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Common questions - What makes the RPS so important for  off grid living?
 

The RPS units were designed and built out of a need to capture back up energy where ever you can get it. Solar panels alone can fail to provide enough energy to keep main batteries topped up - especially in poor weather or partially shaded environments. 
 

Fossil fuel based Generators are often unable to be used due to noise or neighbour restrictions - however energy generated by Vehicles Alternators, combined with a mobile Solar Panel can passively capture large quanitites of energy during everyday travel to work, shops,  sightseeing, whatever! 

 

RPS 3000 Units installed to date are typically capturing around 2000 -7000 watt hours a day with minimal driving times of under an hour a day when used in conjunction with a solar panel installed on vehicle. Thats between 2kw and 7Kw of Free power.

 

That Energy can be in turn be 'Transferred' into your Caravan or Tiny Homes house batteries when you return - Giving the house batteries a nice top up.
 

 

Why is a Renewable Power STation like the RPS 3000 still really usefull - even if you have a Generator?

For Caravaners - Petrol Generators can't be used in most National Parks or unpowered sites caravan parks in australia - Thats really limiting the spots you can charge up. Chances are your Van is going to end up in a partial shade site too... Bummer. For Tiny home owners - Running Generators when your house batteries are low is going to happen less frequently when your topping up your house batteries with an RPS. (And its just really easy to plug in a lead to the RPS and not have to fuel up / start generators all the time).

 

Why do you need to keep House Batteries topped up?

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It Pays to keep your house batteries in Tiny homes or Caravan close to full at all times to have the energy reserves totally topped up for periods when additional energy is needed - or potential solar energy is compromised by bad weather. It just gives you a longer running start through periods of non - renewable energy generation. 


Note on Portable Power stations and RPS 3000 Cabling

Some Portable power stations now have options to add External DC to DC chargers - these (Like the included RPS Cable Kits) need to be installed into your vehicle. When you start to add up the costs of the external components available to get Portable power stations to work.) Cabling Kits are included with the RPS 3000, and no additional cobling is required to have the unit running in your vehicle. 

 

Do I have to install a solar panel on my car?

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The RPS 3000 Gets its Energy from the Vehicles Cranking Battery (Alternator / DCDC) and any plugged in Solar Panel - The Two chargers work Simultaniously and also also independently.

 

You do Not have to install a solar panel on your car - many people don't. If your interested in storing energy via the DCDC charging Only - the RPS will collect around 45 Amps per hour while driving - Filling a typical 400 amphr battery pack in 8 hours driving time. 

This could be spread out over a working week - No problem! Especially if your not needing to transfer the power until weekends when your RPS has had a weeks driving around time to re-fill itself.  

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Calculate your average daily/weekly driving time to ascertain if this is enough power to assist top ups - if it is not - Portable Solar panels can be a great tool to bolster incoming power figures. We have experimented with Dual DCDC chargers for even higher in vehicle charging speeds however major modifications to the vehicles alternators and wiring systems are usually required. 

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What Else is the RPS 3000 Usefull for?

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Of course - having 3000w of 240v Power on hand in your vehicle for us whenever you need it is fantastic for Camping, Re-Charging Drones, E-Bikes, UHF, Starlink, CPAT machines, Charging Tools and Equipment,  Induction Cookers, ETC ETC - and while these items can draw a lot of power - 400 amphrs of storage without driving gets you a lot of power on tap whenever you want it. Litterally anywhere.  

Portable Solar panels have improved immensely over the past few years, with excellent 200w units now hitting the market... Talk to your local suppliers for more information on non permanent solar options for the RPS. 

 

I would install a solar panel but they are ugly? 
 

Tough Touring Manufactures vehicle Specific Solar panel Roof racks, adding a mere 60mm in most cases to the vehicles overall roof height. The Solar panel racks look no different to a typical platform roof rack - and weigh about the same and are about the same dimensions. Vehicles with longer roof lines (Vans and 4wd) can often take single solar panels up to 600w - These can deliver a whopping 500 amphrs (6000watt hours) of power into your vehicles batteries per day - Thats 6kw of power generated and stored per day just off the Solar inputs... If you have roof space to fit a 2.3m x 1150m Solar panel - you would also benefit from running 600 amphours of Lifepo 4 Batteries - Why not capture all the energy you can daily.

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Can the RPS 3000 be used as a UPS when not in the vehicle? 
 

Yes - The RPS will need a Small AC Mains Charger that can plug into any of its Grey anderson ports.

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​How Much does it cost to fit RPS 3000 ( Or a portable power station) Cabling into my Vehicle?

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A typical Mechanic or Auto electricial would take around 2 hours labour to install a DCDC cable properly under your vehicle and run it to an anderson port at the rear. (Attached to the chassis with the included heavy duty cable ties). 
 

Solar Cabling likewise can be run through vehicle cable ports for a really neat finish - however bringing cables down from the roofline adds time to get a neat hidden finish. Of Course Time taken to running cable through vehicles (especially from the roof) will vary according to your vehicle and your specific preferences. Many people running an RPS 3000 will keep the cable to connect solar on hand in the vehicle, only plugging it in when required and or when stationary to save the time and bother running a solar cable permanently wired. (It just comes down to how much power you need to capture and store).

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What is involved in RPS 3000  (or Portable Power Station) installation and what does that cost?
 

RPS installation can be as simple as sliding into a prepared canopy partition space and bolting it down. (An Hour or two) For Internal front wall canopy installation, mount points can be drilled throught he RPS back plate, then bolted to the canopy wall - fast and secure install. 

In Wagons - Please ensure that cargo cannot become a missile in an accident - use rated tie down straps or bolt it down using the pre drilled RPS bolt points to secure the unit safely. 

Secure Installation of any Vehicle Based Accessory can involve Customised mounting brackets and additional hardware. It is wise to seek a quote from a vehicle fitter for such works - as the job will vary enormously vehicle to vehicle according to the desired install  location of any unit...

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As a rough rule of thumb - Installation costs are a necessary part of the RPS 3000 units usage, and if the costs seem high - Consider that on average, An RPS 3000 Unit + Installation costs will typically end up costing around Half the price of a similar Spec "Installed" Dual battery system. These savings are due to the 'Cookie Cutter' assembly of the RPS units, The design is perfected - Units are assembled en-masse to well thought through configurations.

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If I want to install a solar panel on my car - what does that cost? 

If you have a roof rack - Tough Touring solar panel fitting kits start at $330 - If you prefer a Vehicle specific low profile Solar panel roof rack (you don't already have a rack and want a nice low one) Tough touring solar panel roof rack systems start at $990 + Installation.

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Why not install a Custom Victron Dual Battery System - after all they can do the same thing...

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Yes - They can and will do the same thing and sometimes with advantages over a pre-fab / self contained all in one unit like the RPS.

Its true to say 'Not all applications will suit the RPS 3000' - Built in Custom Dual Battery systems can take better advantage of Available space, and certainly can be built into hidden cavities etc -

On the Negative - The advantages of customised Dual battery systems can come with major  additional costs in installation time.

Built in Dual Battery systems can also require a lot of time  troubleshooting issues, and they are not designed to remove or move between vehicles - Rendering the Dual Battery System a 'Repeated Investment' as you move between vehicles over time. 

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Typically built in Dual battery systems will cost double the price of an RPS to install.

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More Questions? 

RPS 3000 TEC

Tech Specs listed here on the Product Pages

RPS CABLING IS INCLUDED

Tec Specs on the RPS 3000 CABLING KITS are Listed here on the product page

Inclusions

All RPS units are encased in custom made 3mm Aluminium Housing manufactured here in Melbourne. All Components are Victron Energy 'Smart' Chargers and Terroidal Inverters - 

All RPS units come with integrated Android App (Victron Connect) giving adjustable settlings for maximum adaptability to installations / alternators.   

All Wiring to Outlets is "Independent" and Independently fused, (including the Chargers)  meaning failure of any one outlet will not affect other outlets.

All Outlets are wired with heavy guage cable, typically to double their rated output rating.

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