Member - Phil G (SA) replied:

My suggestion:
Use the fluoro, but turn it off when you don't need it, because stars are nice.
Leave the DVD player at home because you're camping.
Buy a $20 single burner butane stove (get them anywhere) - they are light, compact and work really well.

Your battery in the Colt would be no more than 40Ah. You could take a voltmeter and not use anything when you get to about 12.4V, and (fingers crossed) the Colt will start.

Crackles replied:

You could probably get away with the light & DVD player running for a max of 3 hours if the car battery was at full charge. To be sure you could run the assesories through a low volt disconnect switch set to leave sufficient power to start the car.
When using the high power kettle simply run the cars engine at the same time.
Your needs probably suit the use of a self contained battery pack which could be charged on the way to camp then taken out to be used where ever you need the light/DVD/kettle. Takes the risk out of getting a flat starting battery.
Cheers Craig.........

Nomadic Navara replied:

I reckon you would be OK for one night if you throw your car kettle in the bin. Use gas for heating as previously suggested.

PeterD

Mainey (wa) replied:

Geoff,
there is no real problems with the numbers and times you have nominated ** BUT ** if you over do it, your fully stuck, unless you can push-start the vehicle.

As a safety procedure put a $9.99 multimeter on the battery and if it gets below 12v run the engine for a few (10) minutes.

Mainey . . .

Member - Royce replied:

This is easy. I've done it lots of times. We had a Colt.. and other little vehicles.

Use the 12 appliances... don't worry. Flatten the battery.

Just make sure that you are camped uphill, so you can roll start in the morning!

Cheers Royce

Mike Harding replied:

As others have said; you'll probably get away with it - minus the kettle but my suggestion is for you to buy a small spare battery (about $40, Big W etc) ideally with the same lugs as you car. That way you're in no danger of flattening your main battery and you'll have a "get you home" spare in the event your main battery fails. An el cheapo charger will recharge the spare at home.

Mike Harding

Gronk replied:

Get rid of the fluro and either use a gas light or a battery powered led light..
Limit the dvd player to just one movie..
As said before re; a small gas stove..

And if its a manual, always leave it somewhere where it can be push started..

ben_gv3 replied:

Why not buy a jump starter pack?
Even the smaller ones have a 17Ah battery, plus they recharge thru the cig socket, have a halogen light, won't drain your starting battery. Hell it can even jump start your car.

Pretty cheap too.

BTW, your cig lighter fuse is only 10A so you're kettle will trip it first time round.

Member - Phil G (SA) replied:

Geoff,
I recall your Colt is a new model. It has EFI and the fancy electronics. I wouldn't be relying on a push start.

Member -Dodger replied:

It's simple,
Just buy yourself a jump start battery pack as big in amps as you can afford. Then run your accessories from it and the next day plug it into the cig lighter to charge it up whilst driving.
All this was said previously and I agree totally, Plus the small butane stove is also the way to go.