130DC Canopy electrics..

[iClick]

I'm in the process of setting up a multiple-battery setup in my Puma 130DC (http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7313/8965568066_c384cdac09_c.jpg). I want to run a 80lt Waeco upright fridge (http://www.waeco.com.au/products5.asp?id=340&catId=57&subCatId=61&subCatId2=72) in the canopy. As well as the fridge, I also need power for LED lights, USB charging etc.. We might be purchasing a camper soon so I'll be running power to the rear terminating in an Anderson plug.

I'm planning on using a USI-160, Traxide's 160 amp Winch Isolator (http://www.traxide.com.au/isolators/usi-160---160-amp-winch.html) as I have a winch installed.

To offset the setup costs, I have a friend who's selling his unused 100W solar system (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NEW-GP-100w-Folding-Portable-Solar-Panel-Kit-Home-Battery-Camping-Caravan-Power-/160962726374?pt=AU_Solar&hash=item257a2049e6&_uhb=1#ht_3170wt_1399) and a 90 Amp Marine battery (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/90-Amp-Hour-AGM-Battery-570-CCA-Cranking-Deep-Cycle-Marine-Battery-/330738553156). I might purchase these from him with the view of adding a bigger battery when I can afford it.

I'll have a few questions along the way which I'll post in this thread.

I'll kick this off with..


Will a 90amp deep-cycle battery be enough to run an 2.1 AH fridge for 1 day?
Can you have different amperage batteries with the USI-160 system
Will 6B&S cable be enough for this setup (remembering there's a winch)
Can I split the folding Solar setup and run one 50W panel on the roof to top up the system?
Is it best to have separate fuse box (http://assets.bluesea.com/images/products/5025.jpg) and switch panels (http://mytoggleswitches.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/55407.jpg), or is a combo unit (http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=SZ1906) ok?


Any advice is greatly appreciated :)

I've spoken to Tim from Traxide and he was most helpful and he could most certainly solve these questions with a quick phone call.. but hopefully by sharing them here it might help others out who are in the same situation :)

[iClick]

Can you have different amperage batteries with the USI-160 system




I'll answer my own question ;)

I spoke to Tim at Traxide and he confirmed that the USI-160 will happily manage batteries of different types and amperages.

Next question is.. can I make my life simpler and use a combined switch and breaker panel such as this, (http://acimg.auctivacommerce.com/imgdata/0/1/0/6/3/5/webimg/7680529.jpg) or am I best off wiring a separate blade fuse block and switch panels?

[Leroy_Riding]

personally I would use something similar to that but with blade fuses, that way you only need to carry the one type of fuses int he car (albeit in different current ratings) I would also build in an issolator switch that turns everything off with a Master fuse as well, just for some added safety and easy of use.

Also 90ah is plenty for your fridge for a day without charge, I run a Optima D34 yellow top deep cycle which is only 55ah, will run the engle and my LED camp lights happily for 2-3 days camping without charge and no solar , 90ah with solar you will be laughing.
white I say hapily for 2-3 days the voltage is rather low on the battery after that. it is deep cycle but I don't make a habit of running it for 3 days without charge like that, just stating that it will do it.

Leroy