When I purchased my 2008 Rapido Motorhome it just had a single leisure battery. I had a solar panel installed on it but even with the 120W solar panel the 12V leisure battery system wasn’t up to the task of off-grid living. I decided to add more batteries, install a pure sine wave inverter, isolate the battery charger and make it so that the 240 V system could run off electric hook up (EHU) or the inverter for off-grid, but never both at the same time. If this makes sense to you great, but if you’re wondering what I’m talking about then in this video I explain everything about my electrical upgrades including a detailed drawing.
Learn More About this Motorhome Electornics Upgrade:
- How to connect multiple batteries
- What to look for in an inverter
- Cooking on electric?
- What would I improve.
- Real world feedback on using solar
- The safe way to switch power sources
- Why you need to isolate the built in battery charger
Key points in the video above. Note clicking on the timed links will jump to YouTube.
00:00 Introductions
01:26 Rapido 787F layout
02:20 Rational for upgrade
02:39 Electric Oven Intro
02:54 Living off-grid performance
04:02 Where’s the leisure batteries?
04:37 240v Source Switching
05:28 Battery Charger Isolator
08:08 240v Sockets upgrade
08:56 Closer look at battery bank
09:41 Solar charge controller
10:23 Elec Toaster Oven details
12:55 Kitchen mini tour
13:11 Solar Panel
13:23 System’s Performance Review
13:38 Improvements?
14:20 Costs
15:48 Flat Batteries?
16:30 Use the 3 Way Fridge off-grid
18:08 Full electrics diagram walk through
Related Links:
See more pics from my 2008 Rapido 787F Motorhome.
If you want to check out the more spiritual stuff I mention in this video then here’s my spiritual podcast (opens in new tab).
