Thread: Portable power packs?

Originally Posted by gofish

Just wondered what peoples thoughts were on those portable power packs. I need some extra power to run the fridge but the cost of a duel battery set-up is quite high compared to some of these units. Also I really only need the battery when I carry the fridge. I hear that they charge when driving & would more than suffice to keep the fridge running over night. Any thoughts? Anyone have/use one?

the little ones wont. I just tried out the cheapy that I got for the missus on the work engle (why risk mine) and it lasted about 1 hr.

the more expensive ones will last longer but since they are just a battery in a box with leads go and do that..
get a small car battery or deep cycle ( I have one thats 50 odd amphours worth) and a small boat battery or second battery box to put it in then grab a one of those cigarete lighter cross charger thingys to charge that with or im sure that someone will have a proper charger setup to make it portable.

Just keep in mind if you intend to recharge it while on the go (in the car) then you need a sealed battery.

Perhaps we could start a thread to see who can come up with the most storage capacity for a given budget, including a charging set up???

Anyone else up for it? (all items and prices would need to be the current retail prices if you walked in to supercheap or wherever today and bought the items. Can't use any parts you already have (except insulation tape, tools etc)

Perhaps we could make 2 or 3 budgets for people to refer to in the future. (Maybe $100 and $200)???

I ran my 40l Engel for 3 days a while ago on ours, mind you the weather wasn't really too hot so it didn't need to work too hard. The temp sat on 1-2 degrees to keep the beer cold easily

Originally Posted by cookiesa

Perhaps we could make 2 or 3 budgets for people to refer to in the future. (Maybe $100 and $200)???

I have this which I think reliable and fairly common setup for people not wanting to spend too much :

550CCA/65 amp hour heavy duty lead acid battery about $150
Traxide SC40 controller about $100
Wire and connectors about $40
Battery clamp $10

total about $300

install DIY $0

This gives a permanent dual battery setup and is hassle free. In a disco 1 no special battery tray is needed just put it in front of the air box.

I can run my 40l Waeco fridge on this setup 2 days ( minimum ) with the car not started.

You're paying around the same for the portable sealed unit of good quality but probably a bit less capacity ( THUMPER etc ). so I reckon the permanent setup is the way to go. Definitely don't go the cheap powerpack units from SuperCheep etc waste of money - I know i tried before i did the above.

my ultra cheap version is my old starting battery in a milk crate with foam insultion around it and zip tied down then that hooks onto the aux power line/jack in the back of the car or trailer for charging (which gets its power from the output of the second battery on the dual battery setup), and has a 32v connector as the main power out, 2 ciggy lighters and if Im leaving it on the trailer somewhere has an 80w solar panel to keep it going. naturally when its on the trailer it lives in the dogbox and powers the bolted down fridge or the stuff in the tent overnight via an extention lead.

total cost?

next to nothing as its all been recycled or dontated parts.

Have got a 100 amp hour AGM battery mounted in a battery box in the back of the disco cost me $264,$104 for a baintech dual battery controller and got all the 10mm cabel and lugs,heat shrink and other bits from work for nothing.Good system have only run the 40l engel over night so don't know how long it would last running the fridge. zacc