Powering Caravans with an RPS 3000w
Tough Touring RPS 3000 Renewable Power systems installed in your truck can be used as your Primary Power source to power your Caravan off Grid.
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It makes sense to capture some of the enormous energy your 4wd generates whilst driving - and use it to power your caravan.
When the van is parked up - Power stored in the trucks RPS 3000w batteries can be used to power the Caravan - Just plug it in.
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If your caravan has Onboard Batteries - these will top up by the RPS power.
When you are disconnected and drive your truck - you'll also generate energy - Your RPS 3000w Unit will store it for later use when you return to plug in and power your van.​
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How an RPS 3000w Unit gets power from your truck
Tough Touring 'RPS 3000w' units draw their power from your Vehicles alternator and any solar panels installed on the vehicle - storing it in the RPS modular batteries ready to power your caravan whenever you plug it in.
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More on the vehicle mounted solar panels here.
The DCDC Cabling required to wire an RPS 3000w into your truck is included in our RPS Kit. Its a straight forward Installation with a lead from the RPS to the vehicles cranking battery + If your running a solar panel - you run wiring loom from the Solar panel back to the 3000w Unit as well.
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All connection points are Plug and Play and utilise Color coded Anderson Connectors so you can't make any mistakes.
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There is a video below on the kits contents and typical Installation / where things go.
A n RPS(2000) Unit during assembly - Note the Enormous OB125 Cabling from the Batteries and chargers... The Huge Cabling maximises efficiency of the twin chargers while minimising resistance and heat.
TIPS FOR SETTING UP OFF GRID CARAVANS
1. Dont spend money on having an 'OFF GRID' power system built into your van - vans can only rely on solar panels, and if your parked in the shade they don't do much. DC charging from your car is handy but is depleted once your batteries are flat. It is not replentishable until you hook up and leave.
2. Keep your van as standard as you can Leave its onboard battery system as basic possible - preserving its re-sale value.
RPS 3000w Renewable Power System
Tough Touring Australia has built a portable Aluminium case system to house 3000/6000w victron Phoenix inverters/ chargers to allow simple and compact installation of Dual battery systems into 4wd vehicles, specifically to power Caravans off grid.
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The Tough Touring / Forever Powered RPS 3000w measures in at just 840mm deep x 160mm wide x 400mm High - capable of powering just about any household applance, Rv Air con units, Starlink, computers simultaniously. The RPS units take care of recharging themselves FAST in vehicle daily during normal driving or in good sunlight conditions when also installing Solar on your vehicle.
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Basic Tec
The 3000w Unit has 3 x 175Amp Plug and play INPUT leads at the rear for adding batteries - giving it a maximum storage capacity of 800 amphrs. Weve found that the RPS 3000w units run to their true potential with a minimum of 400amphrs of battery.
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The RPS 3000w Unit is fitted with a XT50 Victron DCDC charger (600w) and a 50amp Solar Charger (600w)- Allowing Maximum recharge rates of up to 100Amps per hour - (or around 1000 watts ).
The Combined chargers work hard refilling the vehicle batteries quickly - If you install the reccommended 400amphrs of battery around (9600watt hours). RPS 3000w will more than likely recharge itself to full daily during daylight hours with just an hours driving and parked in sunlight with a 400-600w solar panel installed.
What puts the Tough Touring RPS 3000w ahead of the multitude of Dual Battery systems and Portable Power stations on the market today for Caravan use?
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Faster Charging Speed All 3000w RPS units are fitted with Twin Victron chargers - DCDC and Solar They work Simultaniously, charging your batteries at up to 98amps per hour working together - In the Right Conditions - That's around 1000w of charging power without plugging in to mains! Almost 10 Times the recharging rate of the majority of Portable Power stations on the market.
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Individually wired plugs. This minimises wiring resistance, heat and potential failure of components.
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Components are inverted to allow fast inspection of all wiring from above via the inspection panels. This makes field repairs and inspection easy if required.
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Slide in Slide out Modular Installation - Switch RPS between vehicles easily - Easy mainenence and swap out servicing
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Simple Easy to view Power Guage / LED Voltage monitor built-in for quick charge information. Green means Good to go, Red means ease up. Keep it simple
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HUGE Cabling matters when transmitting 12 volt power. The cables used in the RPS units Exceed Australian Reccommended Guage sizing. Large Cabling transmitts the power without voltage drop and almost zero heat.
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No modifications to the van are required no loss of money on components on re-sale.
Solar Panel Roof Racks
Adding Powerfull Household Solar Panels to your vehicles roof does not have to be ugly!
Tough Touring builts a range of Solar panel roof rack mounting systems to carry household Solar panels right up to 600w.
More on these here
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