Possible Alternative To EHU

That's a great idea TW although it's not difficult to attach a Solar panel to a caravan battery. Two wires and job done. 

Both need a solar controller but in many case it's part of the panel 

I was pondering that at Severn House Farm as they have clearly gone to some trouble to set it up but electricity no longer available (when they dug the lake they removed the eleccy quite a few years ago.)  My solar system at home has just had an extra added whereby the electricity is stored - but I am not sure how long you could run a fridge on Solar for - and set up costs would be considerable? 

Well pippah you have hit on the next big thing. Storage 

The car company Tessla have produced such a storage system that costs very little. 

It's so impressive I have now have shares in the company. 

But do not some  modern c/vans already come fitted with hundred watt soler panels,we have a portable panel that is capable of keeping our battery charged ,

Not sure if i would want fridge on 12volt for long periods i do not think 12v goes via thermostat ,gas works at lower temps i think?

Thanks, all.

I was thinking of probably a smallish panel on each pitch. The cost would be minimal with no infrastructure or ongoing maintenance cost. A separate storage facility would not be required as the energy would be stored in the caravan's battery. Hence, this is only a 12v DC supply.

I had doubts about the fridge but the idea was mainly aimed at battery charging.

I would sooner have my own panel. It would give more flexibility

Peedee

. . . and it is a little more difficult to steal.

But do not some  modern c/vans already come fitted with hundred watt soler panels,we have a portable panel that is capable of keeping our battery charged ,

Not sure if i would want fridge on 12volt for long periods i do not think 12v goes via thermostat ,gas works at lower temps i think?

Write your comments here...it wouldn't! Well, not an absorption fridge anyway but a compressor fridge it might! In fact I was told at the NEC by a company who knows about these things that it would! Particularly with a decent sized panel - If I were to start a CL (I can dream cant I?) i would have a 200w panel on each pitch! However, its not the panel by itself, the caravan would have to have a decent amount of battery storage ie say at least 2 x 85ah batteries to be able to fully utilise what was being produced. I could of course hire batteries to them and the controller but then would I want to be lugging batteries around? Probably not. Its a nice idea but a bit more complicated than it first appears. I think Ill stick with peedees idea and keep my own panel!

I doubt it would work our 150 roof mounted panel is fine in even cloudy weather but not as good as in bright sunlight and a controller would be needed on a panel over 80 before being attached to the battery

It has sort of already been done!! Newton Grove CL near Banbury (worth a visit!)... They have a mobile solar station for use by visitors.