5 Spring 2023 5 Spring 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Winter adventures Shoshanna Shand Winter doesn’t mean the end of camping adventures! Instagram ©2023 shoshannah.nz Up Up 5 Spring 2023 , p 2

2 Summer 2022 2 Summer 2022 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption ©2022 Outdoorsman Dave ©2022 Outdoorsman Dave ©2022 Outdoorsman Dave ©2022 Outdoorsman Dave ©2022 Outdoorsman Dave Tent and fly Marmot tent & Kiwi Camping Fly Tarp. ©2022 Outdoorsman Dave Bentley sleeping ©2022 Outdoorsman Dave It was Bentley's first overnighter using a tent & fly. Wild camping with a dog on a wet wild night Outdoorsman Dave It was a very wet, rainy camp with my dog in a dense bush. It was Bentley's first overnighter using a tent & fly. Camp-cooked sausages over a Trangia alcohol stove. Natural sounds help me sleep. Do you like the sound of rain on a fly tarp? Have you ever wondered what it’s like to go camping with a dog? Well then, follow Bentley and me as we spend this wet, wild and humid night in the bush: video: ckw.nz/dave-bentley Note: dogs in regional parks require registration. You can follow Dave on Facebook: Hiking NZ, Wild Camping, Bushcraft: facebook.com/outdoorsman.dave , and his YouTube channel ckw.nz/OutdoorsmanDave Photos ©2022 Outdoorsman Dave Up Up 2 Summer 2022 , p 16

4 Winter 2023 4 Winter 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Events For More camps, keep an eye on: allpointscampingnz.org/events ckw.nz/nzfunadventures-events (FB) 23-25 June BOP/East Cape Mid-Winter Christmas Lakes Ranch, Ōwhata, Rotorua Camping with hot pools and a mid winter Christmas pot luck, dessert provided. Ian Read, All Point Camping More ckw.nz/bop-midwinter Venue lakesranch.org.nz RSVP ckw.nz/bop-rsvp 24 June Camp Cook Out Battlehill Farm Forest Park, Wellington Are you a BBQ master, can you tame the flame? Come pit your skills against some of the best amateurs around Wellington. Seriously though it's all for fun and family oriented. There will be two categories: 1 kids kick butt (fun, help allowed, not serious) 2 Braai and fry (international cook off) 3 adults on fire (be prepared to be fully judged) Chose your class, register your attendance and be prepared to sizzle. Jonathan Collins, NZ Fun Adventures FB ckw.nz/camp-cook-out 1 July Mid-Winter Christmas Meet and Greet Fielding Join with All Point Camping Central club members for a fun Mid Winter Christmas dining experience at the 'Famous in Feilding' Murray's Irish Bar. There is a large parking area out the back for overnight sleepers. Ettienne Lambrecht, All Points Camping NZ Camping Club More: ckw.nz/fielding-mid-winter RSVP by 22 June: ckw.nz/fielding-rsvp Up Up 4 Winter 2023 , p 34

9 Spring 2024 9 Spring 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption ©2024 Mystenterprises.com ©2024 Mystenterprises.com ©2024 Mystenterprises.com ©2024 Mystenterprises.com ©2024 Mystenterprises.com ©2024 Mystenterprises.com ©2024 Mystenterprises.com ©2024 Mystenterprises.com There were days when progress seemed impossible, and nights spent brainstorming solutions. A new cassette toilet for small spaces: The making of the BlackMOA™ Mustafa Pasha New Zealand recently rolled out new legislation requiring all freedom camping vehicles to be self-contained. This move, aimed at preserving Aotearoa’s pristine environment, posed a significant challenge for many campervan owners. Enter the BlackMOA™ Cassette Toilet — a product born out of necessity and crafted with passion, resilience, and expertise. The Challenge Many campervan enthusiasts found themselves in a bind. Existing toilets on the market were either too bulky, required expensive modifications, or were simply not practical. Recognising this gap, our dedicated team of Kiwis created a solution that would both comply with the new standards and do the job better. Our Visionaries The team behind the BlackMOA™ was a diverse group of innovators. Leading the project was an MBA graduate and a Lincoln University PhD specialising in system modelling. Their deep understanding of complex systems was crucial in designing an efficient and compact toilet. Alongside them was a seasoned U.K. engineering graduate and a dedicated team of engineers and manufacturing specialists from overseas. Our Journey Developing the toilet was anything but easy. The team faced countless challenges, from design setbacks to manufacturing hurdles. There were days when progress seemed impossible, and nights spent brainstorming solutions. Remarkably, they achieved in 25 days what was expected to take eight months to a year. Through sheer commitment and determination, we got the job done. The Innovation The BlackMOA™ has unique features: Front removal design: Allows for easy installation and removal, eliminating the need for costly modifications. Compact height: Fits seamlessly into existing spaces, making it ideal for retrofits. Capacity: 12L Cassette vent: provides an odour outlet for the cassette. The regulations required this to begin with, but it is now optional. The Triumph Months of relentless work, testing, and refining finally culminated in a product that was both functional and elegant. It quickly gained traction, earning praise from locals, certifiers, and manufacturers for its thoughtful design and reliability. Campervan owners appreciated the attention to detail and ease of use. More than 1,000 units have been pre-booked and sold. The Legacy What started as a response to a legislative challenge has transformed into a thriving opportunity, built on the values of innovation, resilience, customer-centric design, and most importantly, local need. ◼️ Explore More Read about the BlackMOA™ here: ckw.nz/black-moa on the Myst website. Myst is a bespoke sourcing & procurement platform. The Myst Enterprise team is always seeking new ways to improve and adapt their products to meet the evolving needs of their customers. Today, along with the Blackmoa™ Cassette Toilet, Myst Enterprise offers magnetic curtains, complete upholstery, and conversion kits, and Fix’n’Rail at low costs to save money for Kiwis. mystenterprise.com Images ©2024 Myst Enterprise Up Up 9 Spring 2024 , p 25

10 summer 2024 10 summer 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption the beautiful coast between Kaikōura and Blenheim STOP and STAY King’s Birthday camp at Kekerengu Marty Ireland Weather was a blustery nor-west but warm to set up in. A wee meet and chat was had before a pleasant sunset. We were 2 local Marlborough All Points Camping members and a traveling Dunedin member enjoying the Kekerengu camp on the beautiful coast between Kaikōura and Blenheim. The camp was not very full so amenities and spots were not under any pressure. There were stars out on Saturday night, but Sunday dawned overcast with a cool breeze. Another member arrived to join us for lunch and a home-made spirit tasting. A drive into the back valley was taken later in the afternoon and some tasty treats at the store were enjoyed. Sunday night was again stars, Monday however dawned cool and overcast for the pack up; a return home for some, and continuing journey for others. Photos ©2024 Marty Ireland Up Up 10 summer 2024 , p 19

1 Spring 2022 1 Spring 2022 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption The new caravan We watched our neighbours with a more modern caravan heading off in winter with dogs included and thought that should be us too A New Zealand built Anglo Imp The caravan was a New Zealand built Anglo Imp which was basically a heavy square box with a brand-new awning but was a little tired. A seccond awning We set up another awning on the opposite side to the usual which doubled the covered area for cooking, eating and shade. Two awnings again Again we set up 2 awnings, one totally enclosed for cooking and a fly awning for shade, eating and seating. An Awning for shade We thought that should be us too -- so we sold our pop-top and started looking for caravan Do you know what you want in a caravan — or are you just winging it? Marty & Diana Ireland My wife and I bought our first caravan over 10 years ago, just because it was for sale at a price we thought would be a good buy, to go caravanning. Prior to that we had only tented once or twice with loaned gear and this was our starting point. The caravan was a New Zealand built Anglo Imp which was basically a heavy square box with a brand-new awning but was a little tired. We set up another awning on the opposite side to the usual which doubled the covered area for cooking, eating and shade. Eventually with health reasons driving a change, instead of a refit we sold and purchased a Sprite fiberglass roof pop-top, sight unseen, apart from photographs and a description. We found hidden rot in the floor and very light joinery so we did a strip out and rebuild with a large comfortable bed, seating and storage. Again we set up 2 awnings, one totally enclosed for cooking and a fly awning for shade, eating and seating. We watched our neighbours with a more modern caravan heading off in winter with dogs included and thought that should be us too and so we sold our little pop-top and started looking for an English import type. What we thought we wanted soon changed as we sat in and viewed a number of vans over about 3 months. With size restrictions due to wanting to store on our home section, rather than off-site∞ we finally made a decision. We decided on motor movers: these assist with home and campsite parking. We really recommend these. We discovered and joined APCNZ and got it certified for self-containment. We have found the club’s online information very helpful. We have enjoyed contributing to their suggested camps and to see others’ suggestions. We now plan and check out camp sites for an excursion every 4 months or so. We are looking forward to many happy camps and experiences into the future and invite you to do the same. 
 Our backdoor is our playground. BY: Marty & Diana PHOTOS: ©2022 Marty Up Up 1 Spring 2022 , p 17

7 Autumn 2024 7 Autumn 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Time for a swim we were always hot and bothered by the end The packdown Kristy-Lee Biggs Somebody asked recently about the pack down. In our previous years, we could never pack down in time for check out and were always hot and bothered by the end. This year, we nailed it with time to spare! I loved the frequently offered idea of an extra night and taking the day to do it, but our place rarely has extra nights (and is a bit $$$). So we used a couple of hours the night before to pack down the shelter, leaving only the next morning’s essential clothes, food and cooking things unpacked. Everything else was packed up in the relative cool of the night and stored in the tent. We have young kids so were up by 7am, rolling up bedding before the sun hit the tent. We used a rubber broom with a squeegee on the back to remove the morning surface water on the tent, leaving it to dry while we had coffee and breakfast. All done in two hours for a 12-man tent and five days’ of beach life/family camping supplies. Smashed it … …and then we went for a swim before driving home Photo: ©2024 Kristy-Lee Biggs Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 4

5 Spring 2023 5 Spring 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption The best site We had the absolute best site of this campground, right on the lake front. On the lake front, Lake Tarawera. We became the camp meet and greet Camped at Lake Tarawera Hot Water Beach Meet and Greet As people arrived, we would jump up and help carry their gear up to the elevated sites. On the lake front, Lake Tarawera. I decided to pre-prepare the meals then flat pack freeze them Cooking on the road: planning food for…off the road Junaya Binns WInning an adventure This winning adventure package came with a 2 person tent, 2 camp chairs, a light for the tent, 2 self inflating sleeping mats and a cute little collapsible table. Thanks Kiwi Camping! We are van-life people, so we had to investigate the facilities in full, and we appreciated the help of Jonathan Collins from NZ Fun Adventures. No power or showers just long drop toilet facilities and the ground you camp on. And we don’t have a boat. No fridge. Jonathan loaned us a massive chilly bin. Getting there by water taxi meant space was of premium importance! How to carry enough food? The most enjoyable part of this adventure was experiencing the ‘true blue’, ‘pay it forward’ Kiwi nature. We had the absolute best site of this campground, right on the lake front, so we became the camp meet and greet, as everyone else camping there had boats. As people arrived, we would jump up and help carry their gear up to the elevated sites. Through this we met some wonderful people. Which gained us 5-minutes boat rides to the amazing natural hot pools that were otherwise a long, 1hr 30min, uphill trek! When we ran out of alcohol on the last night, a lot of those who we met and helped and engaged with in the evenings, quickly came to our rescue. Got to love NZ! So, if you want to get away from absolutely everything including reception, Lake Tarawera Hot Water Beach is the place to go. And so ... We won a 4-day camp adventure at Lake Tarawera Hot Water Beach in Rotorua for Easter this year, courtesy of NZ Fun Adventures. We are van-life people, and this site is only accessible via water, no van this time! How on earth were we going to keep food cold for 5 days? With the date, the tenting gear, a loaned chilly bin ready to go, it was time to plan. Let the planning begin To reduce the amount of carry-on I decided to pre-prepare the meals then flat pack freeze them in large snap lock bags for easy stacking in the chilly bin. Also freezing 8 large bottles of water to layer on the bottom of the chilly bin, as there is no drinking water available at this site, so as well as food we required enough drinking water for the 5-day escape. Top tip: Take baking paper to line your frying pan, we did not have to wash the pan once while away. Another top tip, for this site in particular —the ground is hot so forage for some logs and get your chilly bin off the ground. Dinners Night 1: After a long drive up from Wellington to ensure we met the water taxi on time. we set up camp. We are no strangers to tents but have not done it for a while, and dinner was going to be quick before daylight faded. So American hot dogs it was. We only took 1 frying pan so everything had to be one-pan meals. I packed the sauces into tiny containers so no wastage or leftovers floating around; pre-grated a small bag of cheese, just enough for the meal. Fried the hot dogs, filled the rolls popped them back in the pan, foil on top to get the delicious melty goodness, boom! All ready in 15 mins. The next 3 nights are meals that I had prepared and flat pack frozen at home. Night 2: Creamy chorizo and mushroom pasta. Night 3: Home made sweet and sour pork with udon noodles Night 4: Vegetarian nachos, just in case things weren’t so cold at this point. We topped them with plain yoghurt and of course piled high on the chips. Dinners covered, we then had to think about brunch food. Brunch We still wanted to tantalise the taste buds with holiday goodies like bacon and eggs and so on. So again, to combat the space issue, I decided to pre-make and freeze camp toasties! An absolute favourite of ours. These are no basic toasties by any means, chock full of all things breakfast. You can make them as amazing as your creativity takes you. Simply construct using your favourite loaf and wrap individually and freeze them fresh, no pre-toasting. Save the toasting for the one pan on the day. These also stack amazingly in the chilly bin. The rest To wrap it up, the only thing we had to make fresh was our coffee in the morning. Nothing took longer than 15mins to reheat or toast in the pan and like I say, baking paper was key!! No washing of the pan only the 2 plates, cutlery, and coffee mugs. We also took a 24-pack of water bottles just in case, which came in handy for teeth brushing and providing the hikers, that passed through daily, thirsty after their 5 hours walk, and not realising they couldn’t refill their bottles at the beach while they waited for the water taxi, to arrive to pick them up Junaya & Dan @adventures_of_the_escapegoats (instagram) Up Up 5 Spring 2023 , p 7

7 Autumn 2024 7 Autumn 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Orange Sheep, Franz Josef Glacier. Stop and Stay so many to choose from STOP and STAY Stop and stay with your DOG Stop and Stay stopandstaynz.org North Island Valley Vista Eco Retreat Costs Kaiwaka, Northland valleyvista.co.nz An eco-friendly holiday park. Bush walks. Choose your camping spot or use one provided. Close to the popular beaches and cafes of Mangawhai and the iconic Bald Rock. Who: tents, campervans, cabins. Facilities: power, kitchen, toilets, showers, laundry, device charging, wifi. Activities: bush walks, explore the area. Waitui Reserve Free Whakamarama, Bay of Plenty On the Te Puna estuary, 15 mins from Tauranga. A beautiful community harbour reserve perfect for family. Dogs on leads. Max 3 nights. Who:  certified self-contained vehicles. Facilities: toilet, cold shower, jetty, boat ramp. Activities: swimming, fishing, boating, water sports. Rosie & Brian’s Low cost Reporoa, near Taupo rosiecrofskey@gmail.com A farm/market garden setting. Close to Butchers hot pool (free). Market produce available for purchase. Dogs on leads. Who: self contained tents, vans, campervans. Facilities: produce stall. BYO toilet. Activities: cycling, walking. Matawai Camp and Store Costs BOP to Gisbourne road, SH2. matawai-camp.business.site Halfway between Gisborne and Opotiki. Beautiful area with walks nearby. On the route of Nga Haerenga: Great Rides: Motu Trails. Vaccinated dogs on leads are welcome. Family friendly. Who: cyclists, tents, campervans, families. Facilities: toilets, showers, kitchen, power, café, free wifi, cabins, accessible. Activities: cycling, walks. Timona Park Free Feilding, Manawatu An urban park with sports fields, beside the Oroua River. An easy walk to town. Max 5 nights. Gates locked at dusk. Sports on Saturday. Dogs on leads. Who: self-contained vehicles. Facilities: water, toilets, dump station, large vehicles. Activities: walking, cycling, fishing. Ferry Reserve Free Woodville, Wairarapa, ckw.nz/ferry-reserve At the eastern end of the Manawatu Gorge, wake up to bird song and the sound of the river. Fish the river. Walk the Manawatu Gorge. Max 3 nights. Dogs allowed. Who: self-contained vehicles. Facilities: toilets; large vehicles, playground, family friendly. Activities: walking, cycling, fishing, swimming, other river sports. SOUTH ISLAND Old MacDonalds Holiday Park Costs Marahau, Tasman oldmacs.co.nz A farm and park by the Marahau River, beside the Abel Tasman National Park. Family friendly. APC discount. Who: tents, campervans, cabins. Facilities: toilets, showers, kitchen, laundry, power, secure parking, wifi, water taxi access, accessible. (No dump station). Activities: walking, tramping, cycling, swimming, fishing, local tours. Orange Sheep Campervan Park Costs Franz Josef, West Coast orangesheep.co.nz In the centre of town. In the rainforest and views to snow-capped mountains. The perfect base to explore the region. Pay for what you need. Some local discounts. Dogs allowed. Who: tent (on gravel), campervans, caravans. Facilities: toilet, shower, kitchen, laundry, water, dump station, wifi. Activities: day walks, cycling, tours, hot tubs, wildlife centre, DOC centre, restaurants. Kaikoura Peketa Holiday Park Costs Kaikoura kaikourapeketabeach.co.nz Mountain views and the beach at your doorstep. Wake to a magnificent sunrise and a day of adventure or relaxation. Campers can have their dog on a leads. Who: tents, campervans, caravans. Facilities: toilet, showers, laundry, kitchen, wifi, cabins, family friendly, accessible. Activities: swimming, walks, bike trails, surf-casting, mini-golf, flying fox, bmx, kayaking, whale watching, fishing charter. House of Hop Brewery and Restaurant Free Near Geraldine houseofhop.co.nz Motorhome parking area (hard stand) in a quiet rural setting. On-site restaurant and craft brewery. Dogs allowed. Who: self-contained vehicles. Facilities: restaurant, brewery. Activities: dining, drinking, walking, cycling. CentralPac Orchard Costs Cromwell, Feb to Nov centralpac.co.nz Close to walking and cycle trails. Central to ski fields. Weekly rates. Only workers can stay during the cherry season. Family friendly. Dogs ok. Who: tents, campervans, vans. Facilities: toilets, showers, water, dump station, laundry, cabins, accessible. Activities: cycling, fishing, walking, skiing. Tui Base Camp Costs Tuatapere, Southland tuibasecamp.co.nz Southern Scenic Route. A base camp, close to mountains, ocean, river, lakes and the NZ great walk, Hump Ridge Track. Home of the World Famous Tuatapere Sausages. Family friendly, weekly rates, dog friendly. Who: tents, vans, campervans, backpackers. Facilities: toilet, showers, laundry, kitchen, power, spa, sauna, dump station, wifi, café, bar. Activities: mini golf, playground, bush walks, tramping, guided trips, jet boating, walking, cycling, fishing, swimming, other river sports. stopandstaynz.org Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 38

12 Winter 2025 ISSUE 12 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption honeymoon_H_Model A at summit Lindus Pass 26 Jul 1960-3.webp GO TO Chilly chilly chilly out there A 1930 Model A Ford towing my Grandad’s caravan A honeymoon, in a caravan, in winter, in 1960 Graham Leslie In July 65 years ago my parents headed off on their honeymoon with a 1930 Model A Ford towing my Grandad’s caravan. I was not there, obviously, and can only tell you what was passed down in family stories, some of which are true. A favourite story that is not true was that my dad borrowed the Model A for the honeymoon and never took it back. He had apparently been given it earlier when my grandfather got a new Citroën. The Model A was our family car until 1969. I remember trips away in the Model A as cold, wet and tediously slow with a cruising speed of 35mph (about 56km/hr). (The car is still in Mum’s garage!) Model A Stewart & Adrienne at Summit Hasst Pass. Jul 27 Jul 1960. ©2025 Graham Leslie Anyway, back to The Honeymoon. They got married in Christchurch and headed off in the early afternoon in their best honeymoon outfits for Akaroa. First they got a flat tyre and a group of bikies helped change the wheel to keep their nice clothes clean. Then a bit further on they got stuck in the mud where the road had been washed out. After being rescued by a farmer and his tractor they then stopped on the foreshore to wash the mud off and finally make it, rather late, to the hotel in Akaroa. My dad was six foot two and turning up in a suit after six o’clock closing time caused a stir as they thought he was part of a police raid for illicit drinkers. Bruce Hotel Akaroa. ©2025 Graham Leslie A couple of days later they picked up the caravan and headed up into the McKenzie Country. The road was so muddy that they travelled parts of it with chains on, doing 5mph. I think I heard that it was easier to come off the road and drive on the tussock at times. They went ice skating at Tekapo. By the time they got to Lindis Pass they had snow to deal with. Although the photo (above) shows the grader following behind, I believe it was the other way around and they followed the grader through the snow over the pass (above). I know they went to Queenstown and took a trip to Glenorchy and Kinloch at the head of Lake Whakatipu. They went by boat as the road to the top of the lake did not open until 1962. The other place they went to was Haast. The road to Haast had also not been completed and didn’t open until November that year. As my dad said “ We followed the road and when the road ran out we drove down the river beds ”. Model A Fords may not have been 4WD but they had great clearance. They didn’t take the caravan on this bit. They expected boarding house accommodation at Haast, but it was closed for the winter and they slept in the back of car on freshly-cut fern to make a bed. They hadn’t bought any food except some wedding cake and chocolate, but managed to get a tin of spaghetti from the general store which they ate cold. I guess that’s why I grew up having great, but somewhat chaotic camping holidays. 🏕️ Images ©2025 Graham Leslie Up Up 12 Winter 2025 , p 26

9 Spring 2024 Spring 2024 ISSUE 9 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption Product photo All you need is a solar panel, a solar controller, and a battery. Solar basics for dummies Wayne Ravelich The sun is a wonderful free resource that provides, heat, warmth, and with the use of modern solar panels, also power. Solar power for us campers is a simple process. All you need is a solar panel, a solar controller, and a battery. The panel converts the sunlight into electricity. The controller takes that electricity and transforms it to a source of energy that can be used to charge the battery. The battery then stores that electrical energy until it is required to be used. Effectively the solar panel and controller are just a fancy battery charger. The battery supplies your power to run the lights, the inverter, if you have one, and any electrical devices. During peak sun hours some power will be supplied directly from the controller. Saying that, the important thing to remember is that most of the power you use comes from the battery. Solar panels Solar panels are the first link in the power chain and come in a variety of styles. • Rigid, the most common style and most efficient. • Flexible, light weight. • Portable, either folding ridged type or blanket, with built in controller. Solar panel output deteriorates with age and dirt, so keep the panels clean— just a light wash, don’t scrub. Panel output has improved greatly in the last few years. An old 75W panel may only produce 40W but a new 150W panel could fit in the same space (from experience). The biggest problem I come across is not enough solar to keep the batteries charged. Solution is ADD more solar, either fixed, if space allows, or a portable panel. Solar controllers Controllers come in two types. • PWM (Pulse Wave Modulation): the least efficient but cheaper and good for small panels. • MPPT (Multi Point Power Tracking): the best by far but more expensive. Batteries Batteries come in lots of types for different uses. In a solar power system, we use the “deep cycle” batteries. A car battery is not deep cycle but would work, for a while. Car batteries are designed to start cars, high current 400 to 800amps for a few seconds. Deep cycle batteries provide lower current (amps) continuously, a 100ah (amp hour) battery will provide 10amps for 10 hours. A 200ah battery will provide the same 10amps for 20 hours. The more power you need, the bigger or more batteries you require. Two 100ah batteries connected in “parallel,” that is positive to positive and negative to negative, gives you 200ah. Having lots of batteries give you lots of storage and lots of potential power, BUT you will need lots of solar panels to keep the batteries charged. The rule of thumb is twice the amp hours equals the minimum solar panel size. A 100ah battery needs 100 X 2 = 200Watt panel to fully charge the battery. Let’s look at battery types. ◼️ Lead Acid batteries are similar to your car start battery with lead plates and sulphuric acid. ◼️ AGM batteries (Absorbed Glass Mat) is also lead plates and the acid is absorbed into a mat to stop it sloshing around. ◼️ GEL Batteries are designed not to emit gas during charging and are similar to the AGM, but they can be used on their side or standing up. ◼️ Lead-carbon batterie s are an advanced lead acid battery which use a common lead positive plate (anode) and a carbon composite negative plate (cathode). The carbon acts as a sort of ‘super capacitor’ which allows faster charging and discharging, plus prolonged life at partial state of charge. ◼️ Lithium Batteries come in a couple of formats, Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminium Oxide batteries are the more common “cheaper” lithium battery and not as safe as some other forms of Lithium battery. The LiFePO4 (Lithium iron phosphate) batteries are a bit more expensive but are the safest of them all. LiFePO4 batteries generally have a BMS (Battery Management System) built in and will shut the battery down if there is a problem. Controllers and chargers Solar controllers have settings for the different battery types as the batteries charge differently. You cannot mix battery types in your solar system. A lot of solar controllers do not have a Lithium setting so check first. The same applies to battery chargers. Topping up your “house” battery from the “start” battery or alternator is a good idea and can be done in motor homes and caravans. For lead acid batteries I recommend the use of a Dual Voltage Sensitive Relay (DVSR) to prevent the start battery going flat. If you have Lithium “house” batteries, you need to use a DC/DC charger (below, right) set to ‘lithium’. A standard battery charger or car alternator provides 13.8Volts, but lithium needs 14.6Volts minimum to fully charge. A little on inverters Inverters convert 12V DC from your battery into 230V AC to run your domestic appliances. Inverters come in two types, modified sine wave and pure sine wave inverters. Pure sine wave inverters are dearer and far better than modified sine wave. If you are going to be using electronic appliances get a Pure Sine Wave inverter. The inverter needs to be as close as possible to the battery and have BIG supply cables. A 2kW fan heater draws 8amps from the inverter, the inverter draws 170amps from the battery so the battery cables must be large enough to carry that load or you will have a fire. Fuses and circuit breakers for safety need to be everywhere. From the solar panels to the controller, from the controller to the battery and from the battery to the load and/or inverter. Sunlight A last note, solar power needs sunlight. Solar works great in the summer. In winter there is a lot less sun and the cold can affect the batteries. Also, the further south you go the less sun there is to charge your system. Overall having a good solar system in your camper makes for better, easier camping. If in doubt If in doubt, ASK a specialist that knows solar. Facebook is not a specialist. I hope this helps you better understand the magic of solar power. ◼️ Images are product photos. Up Up 9 Spring 2024 , p 9

9 Spring 2024 9 Spring 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Obscure When you are out camping you notice beautiful and obscure things. ©2024 Gary Hitchcock Obscure When you are out camping you notice beautiful and obscure things. ©2024 Gary Hitchcock Beautiful obscure things Gary Hitchcock When you are out camping you notice beautiful and obscure things. ©2024 Gary Hitchcock Up Up 9 Spring 2024 , p 15