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Thread: A different approach to a 2nd Battery?

  1. #1
    Join Date
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    A different approach to a 2nd Battery?

    I have a 12/24V PortaPower TruckStart (and the mini mig welder attachment) that I bought for my RV bus several years ago. It comes with both 240 and 12v charging options - see Porta Power

    I was wondering, if I fit the truckstart in the back of my D2a (in one if the storage bins ideally) and connect to the power socket there for
    (i) charging - both trickle.maintenance, and
    (ii) as a 2nd battery proper for supporting anything on the continuum from a fridge to an electric winch etc
    would the existing wiring - for both Disco and 12v charger be adequate? I have to admit I doubt the wiring could support any significant current in or out, but??
    Cheers
    Gavin

  2. #2
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    Hi Gavin, I’m not sure of the specs for your unit, the adds for it don’t give much in the way of useful info, but I’m working with some of these booster packs ( different brand ) right now and one of the modifications I’m doing is adding a 50 amp Anderson plug.

    This is being done for two reasons. The first and obvious, it to allow the use of anything with a 50 amp Anderson plug on it can be used with the booster pack and to allow the booster pack to be charged at a faster rate.

    While you can use the cigarette power socket to charge the booster pack, you need to look into how much power it draws while charging this way.

    Most of the booster packs I’ve come across take days to recharge from a low state when using the cigarette power socket as the recharging source.

  3. #3
    Join Date
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    Quote Originally Posted by drivesafe View Post
    Hi Gavin, I’m not sure of the specs for your unit, the adds for it don’t give much in the way of useful info, but I’m working with some of these booster packs ( different brand ) right now and one of the modifications I’m doing is adding a 50 amp Anderson plug.

    This is being done for two reasons. The first and obvious, it to allow the use of anything with a 50 amp Anderson plug on it can be used with the booster pack and to allow the booster pack to be charged at a faster rate.

    While you can use the cigarette power socket to charge the booster pack, you need to look into how much power it draws while charging this way.

    Most of the booster packs I’ve come across take days to recharge from a low state when using the cigarette power socket as the recharging source.
    Hi and thanks for prompt reply. Sounds like the Anderson plug might be the go.

    For the record it's the LS1224Mig unit towards the end of this link Jumpstarters « Porta Power. I've used the welder a couple of times for emergency repairs - works pretty well. I note the 12V charging has a 20 amp automatic reset breaker.

    One thing I don't know the anwer to is whether while connected for charge mode, if for example using a winch, or the main battery carked it, would the car system allow access to the truck starter battery for additional amps should such a situation arise/eventuate?

  4. #4
    Davehoos Guest
    the unit we have at work recharges through a 12 volt plugin trickle charge.only a few amps ma,and it has a maintanence charge program.so the power plug in a car is ok.it cant feed back into the car if its the charging socket and not the power outlet socket of the starter pack.

    to quick recover from a hard start,I leave it conected untill the condition lights show it close to full or conect to another car.it gets hot.

    My father inlaw purchase a 3way fridge.to operate on 12V it was supplied with a cheep starter pack.the charger for it conects to to cars power plug[ignition].runs the fridge/freezer for the days drive here.the starter pack takes several days to recharge.

    what we found was that on 240V the fridge would turn off and that it realy was intended to stay conected to the starter pack and the pack charger pluged into the 240V.after a few days it would go flat-you could conect the gas or I often connect a 50-100 amp batteryto the jumper cables and sometimes I had a cheep battery charger conected.


    we are using these relays as they take a bit of killing compared to more complicated units.also we hide them away from untrained users.

    fitting up the pack with anderson plugs directly to the cars battery but i would stongly advise fitting a isolation relay or one of the nice looking batter monitor kits i googled on ebay.

    what you have to watch it heat.in the car for a 12 hour drive+ it isnt a problem.for a weeks campling its a worry.

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