Wednesday, Mar 17, 2021 at 15:21
Andrew
Everyone has their own way or preferences. Do you need a smart
battery box? perhaps just the
battery plus other gear may suffice.
Firstly, if using a Lithium
battery in a case you will need to charge it via 240v ac and using a 240v ac lithium charger or from vehicle or solar. A 240vac charger with Lithium profile charging will be needed if using the
battery until getting to 240v power again. The way to charge the
battery from the vehicle is to use a DC DC type charger which also has a specific lithium charge ability. Many devices use vehicle power and/or solar input to correctly charge the lithium
battery. These usually require a dedicated line from vehicle
battery system/alternator to do the lithium charge.
The 240v ac OUT in the Prado is probably only a small capacity 12v to 240vac inverter which most likely isn't a FULL SINE WAVE device and so what you plug into it has to be able to accept the “so called” modified sine wave power coming out of that base. Modern electronic fridges don't like that power type if ever using it for direct 240v connection to fridge and any modern inverter/switchmode power supplies used in laptops or Engel
battery boxes may also not start or run hot. Best to have a full awareness of capabilities there, regarding 240 vac vehicle outlet and what the
battery box likes to use/accept. Just don't believe any salesman's claim without being sure.
Using a ciggy plug power system isn't very good as it is limited in current ability and
battery charging requires a decent sized cabling to the charger device. Ciggy ok for light duty though, but if used for a fridge supply while travelling they work loose and become hot and can burn the plug. If running fridge in vehicle, an Anderson plug on both the dedicated “from engine”
battery charge line and the fridge wire supplies secure power.
Although adding a heavy cable run from engine bay to rear seems messy or tricky, it is really a straightforward addition to the vehicle and once done, it is then trouble free for future usage.
Not sure what an Engel
battery box has in it, but you need the lithium 240v ac charger somewhere in the mix to use as required, also a DC Dc unit which uses alternator power to charge the lithium while driving. If the DC DC also has solar input, advise you have that, then portable solar panel or blanket can keep you out in the scrub for longer.
Once you have a DC DC unit to charge the
battery, then a normal 240 vac multi stage
battery charger can be used to apply to the engine
battery, raise it's voltage as in charging and that additional voltage will activate the DCDC unit to charge the Lithium
battery in the box. A slower process, but no other separate lithium charger would then be required, as was mentioned previously because you have a DC DC unit for solar or engine power charging.
AnswerID:
635643
Follow Up By: Frank P (NSW) - Wednesday, Mar 17, 2021 at 16:53
Wednesday, Mar 17, 2021 at 16:53
RMD,
The
Engel battery box has a 240V charger and apparently a DC-DC charger plus a small inverter, all within. They say the chargers are lithium compatible, so following Bazooka's post below, I think all the OP needs is some decent cabling from the crank
battery to the rear cabin, terminating in an Anderson or suitable positive-locking alternative.
The
battery box does not have solar input. If the OP wants to use solar he will have to get a lithium-compatible regulator.
Cheers
FollowupID:
913266