Opinions & experiences with portable gel cell power pack

Post by **AVGAS_502** » Fri Apr 16, 2004 9:03 am

Just wondering if anyone has experience with gel cell type portable power packs ie: Blue Apple type THUMPER, OUTBACK etc for running fridges, tv etc jumping a car even...

Being upfront I am conducting some market research for LF to see what opinions, needs and wants are.

Any constructive feedback, positive or negative would be appreciated.

Post by **Bitsamissin** » Fri Apr 16, 2004 10:02 am

Yeah my mates got one of those big arsed Thumpers, it has run his Engel 40ltr fridge for 4 days/nights no problems and it still had plenty of charge. We haven't used it any longer than that on the one charge.
I have one of those jump start power packs (600A) and it runs my ghetto blaster playing CD's for about 7 nights before running out of puff.

Post by **antt** » Fri Apr 16, 2004 11:35 am

what are these things worth? sounds like they're pretty good

Post by **AVGAS_502** » Fri Apr 16, 2004 12:00 pm

antt wrote:what are these things worth? sounds like they're pretty good

Ill get some pricing and details organised and pm you...

just want to make it clear that im just gathering feedback and not prostituting on the site...

Post by **Bitsamissin** » Fri Apr 16, 2004 2:37 pm

The Thumper cost my mate a bit over $600 at the 4x4 show a few years ago, not cheap but seems to work well.
I guess if you don't want a dual battery their an option.
My mate went this way as he uses it to power a big arse telescope (this thing cost him $11K) and the Engel when we go camping.

Website · Post by **murcod** » Sat Apr 17, 2004 8:15 pm

My opinion only: they're bl**dy expensive when you look at the low amp/ hour rating of most of them......

(Someone tried to talk me into buying one instead of doing my dual battery set up.)

Post by **ianmc** » Sun Apr 18, 2004 12:30 am

Be careful with these porti packs. Only the better ones may start a diesel.
Many wont. Lot of $$ to pay for a second battery unless its a quality job.

Post by **Pal** » Sun Apr 18, 2004 12:10 pm

I have a Bushranger Multi-function Power Tank
Will start a dead diesel or petrol motor.
It is a fully sealed lead acid 17 amp hour
900 amps peak boost rate
280 amps cold cranking
weight 8 kgs
cost $275 from Battery World over 2 years ago.

Works great every time.

Website · Post by **murcod** » Sun Apr 18, 2004 12:27 pm

A relation had a Bushranger Powertank- top of the range supposedly..... Anyway last year we were all out camping in the middle of nowhere and his car had a flat battery. "No worries" says he and brings out the all singing all dancing Powertank, saying "This thing will start a D9 Bulldozer"; hooked it all up and tried to start the car- no cranking, nothing! :rofl:

I pulled it apart and the electronic control board inside was dead. The power is switched internally via solenoids (much like you'd use on a dual battery set up) and no power was being fed to the solenoid's switching terminal.

The battery inside was also physically very small compared to the external casing of the unit.

Post by **mike** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 8:25 am

I have one of the Super Cheap ones and it has well and truly earned it's keep.
I use it regularly to run my leccy impact wrench, I've even used it with my 12V boat winch to put my zook back on it's feet after a rollover. Well worth the 70-odd bucks I paid for it.

Post by **-Scott-** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 6:17 pm

I don't mind the idea, but having a shorty I want less stuff in the cabin, so I stuck a second battery under the bonnet.

I have a mate with a company Challenger who drives when we go bush. Being a company car he won't install a second battery, and being "conservative" he doesn't want to risk flattening the battery by running a fridge - I figure these portable packs would be ideal for him, but can't convince him to buy one, so we run into town every day or two for more ice.

I must admit I've always had doubts about using it as an emergency start battery - I'd be more inclined to use if for accessories, to save the starting battery.

Scott

Post by **toyrex** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 10:09 pm

I am using the Optima red top they are 800 CCA with a 1300 amp hit for the first 3 seconds to get things moving
My first battery only lasted 7&1/2 years
The one I have in now is about 6 years old and still going strong [touch wood] and I will replace it with another Optima when it retires
I have accidently left my Engel on for 4 days and had no problems starting

Adrian

Post by **becky** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 11:24 pm

Our yacht has two gel cell batteries as house batteries. Which means we run all our running lights (when sailing at night), lights, anchor lights, cd/radio & sometimes tv & fridge, depending how many batteries we can be bothered taking. We always take the fridge but sometimes we take a battery just for the fridge especially if we go away for more than a week. We got them because we were sick of the battery acid spilling out when we sailed. Yachts can heel over 35 degrees & we have often broached (that is when the top of the mast hits the water). Our only problem is that we do not have 'smart' regulators on any or our charging systems (we have solar & genset).

Post by **grimbo** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 8:50 am

I am thinking of getting one of the Waeco 36 Power packs. With a baby and camping we need to be able to power the fridge at times away from the vehicle. There will be times when a few people will be back at camp whilst the cars will be away. Has anyone had anny experience with these?

Post by **N*A*M** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 9:09 am

my spotter has been using one (not sure of exact model). but he doesn't bother with a dual battery system in his new car anymore.

he just leaves the power pack in the rear and runs the fridge off it. it charges from the cars power when driving. if we have a powered campsite, he uses a home battery tender/charger. seems to be working ok so far.

Post by **-Mick-** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 12:30 pm

I just bought the bits and made one. Big marine battery box etc. Installed a couple of 12v hard wired power points into the box so accessories plug straight in. Installed a fridge plug for the waeco too. Also put in a battery monitor. Used nice big guage wire for it all and circuit breakers on all circuits.

It plugs into a lead in the vehicle by anderson plugs for charging controlled by dual battery isolator like any dual batt setup and behaves like a proper dual battery. But when I want to I can just disconnect and take it with me. The battery is a 120ah fullriver AGM

Half the price of the other power packs and twice the capacity

Home made power pack

Probably 300 all up

Post by **nicbeer** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 3:51 pm

Wheres the pics mick.

Sounds like a good plan, although i am going to use a dual batt int he new zook anyway.

Nic

Post by **smiley_smoke** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 6:21 pm

i agree with Nic we need pics

sounds awesome though.

i use a supacheap jobby.. 900amp well and truly earned its keep also.. cost me 60 bucks i think.. can charge from the 12v socket or from AC.

Post by **Jimbo** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 8:30 am

I'm thinking of setting up a system like micks.

For ppl who dont want to do any wiring Ideal electrical has a box with the duel battery isolator thingy and plugs for around $120

Post by **rixrunner** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 9:51 am

I just put this together..... A pre-wired battery box from BIAS Boating ($90.00) and a big mother sealed gel battery ($220).

Wired the system in the car for charging, dual power and the invertor. I used an isolator switch to shut off the battery when removed.

(straps and wires not conected in pix)

Works great and is fully portable......... I also use the same battery in my boat for all the electrics including an electric motor. Then chuck it back in the car to charge it up.

I think the GEL packs are way overpriced and also too complicated which can lead to faults.

Ricky

Post by **hillbilly** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 3:44 pm

Show off

.

Post by **Struth** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 3:49 pm

I have had a glance at the big Engel jobby, amp hrs seem small, but I don't know. But at $500.00 plus I reckon it is a good alternative to dual batt's for those who don't have the underbonnet space. Also you can take them with you when you go.

If it is charged by the car, will last at least 2 days without going flat (running fridge all day and camps lights when needed) then for me they are a great idea.

Cheers

Post by **smiley_smoke** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 3:58 pm

looks hot rixrunner. nice setup.

Post by **ausoops** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 5:36 pm

what size cables are they going to the inverter?

Post by **rixrunner** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 8:59 am

ausoops wrote:what size cables are they going to the inverter?

same as the ones lying on the mat in the 2nd picture.... don't know the actual gauge, it is what came with the inverter.

Heavier gauge run to the front battery.

Ricky

Post by **grimbo** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 8:41 am

well i bought one of the Waeco Coolmatic 36 portable batteries and it worked fine over the weekend. it wasn't used as much as we planned but it did the job when needed and the draw from the fridge meant I probably could have lasted a full week with the fridge swapping from the car to the pack with recharges during the day if needed

Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Opinions & experiences with portable gel cell power pack

Opinions & experiences with portable gel cell power pack

Who is online