Charging leisure battery

[monkey]

I am looking for the best solution to keep the leisure battery charged while rough camping away from mains hook ups. Just had a month in the Med where it was easy to camp in remote spots without the hassle of noisy campers but of course this means that the leisure battery drains quickly resulting in limited fridge use and warm beer!
Given that we spent much of the time trying to get in the shade, it seems logical to think of a solar device fitted either on the dash or perhaps on the roof?
Does anyone have any views either way?
I have seen solar devices ranging from about 50 to 100 quid.

[monkey]

I run a Waeco compressor fridge and the usual lights but not much else. Used to get two to three days out of the battery but now get very little. Probably need a new leisure battery as well.

[francophile1947]

Definitely sounds like battery is duff - compressor fridges will run for days on a good battery.

[mikeonb4c]

When camping in hot climates and needing to lkeep things cool in a fridge, I keep wondering what could be achieved with evaporative cooling (i.e. when water evaporates it casues cooling) This would be a simple, elecricity free way of cooling things, if not seroiusly chilling. Used inconjuction with electric cooling it might at least reduce the electricity demand.

Has anyone every heard of anything like this being tried? The ideal would be a shady spot, with a breeze over the damp evaporator surface in order to get max. evaporation. Low atmospheric humidity would also be relevant.

[lizard]

When camping in hot climates and needing to lkeep things cool in a fridge, I keep wondering what could be achieved with evaporative cooling (i.e. when water evaporates it casues cooling) This would be a simple, elecricity free way of cooling things, if not seroiusly chilling. Used inconjuction with electric cooling it might at least reduce the electricity demand.

Has anyone every heard of anything like this being tried? The ideal would be a shady spot, with a breeze over the damp evaporator surface in order to get max. evaporation. Low atmospheric humidity would also be relevant.

I have heard of a can of beer in a wet sock hanging in a breeze. I have not tried this yet, but this seems similar to the above.

[splitpin]

Mikeonb4c, when I first started camping, years ago in early 70s, evaporative coolers were available and worked in as much that they kept things cool but not cold, had to remember to keep topping up with water. Used one a couple of seasons then bought a camping fridge.

[splitpin]

Forgot to say, nowadays we use two 80 amp hr leisure batteries, and two freestanding 15w solar panels which keep the batteries topped up enough to run compressor fridge for over a week. The solar panels can just sit on top of dash or placed outside for best angle to sun if you are staying beside van.

[monkey]

I have tried the beer in the sock technique and it does actually work. Keeps beer cool rather than cold. How feasible would it be to roof mount a couple of solar panels so that they catch the rays as the van is in motion as well as static?

[Simon Jones]

Several Bongo owners have done just that & mounted big panels on the roof. However, if you're driving, you will get considerably more charge from the alternator than the solar panels.

Alternatively, get a giant damp sock & attach that to the roof whilst driving to increase the evaporation effect .

[mikeonb4c]

Mikeonb4c, when I first started camping, years ago in early 70s, evaporative coolers were available and worked in as much that they kept things cool but not cold, had to remember to keep topping up with water. Used one a couple of seasons then bought a camping fridge.

Aha! Thanks splitpin, so such things do/did exist. Must Goggle and see what's out there. The point being that even if it needs assistance from electric refrigeration, at the least the evaporative cooling will reduce the amount of work required of the electrical cooling

[splitpin]

Mikeonb4c, when I first started camping, years ago in early 70s, evaporative coolers were available and worked in as much that they kept things cool but not cold, had to remember to keep topping up with water. Used one a couple of seasons then bought a camping fridge.

Aha! Thanks splitpin, so such things do/did exist. Must Goggle and see what's out there. The point being that even if it needs assistance from electric refrigeration, at the least the evaporative cooling will reduce the amount of work required of the electrical cooling

Good idea Mikeonb4c, anything which reduces power consumption is no bad thing.