Amateur questions for my beach?

[MarkVw2017]

Had my beach 3 weeks, love it, so im Sorry to ask, as you have most probably been asked it a million times.

1.) How long do i know when the leisure battery is going to run out?
2.) Which 12v points suck juice from the main battery and which ones the leisure battery?
3.) Can i use the main plug for anything or is that just when im plugged in on site?
4.) What length of eletrcie cable would be a good size, we went to our first campsite the other day and there was jist masses of cable going in every direction to different campers/ caravans?
5.) Whats a good first family friendly festival campervanning to go to (kids 5,10)?
6.) What's a good awning, not too big, not too small, theres too many when you google them, i get so overwhelmed?
7.) Anyone else drink California wine now or is it just me?

 

[burnercan]

Had my beach 3 weeks, love it, so im Sorry to ask, as you have most probably been asked it a million times.

1.) How long do i know when the leisure battery is going to run out?
2.) Which 12v points suck juice from the main battery and which ones the leisure battery?
3.) Can i use the main plug for anything or is that just when im plugged in on site?
4.) What length of eletrcie cable would be a good size, we went to our first campsite the other day and there was jist masses of cable going in every direction to different campers/ caravans?
5.) Whats a good first family friendly festival campervanning to go to (kids 5,10)?
6.) What's a good awning, not too big, not too small, theres too many when you google them, i get so overwhelmed?
7.) Anyone else drink California wine now or is it just me?
View attachment 42035

1) Depends what you're running. I get a few days off grid with my Mobicool fridge running in the summer. I haven't done many nights out in a row with the heater running, so best not comment. Easiest way to know is a cheap voltmeter that plugs into one of the leisure battery sockets. See question 2...
2) Only the one in the flightdeck runs off the engine battery, everything behind the front seats is on the house battery.
3) If you mean the one inside on the B pillar, it is only active when you're plugged-in to mains.
4) Get solar panels and forget about plugging in!! Or get a 30m roll.
5) Can't help..
6) Still can't help..
7) Charles Shaw 2 Buck Chuck. Fabulous!!!

 

[MaxRed]

6) I'm planning to get this one: https://www.decathlon.co.uk/base-arpenaz-m-living-area-id_8373958.html
cheap and looks sturdy!

 

[LemonDrop]

5) Wondering the same thing! (kids 7 and 9) I like the look of Farmfest http://farmfestival.co.uk
6) Similar to the one above but connects to the van, I've heard good things about this one: https://www.decathlon.co.uk/air-seconds-base-xl-inflatable-camping-shelter-id_8358157.html
7) Ravenswood Lodi Zinfandel is divine. Aldi's Californian Zinfandel isn't bad either

 

[MaxRed]

6) Similar to the one above but connects to the van, I've heard good things about this one: https://www.decathlon.co.uk/air-seconds-base-xl-inflatable-camping-shelter-id_8358157.html

I was considering all 3 (here's the 3rd one: https://www.decathlon.co.uk/base-arpenaz-l-fresh-id_8397099.html), and chose the cheapest one because a) it's the cheapest! b) it's the smallest when packed (18 litres vs 41/68 litres, with 2 kids trunk space is precious resource). And probably they all can somehow attach to the van. Surely with some DIY

 

[Erbster]

5) Festival depends on your taste in music. We went to Victorious festival in Portsmouth/Southsea last year - great festival, very child friendly but camping along way from festival. We’re going to Cropredy this year, which is a folk festival in fields.


https://caliventures364847572.wordpress.com/

 

[Volkywagen]

5) camperjam (family camping area) and/or busfest (family camping area). Book soon to avoid missing out on tickets and book the Fridays off work. Three days of total campervan excitement. Highly recommend. My three year old loved last years, and is among when we are going again!

 

[Billywizz]

6. Vango Kela

 

[MattBW]

1.) How long do i know when the leisure battery is going to run out?
I would recommend some kind of volt meter, even a cheap plug in one for the 12 socket will give you an indication. Once you get below 12v your battery is empty. 12.7 is roughly full lthough AGM batteries can go a little higher. Try not to go below 11.8v that is completely exhausted. Under load it may read lower than it is, so thats why I use a NASA BM-1 (I reviewed it on here somewhere), or a victron battery monitor may also be a good option in a beach.

2.) Which 12v points suck juice from the main battery and which ones the leisure battery?
Anything in the back should be leisure battery. In my beach the socket inthe tray is engine and the one on top is leisure. Some have found different.

3.) Can i use the main plug for anything or is that just when im plugged in on site?
Just when plugged in, but handy to stop you treading on a plug from your devices

4.) What length of eletrcie cable would be a good size, we went to our first campsite the other day and there was jist masses of cable going in every direction to different campers/ caravans?
I have a 20m cable and Ive never had any trouble.

5.) Whats a good first family friendly festival campervanning to go to (kids 5,10)?
Camperjam is one of my favourites very large though.

6.) What's a good awning, not too big, not too small, theres too many when you google them, i get so overwhelmed?
Awnings are a very personal thing,I'd recommend going to the club shop open day if you can and take a look at some.

7.) Anyone else drink California wine now or is it just me?
View attachment 42035[/QUOTE]
Im on the tea tonight sadly

 

[MattBW]

You dont really want to go in the yellow are but definitely dont want to go into the red, it will cause damage to the battery if left there for any length of time.

 

[Amarillo]

1.) How long do i know when the leisure battery is going to run out?

Get a voltmeter.

2.) Which 12v points suck juice from the main battery and which ones the leisure battery?

All sockets are from the leisure battery except the one on the front of the dash. (The one on the top of the dash is leisure).

3.) Can i use the main plug for anything or is that just when im plugged in on site?

Only on hookup

4.) What length of eletrcie cable would be a good size, we went to our first campsite the other day and there was jist masses of cable going in every direction to different campers/ caravans?

10m and a 20m cable will give you four options:
1. 10m hookup
2. 20m hookup
3. 30m hookup
4. Power to the awning and power to the van

5.) Whats a good first family friendly festival campervanning to go to (kids 5,10)?

Under the stars
https://underthestarsfest.co.uk/

6.) What's a good awning, not too big, not too small, theres too many when you google them, i get so overwhelmed?

We got a Vango Kela. It’s a superb awning and we probably had it up 250 nights in 2017/2018. BUT if we were replacing it now we’d probably go for a Gazebo, and wind out the canopy to its entrance.

7.) Anyone else drink California wine now or is it just me?

 

[tuono001]

We are hopefully of to this in summer:
https://www.justsofestival.org.uk
Also been to latitude which was good for kids too.
Cable wise I have a couple, 10m and 25m. Take both if we haven't used the sites before as we've been caught short before.

 

[BerndRos]

Paul Masson

Oh how we thought that was intercontinental time warp in the 1980s....& the lovely carafe it came in.

 

[kp64zl]

Hi @MarkVw2017 , thanks for posting these questions, I'm also new to this having collected my beach in mid January.

With regards to your electrical cable question --- I bought a 25metre one from the club shop. It's rated at 16 Amps, so is super thick and heavy and takes up loads of space - obviously the thing you need if you're a caravaner with a load of domestic appliances, but overkill for a Beach, at least in the way I use mine.

Figured out I'd never likely use that amount of current draw (cable used for charging leisure battery mostly) so I went and bought a 13 amp domestic extension lead, cut the ends off it and replaced with the appropriate blue connectors. Even though still 25 metres it, takes up about 1/4 of the space of the 16Amp original, and charges the van perfectly.

 

[MattBW]

Probably worth adding that it’s not recommended to leave a cable coiled as it will heat up under load so the longer it is the more to wind up.

That said campsites will vary but for me a 20-25m cable has always been enough.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[MarkVw2017]

Thank you ALL SO MUCH. Amazing helpful answers, and to be honest, amazed how many family friendly festivals there is, i want to go to them all as they all look good, really appreciate you all sharing them. I like all music, excluding house im too old to even understand what house is?

Was expecting their to be a button in Camper to find out the charge, surprised vw only really expect you to find out when battery is dead when everything stops working. So will get a voltmeter

Thanks for hints and tips with awnings and cables too.

 

[kp64zl]

Probably worth adding that it’s not recommended to leave a cable coiled as it will heat up under load so the longer it is the more to wind up.

That said campsites will vary but for me a 20-25m cable has always been enough.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi @MattBW, sorry for the tangent here.....although I understand the physics theory behind this, is this really an issue in the situations that campers find themselves in?

For example I mow my lawn with a coiled up 50m cable on a reel and have never noticed any warming. This is clearly lots more load than we'd use in a van for charging etc? Has anyone actually noticed warming of coiled cables in a camping situation (rather than when using superconductors)???

 

[MattBW]

I think in a small van like ours with a light load the chances are very slim. Cables often have a coiled and uncoiled rating, so as long as you don't exceed the rating on amp/h it should be fine. Just worth being aware in my view. BIg motorhomes and caravans with more equipment are probably a higher risk.

If you are just running a light load you should be fine, running a heater for a long period may be another matter.

I have once seen one melting and smoking on a campsite once and unplugged it. Example pic from the interwebs

Good thread here: https://electronics.stackexchange.c...y-is-it-dangerous-use-a-coiled-extension-cord

 

[MattBW]

@MarkVw2017 these may be useful threads for you. I think with hindsight I love the bluetooth meter as it gives condition but something with a visible screen may be better and easier if you can find one that fits..

https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/nasa-bm-1-bluetooth-review.20041/

https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/useful-digital-voltmeter-alarm-usb.14199/page-2#post-150059

 

[WelshGas]

Thank you ALL SO MUCH. Amazing helpful answers, and to be honest, amazed how many family friendly festivals there is, i want to go to them all as they all look good, really appreciate you all sharing them. I like all music, excluding house im too old to even understand what house is?

Was expecting their to be a button in Camper to find out the charge, surprised vw only really expect you to find out when battery is dead when everything stops working. So will get a voltmeter

Thanks for hints and tips with awnings and cables too.

Voltmeter + 2xUSB, 1 and 2.1amp

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-24V-...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

 

[kp64zl]

I think in a small van like ours with a light load the chances are very slim. Cables often have a coiled and uncoiled rating, so as long as you don't exceed the rating on amp/h it should be fine. Just worth being aware in my view. BIg motorhomes and caravans with more equipment are probably a higher risk.

If you are just running a light load you should be fine, running a heater for a long period may be another matter.

I have once seen one melting and smoking on a campsite once and unplugged it. Example pic from the interwebs

Good thread here: https://electronics.stackexchange.c...y-is-it-dangerous-use-a-coiled-extension-cord

That's brilliant! thanks

 

[MarkVw2017]

Voltmeter + 2xUSB, 1 and 2.1amp

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-24V-3-1A-Adjustable-Angle-Dual-USB-Ports-Car-Charger-Digital-LED-Voltmeter/302748370420?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

Thank you so much @WelshGas just ordered one. You should be on commission!

 

[WelshGas]

Thank you so much @WelshGas just ordered one. You should be on commission!

I use one on my Dash Socket, connected to Leisure Batteries, basically for the USB sockets BUT it alarms at 11.8v so can be useful.

Obviously at that price not a 100% accurate. Mine reads 0.1 v lower than a more expensive multimeter I have.

 

[flying banana]

My perfect cable set up is a 10m and a 15m in a carry bag. Plug em together for 25m or split them. For outside nice weather or awning power. This works for me in all situations i been in. A cali pulls very little current draw. Usually your just charging the batteries. Throw your wife's hair straighteners away and all is good.

 

[Ksar-el-kebir]

1) Depends what you're running. I get a few days off grid with my Mobicool fridge running in the summer. I haven't done many nights out in a row with the heater running, so best not comment. Easiest way to know is a cheap voltmeter that plugs into one of the leisure battery sockets. See question 2...
2) Only the one in the flightdeck runs off the engine battery, everything behind the front seats is on the house battery.
3) If you mean the one inside on the B pillar, it is only active when you're plugged-in to mains.
4) Get solar panels and forget about plugging in!! Or get a 30m roll.
5) Can't help..
6) Still can't help..
7) Charles Shaw 2 Buck Chuck. Fabulous!!!

I've got a solar panel, thanks Roger at solarcampersolutions.co.uk . Now my 30 metre hookup cable reel just takes up room!