Member - Troll 81 (QLD) replied:

Bomber,

It's really going to depend on how long you are going to be in one spot for.

Does your trailer have a battery?

troopyman replied:

Just get one of these Site Link

disco driver replied:

Bomber,
It really depends on how much time you spend camping and what portion of that time is spent driving. Other factors to consider are the expectations of your 'significant other", does she want a 5 star outfit or will she be happy with a bit less.

If you want to do it on the cheap, use a 3way fridge on gas whenever camped and LED or flouro battery powered lamps for light (take a goodly number of spare batteries for these) and instal a fairly heavy set of 12 Volt wiring, including fuses, to run the 3way on while travelling.

This is about as basic as you can get, but it works.
You have a fridge to keep the beer cold, light to see by and power to run the fridge on while travelling.

If you need to be able to change the camper from vehicle to vehicle just make up a long fused (2 heavy wires) cable with Anderson plugs on one end (to hook up to the camper) and a couple of suitable terminals on the other (to connect direct to the vehicle battery at the other. Cable tie this securely to the frame of the tow vehicle vehicle and you're in business.

I used this system for a couple of trips I did with no probs.

Disco.

Sand Man (SA) replied:

Bomber,

for a four day camping stint, you will need to recharge whatever portable battery system you choose.

The Thumper is a good choice. Another one is an AGM battery in a battery "box".

I have a 75Ah Thumper which charges from an in-car charger.
To supplement this while camping however, the best choice is a solar panel. In my case an 80 watt panel puts more back into the battery pack than what I am using. My fridge is a 40 litre Engel and I also use a couple of energy efficient flouro lights drawing less than 1Ah each.

The solar panel is a bi-fold which enables a compact storage solution whilst being silent and uses no "fuel"

If you choose a gennie the only practical choice is an inverter type unit such as the Honda or Yamaha units, but they still make noise, need fuel and require a considerable storage space.
The cost of one of these is around $1800+ and you can't always use it in a National Park.
An 80 watt bi-fold panel costs around the $1100 mark including a solar regulator and should provide at least 8 hours of input on most days.
It is also dead silent so you won't upset any "neighbours".


Bill

Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) replied:

Hi Bomber
Engel have just launched their new twin fold, 80w solar panel set, complete with regulator, cable to connect to the battery and padded bag. The new RR will be $1299, but we have a few when they come in for $1099. They claim that the product that they are made from is the latest technology, come with a 20 year warranty on the panel and will put out 4.66 amps. With that output, you will be able to run the largest of Engel fridges and still be putting extra power back into the battery. If you are in one spot for a few days, you will be able to run the fridge and know that you will be able to start your vehicle.

Cheers

Stephen

Bomber_WA replied:

Basicly we will be going to one place for 2 or 3 days. And my other half isn't expecting a 5 star treatment!!!

Basically I am prepared to buy a inverter genset and I am after some sort of setup so I can run a fridge and some lights at night without having the genset on.

OR is there a way where I wouldn't need a genset for such a small stint away and I could charge the battery with my car (keeping in mind the duel battery system won't really suit as I will be in one spot)

Like I said before ... I am pretty new to all this....

Cheers

Bomber_WA replied:

Can anyone tell me what these are about??

http://www.homeof12volt.com/?page=shop/flypage&product_id=151&category_id=0e66038053f2a2ab6cdfec630495e462&offset=0

Member - Netnut (VIC) replied:

Hello Bomber,
You have already received some good advice ie: use a generator and/or a solar panel or buy a three way fridge.

I have a camper trailer with an AGM 100amp battery installed in it which I can keep charged in either of two ways:
a) a Honda 1000w generator and a 15 amp CTech multi-phase charger. I bought the high-performance charger because it allows for much faster charging of the battery than via the unit inside the Honda generator. The maker of the trailer I own suggested I buy a 30 amp charger, which he claimed would charge the battery in one to two hours. However, I jibbed at the cost !
or
b) a 120W folding solar panel kit. I was encouraged to buy more wattage than I currently need as I will probably end up expanding my camping kit.

I also have an 80 amp. marine-grade deep-cycle battery in a box mounted temporarily in the tub of my ute with a dedicated connection to the car battery via an isolator. Mostly, this battery runs a 45 litre Engel fridge. If I know I'm going to be doing some travel away from the campsite, I leave the generator and/or solar panel kit at home as it only takes a short drive to top up the battery in the box. If I sit in the one place for an extended period, I run one battery down before using the other for the fridge and lights. I can also let the fourby idle for half an hour every now and then if it's not going to annoy nearby campers. That seems to provide sufficient energy to top up the battery in the box.

I also have a dedicated connection from the boxed battery in the ute's tub to the battery in the trailer. When the battery in the box is topped up, the battery in the trailer begins to charge. If you go down this path you may need to get specialist advice and the assistance of an auto electrician as the wiring to the trailer needs to be thick enough to carry current over a distance.

For your needs, I recommend a battery in a box over a dual-battery installation. One great advantage of the boxed-battery set up is you're able to install it in another vehicle (one with an isolator kit fitted) or place it on a charger in the shed when you don't need to carry the extra weight. It can also be loaned to relatives who, from time to time, may wish to borrow the camper trailer.

If you can afford it, buy an AGM deep-cycle battery. It will take a fast charge without any damage and it's suited to the punishment received by a vehicle or trailer on rough roads. It can be positioned upright or on its side. A decent-sized battery will last you a couple of days if you are careful with your choice of fridge. A search of the Forum archive should provide you with at least two boxed-battery manufacturers, the robust kind that includes a good-sized battery, amp/volt meters, numerous connection points, and an inbuilt charger. The Forum Archives and articles on this web site are also full of good information. Another good resource I can recommend is www.campertrailers.org

As has already been pointed out, your needs will vary according to the type and size of the fridge and lights you buy and where you camp. Your budget may also be a limitation !

Remember, there are many places where you can use a generator, but you need a backup for when you can't. The solar panel kit is great for when the sun shines. However, its effectiveness is limited by its capacity, the number of intense daylight hours available and where you decide to camp.

If you can afford it, plan your purchases such that over time you end up with a variety of options for charging one or more batteries.

I also have a secondhand 60-litre three-way fridge which I loan to relatives who are technologically challenged. I also use it to increase fridge capacity when the family gets together for an extended camping experience.

I hope this helps.
Netnut

A J replied:

Bomber_WA - if you are just starting into the camping experience I would start out with a three way fridge - they work very well on gas and 240 volt but not so well on 12 volt.

This would save you a lot of money and if you find you do not like it you are not out of pocket very much. We travelled for a number of years with 3 ways fridges before moving to engel in 1975 which still goes well.

As for lights I would either 12 volt that runs directly off the car battery - would not flatten the battery on three day trip - or a gas light. Lighting has numerous options available.

Enjoy your new camping experience.




A J

Bomber_WA replied:

Okay so because I will only be going away for 2-3 days max, how does this sound to run a few lights, phones and maybe a fridge?

Get one or two deep cell batteries fully charged before I go and just use an inverter and power board to run these things?

Or just use 1 battery and have a genny handy to charge it if need be.

Is it as easy as that or am I missing something?

troopyman replied:

BTW , my evakool 85ltr esky with 7x3 lts frozen milk bottles lasts a week and i have 21 lts of icy cold water to drink as well . No extra batteries needed .

Member - Howard T (QLD) replied:

HI Bomber

Only thing I can add as it happened to me is - Dont skimp on power. The little red flashing light on the Waeco is a PITA when it starts flashing 24 hours before you are due to go home.

Cheers

Howard

disco driver replied:

Bomber,
All the suggestions in the earlier replies are good advice, but be warned, the outlay is a pretty big hit on the budget at one go.

Rough prices for things suggested
Engel/Waeco or similar fridge $1000 plus
Solar Panels and accessories $1000 plus
Dual Battery system $600 up
Deep Cycle battery $300 plus
Gen Set (one worth buying) $1000 plus
Inverter $100 up, depending on size

This does not include all the necessary wiring etc for some of these items.

My thoughts only;

Most of us started with the minimum we needed and, over time and with experience, have acquired the other bits and pieces we wanted later.

Look at what you REALLY need for the first couple of trips rather than what would be nice to have. Those items can come later.

Hope this helps.

Disco.