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Advice please - basic electrical set up for camping
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ruffy
 


Member Since: 05 Feb 2015
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 62

United Kingdom 2007 Discovery 3 4.4 V8 S Auto Zermatt SilverDiscovery 3
Advice please - basic electrical set up for camping

Some recommendations would be really useful please. I’ve just ordered a roof tent for the D3 to use for holidays and short trips (i.e. not overlanding) and I’m looking for a portable and relatively cheap way of generating power. I’ll have a gas stove for cooking, so I’m thinking enough juice to power a small fridge, basic lighting etc. I’ve seen several solar panel set ups that look good but have no experience of using them. Although the D3 does have 2 batteries (a legacy of it being an ex-police car) I don’t particularly want to hardwire anything, and the extra battery is a normal car battery in any case.
 2007 V8 S

1981 88” diesel GONE
2007 FFRR TDV8 Overfinch GONE
2000 Defender 90 TD5 GONE
2007 FFRR 4.2 Supercharged GONE
2009 Discovery TDV6 S GONE
1990 RR 3.9 V8 VSE GONE 
 
Post #23353183rd May 2023 9:52 am
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KevinD3
 


Member Since: 05 Aug 2020
Location: Sutton Coldfield
Posts: 1277

England 2008 Discovery 3 TDV6 HSE Auto Stornoway GreyDiscovery 3

Hey ruffy. Appreciate if you don’t want to hard wire anything, although these vehicles were made for it.
it sounds like you’re half way there already for what you need. If it’s ex police with the 2nd battery, that battery would have been used to power the auxiliary bit and pieces around the car so you’ll probably already find wiring to the rear etc you can use to run the fridge and lights off. Seem to remember there was an extra fuse box in the Center arm rest on emergency vehicles for the ancillaries so that may be a good place to look.

How’s your roof? Did they run cable through for the light bar? Would be a good way to get a power socket to the roof tent Smile

Use the search facility on here, plenty of threads on setting these up for camping etc.
 2008 HSE Stornoway Grey

My Wife thinks the D3 is a hobby, The D3 thinks the wife is 💕 
 
Post #23353803rd May 2023 6:36 pm
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M3DPO
 


Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8244

England 2014 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 HSE Lux Auto Corris GreyDiscovery 4

All can say is solar panels ready do work in summer, including the fold up type which are best for you, all you need is a kit off Eblag, they come with all cables and a controller.
Although mine is permanent, with a little practice you could set a portable one up in a few minutes. If you go for two panels they should be the same output volts. Don't point the panels to the sun until they are connected to the controller and battery whilst setting up.
You could start with one battery and one panel and add another if needed, a 100 amp battery will only give you 50amp service as you do not want to run the battery to low or its life will be shortened, the controller will manage this automatically.
I have 4 panels (fixed) feeding 2 12v leisure batteries and a 3000w inverter on my static, they power a small fridge, TV, LED lighting, phone chargers.
The hardest part is they are expensive.
 It can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
It goes where others don't. 
 
Post #23354114th May 2023 5:56 am
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ruffy
 


Member Since: 05 Feb 2015
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 62

United Kingdom 2007 Discovery 3 4.4 V8 S Auto Zermatt SilverDiscovery 3

KevinD3 wrote:
Hey ruffy. Appreciate if you don’t want to hard wire anything, although these vehicles were made for it.
it sounds like you’re half way there already for what you need. If it’s ex police with the 2nd battery, that battery would have been used to power the auxiliary bit and pieces around the car so you’ll probably already find wiring to the rear etc you can use to run the fridge and lights off. Seem to remember there was an extra fuse box in the Center arm rest on emergency vehicles for the ancillaries so that may be a good place to look.

How’s your roof? Did they run cable through for the light bar? Would be a good way to get a power socket to the roof tent Smile

Use the search facility on here, plenty of threads on setting these up for camping etc.


Thanks for your reply. Yes, there are wires all over the place, just need to find out what they all do!
 2007 V8 S

1981 88” diesel GONE
2007 FFRR TDV8 Overfinch GONE
2000 Defender 90 TD5 GONE
2007 FFRR 4.2 Supercharged GONE
2009 Discovery TDV6 S GONE
1990 RR 3.9 V8 VSE GONE 
 
Post #23354124th May 2023 6:31 am
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ruffy
 


Member Since: 05 Feb 2015
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 62

United Kingdom 2007 Discovery 3 4.4 V8 S Auto Zermatt SilverDiscovery 3

M3DPO wrote:
All can say is solar panels ready do work in summer, including the fold up type which are best for you, all you need is a kit off Eblag, they come with all cables and a controller.
Although mine is permanent, with a little practice you could set a portable one up in a few minutes. If you go for two panels they should be the same output volts. Don't point the panels to the sun until they are connected to the controller and battery whilst setting up.
You could start with one battery and one panel and add another if needed, a 100 amp battery will only give you 50amp service as you do not want to run the battery to low or its life will be shortened, the controller will manage this automatically.
I have 4 panels (fixed) feeding 2 12v leisure batteries and a 3000w inverter on my static, they power a small fridge, TV, LED lighting, phone chargers.
The hardest part is they are expensive.


Thanks for your reply, I’ve seen a few decent portable solar set ups for not too much money. I could probably combine with the auxiliary battery to cover what I need.
 2007 V8 S

1981 88” diesel GONE
2007 FFRR TDV8 Overfinch GONE
2000 Defender 90 TD5 GONE
2007 FFRR 4.2 Supercharged GONE
2009 Discovery TDV6 S GONE
1990 RR 3.9 V8 VSE GONE 
 
Post #23354134th May 2023 6:33 am
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M3DPO
 


Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8244

England 2014 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 HSE Lux Auto Corris GreyDiscovery 4

There is endless amount of information on YouTube Thumbs Up
 It can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
It goes where others don't. 
 
Post #23354184th May 2023 7:09 am
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Moo
D3 Decade 


Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 14482

Ukraine 2005 Discovery 3 TDV6 S Manual Zambezi SilverDiscovery 3

A Jakery or equivalent with solar panel would do you fine.

https://uk.jackery.com/
 D4 HSE EU6 (Known as Jeeves)

New Defender L663 110 SE (known as Noddy!) Sold

Sold Volvo XC90 R-Design (known as Basil)

Sold - D4 HSE (Known as Gerty)

No longer the Old Buses original owner Sad
231,000 miles and counting
05 S manual owned from March 2005
D4 Face lifted
Still original injectors and turbo
V8 Front brakes
BAS Remap, Allisport Intercooler and deCat
EGRs blanked
T-Max split charge
Hanibal Expeedition rack
Prospeed ladder
Duratrac tyres
IID BT
BAS FBH control 
 
Post #23354214th May 2023 7:54 am
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Motolab
 


Member Since: 18 Oct 2019
Location: Sleen
Posts: 1820

Netherlands 2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 HSE Auto Zambezi SilverDiscovery 3

Jakery…… cheap as chips… Shocked

A decent auxiliary battery with a pair of decent solar panels safes a lot and will do mostly imho..
 Best regards
Harold

Always looking for Pre '55's & Pre war British Motorcycles! knowing or having one for sale? PM please. I visit the UK 6 times a year

Ps. I edit my texts quite often, english is not my native language, so I will edit My “typo’s” etc. Wink 
 
Post #23354534th May 2023 1:16 pm
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ruffy
 


Member Since: 05 Feb 2015
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 62

United Kingdom 2007 Discovery 3 4.4 V8 S Auto Zermatt SilverDiscovery 3

Moo wrote:
A Jakery or equivalent with solar panel would do you fine.

https://uk.jackery.com/


Thanks, I’ll take a look
 2007 V8 S

1981 88” diesel GONE
2007 FFRR TDV8 Overfinch GONE
2000 Defender 90 TD5 GONE
2007 FFRR 4.2 Supercharged GONE
2009 Discovery TDV6 S GONE
1990 RR 3.9 V8 VSE GONE 
 
Post #23354564th May 2023 1:32 pm
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ruffy
 


Member Since: 05 Feb 2015
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 62

United Kingdom 2007 Discovery 3 4.4 V8 S Auto Zermatt SilverDiscovery 3

Motolab wrote:
Jakery…… cheap as chips… Shocked

A decent auxiliary battery with a pair of decent solar panels safes a lot and will do mostly imho..


Thanks, I’ll take a look
 2007 V8 S

1981 88” diesel GONE
2007 FFRR TDV8 Overfinch GONE
2000 Defender 90 TD5 GONE
2007 FFRR 4.2 Supercharged GONE
2009 Discovery TDV6 S GONE
1990 RR 3.9 V8 VSE GONE 
 
Post #23354574th May 2023 1:32 pm
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s60r
 


Member Since: 14 Mar 2021
Location: West Sussex
Posts: 287

United Kingdom 2014 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 Commercial XS Auto Santorini BlackDiscovery 4

Hi,

I had the same intention... I have a large roof tent (sadly only used it once!) and this as a power solution.

https://uk.ecoflow.com/products/delta-mini-portable-power-station

Way better than the American (Jackery) stuff... works well and I bought solar panels off amazon which charge it (and trickle charge the car battery) when parked up. It recharges off 12v when you are driving and in under an hour when near mains voltage.

Check their range out... you can go higher power or lower. This one runs up to 1400w so hairdryer, coffee machine, fridge and even a jet wash has run off it.

What roof tent did you go for? I went Yuna Sheepie... very impressed with it to be fair.....when we used it Laughing
 A mod a week until I have nothing to improve or add.  
Post #23354584th May 2023 1:39 pm
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ruffy
 


Member Since: 05 Feb 2015
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 62

United Kingdom 2007 Discovery 3 4.4 V8 S Auto Zermatt SilverDiscovery 3

Thanks for your reply, £1500 with the solar panels is a bit much for me! I’ve ordered a Ventura roof tent, not delivered yet but it looks good.
 2007 V8 S

1981 88” diesel GONE
2007 FFRR TDV8 Overfinch GONE
2000 Defender 90 TD5 GONE
2007 FFRR 4.2 Supercharged GONE
2009 Discovery TDV6 S GONE
1990 RR 3.9 V8 VSE GONE 
 
Post #23354624th May 2023 2:53 pm
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Motolab
 


Member Since: 18 Oct 2019
Location: Sleen
Posts: 1820

Netherlands 2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 HSE Auto Zambezi SilverDiscovery 3

2 foldable solarpannels = approx 400 Watt are around 440 GBP + VAT here..

have a good look around...

+

Auxillary battery + a split charge doesn't need to be expensive..



change the splitcharge to a better DC-DC charger you need to add 200/300 quid

both far and far from the higher notes above..
 Best regards
Harold

Always looking for Pre '55's & Pre war British Motorcycles! knowing or having one for sale? PM please. I visit the UK 6 times a year

Ps. I edit my texts quite often, english is not my native language, so I will edit My “typo’s” etc. Wink 
 
Post #23354694th May 2023 4:01 pm
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s60r
 


Member Since: 14 Mar 2021
Location: West Sussex
Posts: 287

United Kingdom 2014 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 Commercial XS Auto Santorini BlackDiscovery 4

Yes... I got a 300w panel from amazon way cheaper... around £140 from memory... it does the job perfectly.
 A mod a week until I have nothing to improve or add.  
Post #23354724th May 2023 4:21 pm
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gstuart
 


Member Since: 21 Oct 2016
Location: kent
Posts: 14177

United Kingdom 2005 Discovery 3 TDV6 Base 7 Seat Auto Java BlackDiscovery 3

Wonder if these would also be any good to u

https://bluettipower.co.uk/collections/portable-power-station

Base plus panel

https://bluettipower.co.uk/products/bluett...olar-panel
   
Post #23354974th May 2023 8:33 pm
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