Powering your campsite over a few days

[JamesH]

Hi All

Early draft plans of next year's trek are taking place. Previously we have not stayed in one place for more than one da/ two nights and both vehicles have dual battery systems. I run and Engel 40ltr and my mate has his on freeze. We will be heading up to the NT so long drives.

This time we want to find a site a sit for a bit if we find it agreeable so we are discussing battery charge issues. Here are the options discussed

1) good quiet little gen - $1400 - ouch
2) solar panel and regulator - $1100 - ouch
3) third battery in one of those porta paks

The gen option is fine except in addition to the cost we are reluctant to carry petrol (both cars Defenders). Option 2 - I don't know it might work but $$$ to set it up properly. We sound pretty cheap don't we? It's just that our two battery set up suits us brilliantly for 95% of the time.

We are leaning to option 3

We have not completely discarded option 4 by the way. Which is hop in your car and go for a half hour drive. But you know, you set everything up and you don't want to move sometimes.

Opinion/comments/ideas?

[Bushie]

How long are you planning to be stopped?

We often stop for 3-5 days at one place just on dual batteries, so far it hasn't caused any problems. Given that the NT will no doubt be fairly warm I wouldn't envisage 3 days being a problem.

From my point of view the solar system would be the most desirable but certainly concede the dollars issue, 3rd battery also sounds a viable option provided you can hook it into the charging system.


Bushie

[Redback]

I have a friend that runs his 80lte Evacool with one of those 105AH thumper packs and he gets 4 days from it before he has to recharge.

He has it for his camper as he doesn't have dual batts or a battery in the camper, seems to work for him.

Baz.

[VladTepes]

maybe a camping place somewhere can rent you a gennie - that would same you some cash and you would learn whether buying one would be a good investment for you next time or not.

[JamesH]

Thanks for the advice

The renting or borrowing gennie is a possiblity. The thumper pack (that's what I meant) sounds promising.

I have only seen the thumper pack in the distance - don't know how they work or how you charge them etc but I can google that.

Frankly I can't see us sitting still for more than three days without at least going for a drive/scout around - it's just we want to feel secure out in the boonies without wondering what we are going to do with flat batteries.. As I said my mate's Engel will be on freeze and we would run a couple of versa lights for a bit at night.

[Redback]

They recharge with both 12 and 240 just like any other battery.

Baz.

[p38arover]

Go and buy one of the cheap GMC petrol gens from Bunnings or similar. Only about $100 - they'll charge your battery. Even KMart sell them.

There is a diesel version that is a fair bit more exxy.

Ron

[Disco300Tdi]

Originally posted by p38arover
Go and buy one of the cheap GMC petrol gens from Bunnings or similar. Only about $100 - they'll charge your battery. Even KMart sell them.

There is a diesel version that is a fair bit more exxy.

Ron

GMC come with a 30 day satisfaction warranty

Do the trip then take it back for a full refund

[DaveS3]

Never run the fridge directly off the generator, always connect to a 12v battery then run the fridge from this - just absorbs any voltage fluxuation.

Engel will not warrant running fridges off generators. I think that there are only 4 or so models that they reccomend all with voltage regulators and all very pricey.

Waeco make a batterpack that is 36 amp hours at around ~$300. Will run the fridge for a few days and is a good portable power source to run lights/compressors ect if need be.
I would go this route it is far more user firendly.

6 litres of 2 stroke will only run the generators for abour 5 - 6 hours.

Dave.

[p38arover]

Originally posted by DaveS3+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DaveS3)</div><div class='quotemain'>Waeco make a batterpack that is 36 amp hours at around ~$300.[/b]

Wow! That's pretty expensive. It would be easy to make one up that costs a lot less than than that and gives greater AH capacity.

<!--QuoteBegin-DaveS3
6 litres of 2 stroke will only run the generators for abour 5 - 6 hours.[/quote]

You shouldn't need to run the unit for anywhere near that long to recharge the battery.

Ron