Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hi all,
Just wondering how yas get on with keeping your second battery charged to run your fridge/winch & so on?.

I have a second Batt in my cruiser & it runs my 40lt Engel, Now from what I have been told by the battery joint is, that even tho I have it hooked up to charge off my main, after I run the fridge for about 2 days, even with driving somewhere in there, that I am still goiong to have to stop somewhere overnite & get my second batt charged up from a batt charger or some other source, as the fridge will draw more then what the car will charge will put back into it.

So I say's to him that it kinda defeats the purpose of having it charging off the main if I am still going to have to stop every 48hrs and recharge it.

So as to the above question, is this the way that most do it or is there a trick of the trade I am missing.

Cheers....

Reposted in correct forum, cheers... AUTO ELECT..

search for solenoids, smart solenoids or dual battery setups. Tonka found a good cheap one, there is a member on theforum who makes them or you could part with a whole lot of cash to get a fancy setup from ARB TJM etc

If you are looking for the best way to do it, you will get 50 different ideas....ive found the best way is to fit a second hand alternator off an old datto on the side of your motor and run a seperate system. That way the alt charges the battery if its low and doesnt if its full...you dont have battery compatability problems and your main stays isolated....ie its not connected in any way shape or form...cost is about $50 for the alt and the rest depends on how good you are with a welder.
The alt i use also is a welder and supplies 240v dc for grinders/lights/ heaters/etc, and with that compresser i have, im a mobile workshop.
Now your full battery will be flat after 2 days....if you camp for a week you will not be able to run the fridge unless you run the motor for an hour each day...that may mean getting wood, or supplies more often than normal, or taking the kids for a trailer ride....but that will help keep the battery off the 12v mark...which is almost flat
Andrew