Portable Battery ideas

[mike_nofx]

I am looking to have a portable battery set-up, so i can have the fridge set up inside the tent when camping.

1)What type of batteries have people used for this situation?
2)Does it have to be a sealed battery?
3)What box have you used, and what plugs are on the box?
4)How did you charge it? (eg. when travelling was it connected)
5)If i already have a dual battery set-up, can a 3rd battery (ie the portable one) just be connected directly to the 2nd battery in parallel?

Any other info would be great.

Mike

[TheOtherLeft]

I don't have one but have just about finished my research into makeing one.

1) Deep cycle - SLA, or any other deep cycle
2) Yes if you are going to charge it in the cab. Although unless you smoke in the tent I think even a vented battery should be OK
3) I'm going to use a plastic battery box in a large size which can fit up to about 110A/h capacity in batteries.
4) I will be running 4AWG wire from the battery to the rear of the cabin. Connect to the battery box via Anderson plugs. I will have a dual battery controller (Redarc) built into the battery box so it's truly portable (can be charged from other cars). This always means the connector at the back of the cabin is always "hot" so can be used for other applications.
5) yes

[MICK77]

There are several power packs available. would these suit you needs?

http://www.waeco.com.au/products3.asp?i ... CatId2=127

or similar

Cheers,

Micko

[brad 93hilux]

any reason why you don't just run the 3rd battery in the truck and have a longer power lead with bigger dia wire, for the little power drop it will save the pain in the arse hassle to be pulling batteries in/ out..

I have approx 7meter lead on mine, that way i can pull it out and sit it in the tent/ under the tarp and i only have 2 batteries running a redarc battery isolator..

I'd prefer to not leave the engle out when i go 4wding so it would always go back in the truck before i drive away from camp...

Just a thought.

Brad

[RWS]

I have one of these set up in the back of my 80 mike...fully removeable.

http://www.sidewinder.com.au/page133.html

So far i'm pretty happy with it...couple of draw backs tho...it takes up valuable storage space when i'm packing for a camping trip...it's heavy, weighing in at thirty kilos and they are expensive to buy. If you have the time and are technical minded you could probably make your own.

I mainly run a 40 litre Engel frig and camping lights without any issues.

Cheers.
Rob

[BundyRumandCoke]

You can buy battery boxes like that one from places like BCF, or Supercrap. They have a voltmeter, ciggy lighter plugs, and + - terminals. Just add your own N70 sized deep cycle.