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ELV supply for tent camping.

A friend owns a farm and offers tent camping pitches as a sideline. 

They wish to provide a limited and safe ELV supply to such camping pitches, for lighting, charging of electronics, and other low power uses.


Does anyone see any flaw in my proposal which is as follows.


For each pitch provide a 13.8 volt DC supply, current limited to 8 amps, this obtained from a DC to DC converter contained in a locked enclosure. Output via 2 core heavy duty rubber sheathed flex terminated in a plastic box on which will be mounted 3 automotive type cigar lighter outlets. Small green LED pilot lamp to show that the supply is on. No overcurrent protection required as DC to DC converter is current limited. No means of  isolation provided at such a low voltage.

When not in use the trailing leads and the outlet boxes will be stored under some form of small shelter.

When in use, outlet box in users tent.

Cable size selected to give a minimum of 11 volts at full load.


10 camping pitches, 5 post mounted boxes, each containing two supplies.


"mains" input to these DC to DC converters to be 3 wire DC at 26/0/26 volts nominal, which could be up to to about 30 volts actual. Obtained from the main RE system at the farm buildings.

Distribution via 10mm twin with earth cable, overhead and well out of reach. Each post will also have a small amenity light to give low level area lighting.


The main 3 wire DC system has the center wire earthed. The CPC in the 10mm twin with earth cable will be used as a current carrying conductor, but only for the earthed center wire.

The 13.8 volt circuits derived from this system are isolated from earth.
  • Sparkingchip:

    I suspect there isn’t a 230 volt supply to start off with and the campsite may have a very particular clientele.




    Indeed, no mains supply is available.

    240 volts AC is available from an inverter or from a diesel generator but only on an "as required" basis and not 24/7.

    Some of the customers will regard ANY electricity supply with suspicion. Others will welcome a limited and renewably produced supply as being greener than oil lamps or candles.


    "eco huts" are available as an alternative to tent camping and include many luxury facilities including TWO electric lights.


    "eco cottages" go still furthur and include running water, a fireplace, a DC refrigerator, and other excessive luxuries.


     


  • I agree with the above.  We used to camp a lot and would expect a proper electric supply or we would go somewhere else.  It might be ok for some but i think demand would be limited so it depends on what the initial outlay is going to be to see how viable it is.  We used to take a small fridge and a George Forman and plug a small heater in when the kids were little first thing in the morning if it was nippy. .  I suspect no different to a caravan demand.



    Gary
  •  




    Indeed, no mains supply is available.

    240 volts AC is available from an inverter or from a diesel generator 


     




    There is nothing like the noise of a diesel generator with its associated stink, operating at unusual hours, to enhance the quiet enjoyment of country camping.


    Z.


  • Ah, I see now. The real result of the Green revolution is two (tiny?) lights, no heating, phones or computers, and a peculiar "Green" shed to live in. How odd! I really can't imagine this enterprise lasting long at all. Proponents would be much better off joining the SAS for outdoor "adventures"!  Is the site accessible to electric cars I wonder and making sure there is charge to take one home might be interesting?
  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    I don't really see a problem with this so long as it's not advertised as "electric hookup" or similar. I often camp at sites without power, and end up with a stack of USB powerpacks and small battery powered lights, often with powertool batteries. A 12V supply at a few amps would be fairly useful, so long as I knew what to expect and pack.
  • The diesel generator sees very little use, almost no use during the summer holiday season as solar input is ample.  Mainly for the washing machines in the winter. In summer, washing machines are used from the inverter.


    The "eco huts" have been very popular, but were previously lit by oil lamps. The new electric lights are 3 watts each and a lot brighter than a hurricane lamp.

    The smaller huts sleep four, the larger ones sleep eight to ten. Very popular for school groups.


    The "eco cottages" incorporate many extra luxuries.


  • "I don't really see a problem with this so long as it's not advertised as "electric hookup" or similar"


    Well at 12V or 5V or whatever it`s electric.


    Like the over the counter question "Have you got any doorbells that are not electric?". "No but the hardware shop next door has some wind up clockwork ones". "No I want some battery operated ones!" . "Well you said not electric!" . "They are not electric they are battery!".  True story