is perhaps important to define what is meant by the term “Free Camping”. What is Free Camping? Quite simply, I use the term free camping to describe any […]
Written May 2004 Updated May 2009 and moved from the old articles section What should I consider when thinking about building or buying a motorhome? That is a question we get asked quite often. Unfortunately the answer is quite complex. This article aims to provide some guidelines and thoughts on logical steps to help answer […]
In the last article I talked about the advantages of capturing rain water from the roof of a motorhome or caravan – and described how we do this. In this article I will explain why I feel it is absolutely essential to have two tanks holding water – one for drinking water and the other […]
For those who have never lived in a motorhome or caravan for an extended length of time, this must seem like a strange thing to do – why would you bother? Well, like many full-time travellers, we like to spend time away from towns and people. In fact we just love to park up in […]
Billions of dollars are now being spent annually on alternative energy research. Some of us have been living almost entirely on renewable energy for years. However, all this research is making our lives a little easier. New and improved products are emerging thick and fast, fuelled by the now much larger market created by the […]
Do you like to visit the remote areas of Australia? Do you also want to remain connected to the rest of the world?. I reported a few months ago on the portable satellite internet system developed by Australian Nomad Technologies (ANT) – We have now had the opportunity to “hands-on” test the system for over […]
HID stands for High Intensity Discharge. It is a method of producing light by passing a high voltage supply through a number of different gases. The technology has been around for quite some time, most street lights (at least the orange highway ones) use a type of HID called low pressure sodium. The good news […]
The SPOT Satellite Messenger Personal Tracker is an amazing device that is not only able to direct emergency assistance to your exact location, but is also able to send messages to friends and family telling them you are ok. If you travel Australia in areas not covered by the cellular network, this device may just […]
Many would consider Pay-TV for the motorhome or caravan an unnecessary and expensive luxury. There are of course some that consider it an absolute necessity and would forgo food in return for their daily helping of sport or other addiction. Many people subscribe to Pay-TV at home but when taking to the road for a […]
Most caravanners and motorhomers rely on battery power to some degree or other. If you have been listening to the experts, you will know that the best way to ensure a long and productive life for your expensive deep cycle batteries is to pay close attention to how the batteries are charged and to what […]
German motorhome manufacturer Volkner Mobil has released their new range of motorhomes featuring among every other possible luxury, a garage capable of holding a Porsche 911! If a Porsche is not to your liking you can select a model designed to hold a Jaguar XK8, BMW 6er Cabriolet or a Maserati Quattroporte. There are times […]