Nayela Okapi

[Hedgehog]

You can fit an additional 100 L but will have to remove the spare wheel.
It's only the two of us and the current tank last us 3 day's, don't think we need more.

How big is the standard tank?

[Mad Manny]

120l standard
Ryno upgraded to 150l...

I feel is should carry 220l.

[KurtG]

For the solar, do you have a solar charge controller installed yet? If so then I recently bought a 140W panel for R1185 at AC-DC Express and two connectors (male and female) for about R40 or so. I then made a 5m extension lead to connect to my trailer.

Then I bolted a handle to the panel (it’s that large solid type (1500 x 668mm) and bolted two aluminum angle iron legs to the panel so that it can stand at an angle while charging.


__________________
Flex is overrated

[RynoB]

The control unit for Solar is already build in to the Caravan Kurt, the female plug is already supplied and fitted on the right hand side of the van.
Al I will need is the wire and panel as the male plug was already supplied by Nayela.

I am looking at installing air suspension to auto level the van. Impossible to install movers as it will halt the Okapi's off road capability.

Where did you buy the Solar panel?
Will a fold-able panel not be a better option? I think it will come with a price but I want to keep everything as easy and simple as possible.

[RynoB]

120l standard
Ryno upgraded to 150l...

I feel is should carry 220l.

Standard is 115 L

[RynoB]

These are the roads we already traveled with the Nayela as from the 6th of Dec 2019

[KurtG]

Ryno, read my previous post again

[Paul#25]

For the solar, do you have a solar charge controller installed yet? If so then I recently bought a 140W panel for R1185 at AC-DC Express and two connectors (male and female) for about R40 or so. I then made a 5m extension lead to connect to my trailer.

Then I bolted a handle to the panel (it’s that large solid type (1500 x 668mm) and bolted two aluminum angle iron legs to the panel so that it can stand at an angle while charging
__________________
Flex is overrated

All you need to add to this is a steel cable just longer than the power cable and 2 padlocks. When you leave camp with your panels out to charge the system, this stops them being carried off or loaded into a vehicle quickly.

[KurtG]

Paul, I don’t camp on the East Rand so I won’t need the cable and lock

[tgwinduna RIP]

Paul, I don’t camp on the East Rand so I won’t need the cable and lock

LMFAO, Fortunately I did not have anything wet in my hand.
So true, go and camp on the east rand by the zama zama miners they will scale more than your panels.

[Mad Manny]

All you need to add to this is a steel cable just longer than the power cable and 2 padlocks. When you leave camp with your panels out to charge the system, this stops them being carried off or loaded into a vehicle quickly.

A 6m steel cable & 2 locks?

Cheaper just to buy another solar panel...

[HenriSteyn]

Ryno.
It is important to determine the size of your solar charger. That will then determine how big you can go on solar panels.

Depending on the make you could damage the solar charger should you put more volts in than it can handle.

Also how many batteries are installed? I may have missed that one.

No point in having 2x 105 ah batteries a solar charger that can only handle 10 Amps and a single 150 watt solar panel trying to run a 100l fridge.

Some science is required to get an idea setup.

Tell us what you have currently and we can get you going in the right direction.

Cheers

[RynoB]

Henri,

Thanks for the feedback, I have two 105 ah batteries fitted.
The Fridge freezer is a Dometic HDC 195, 12 V 195 L ( upright)
The power control box detail I have at home but will only be able to get that in the morning. I believe this was a custom build for Nayela
The caravan is already wired for a solar panel.
The MPPT regulator for the solar can handle 270 watts
Then I know there is a DC-DC slim charger in but the other detail i can only give you in the morning

[HenriSteyn]

Thanks Ryno.
Just to give you an idea I run a NL 80L with 2 x 102 DC batteries. I have 2x 90 Watt panels and that serves its purpose. Ran 4 days in Nam in the middle of nowhere in September 2018 sun every day but obviously shorter days.
So you having more than double that in power draw will probably mean at least 400 Watt worth of panels. Half to run the fridge and half to keep the batteries charged.
And with only 2 batteries one cloudy rain day you will be out of juice soon.
My 5c
Cheers

[Hedgehog]

Thanks Ryno.
Just to give you an idea I run a NL 80L with 2 x 102 DC batteries. I have 2x 90 Watt panels and that serves its purpose. Ran 4 days in Nam in the middle of nowhere in September 2018 sun every day but obviously shorter days.
So you having more than double that in power draw will probably mean at least 400 Watt worth of panels. Half to run the fridge and half to keep the batteries charged.
And with only 2 batteries one cloudy rain day you will be out of juice soon.
My 5c
Cheers

I ran a 60l Weico, and had 6 showers (pump) and ran most of the lights for 3 nights, with two 105Ah...

I think some guys over anticipate and miss calculate their requirements.

I might be wrong as I am no fundi, but I doubt you need the rated wattage in solar, for the use in battery requirements. I believe that if you have constant flow of amps going in and charging the batteries with a good charge controller, you will have sufficient power to stay how ever long you want to.. The fridge does not use all that power constantly once it reaches the required temp..