Thread: 12v battery and electric specialist

Originally Posted by Photodude

Starting to set my car up for some longer trips. Maybe 2 weeks at a time.
Think I will look in 100 amp/hr batteries.
Is having a DC to DC charger something I also should be looking into?
Think you can get ones that are solar compatible

Depending on how you're going to set yourself up.

if you can get the ability to charge batteries then you dont need more than about 50Ah look at using the money you'll spend on batteries on charging systems, against a single engle with about 2 hours of led lighting If you drive the vehicle for more than about 90 minutes a day with even the most basic of dual battery systems a 50AH battery in good nick will do what you need. Same if you can off set that 90 minutes worth of charging into other charging sources such as wind, solar or 240v if you stop at powered camp sites.

The very best thing you could do is get one of traxides multi battery charge managers, leave your exiting batteries (assuming they are in good nick) alone and if you need more add in the third battery wherever it needs to be. and you dont have to have it in all the time.

That gives you the best of all available options

and no, you dont need a DC/DC unit, if you were tihnking about it then you need to think more along the lines of a traxide and a moderate battery charger or sinking the change into your solar setup. you'll get more value from that.