Dual battery system v portable battery

Sparky,

Have a look at thread 15195. I put in a note about my system. Best of both worlds. Moggs has done the same in his Pathy and is also veryy happy.

Cheers,

Jim.

Spoke to the folk at Battery world, and they were pretty critical of the waeco series. Apparently they are being discontinued, and are a just a cheapie battery inside the case. They priced up an example for me of using a marine semi-deep cycle battery with a generic battery box (admittedly, it didnt have half the features of the waeco, but came in significantly cheaper, and with a guarantee of local replacement and simple failover- If the main battery dies, its dead easy to open this box, whip out the battery and replace with your cactus one.

Downsides to the generic box is the lack of features (cig lighter plug, charge level, carry handle, flash stickers), and it didnt look quite as strong, but thats only going by visuals. Benefit of the generic box is you can go for whatever battery you want inside it- suit it to your needs. If you do go for the waeco battery, recomendations on www.fridgeshop.com.au - fantastic service, prices and range as any number of people here will agree with.

I've been looking at the Engel BattPak - 58A/H unit. According to (I think it was) 4x4 Monthly an issue or two ago - it was the most usable as a fridge power source.

Sparky, I have used a Waeco Thumper for a number of years and now have a 100AH AGM in the rear of the Pathy on a shelf run through a Redarc that I can parallel with the cranking battery for starting if I flatten the main battery winching.

If you want to know the ins and outs of both styles of power sources from my experience in a Pathy give me a call on: 0 three nine five six one seven double six three or 0 four one zero triple four two five three. - might be easier to discuss it than go through a long back and forward in this thread :)

I can't really understand why someone would use 58 A/h DC battery system when you can get a 100 plus A/H system as Jimbo has for less money??

When you compare 58 Amp Hours to even only 100 Amp Hours there is a big difference in running performance and reliability, and the recharging is not an issue with his system.

Do the sums and see how long your fridge and accessories will actually run from a 58 a/h battery and compare it to a 100+ a/h battery system at even less money, I don't see the choice as being hard at all, 100 a/h wins hands down, make the room available or continue to run out of power!

G'day Sparky,

can't remember which State (eg NSW) you are in. We had some blokes from Birkenhead Batteries at our club last meet. They were selling deep cycle 110 A/hr batteries that fit in an N70 case. Battery alone was $145 and was branded 'Ample.'
Full kit (self installed) was $599, installed $699.

The two major marketing points were the fact that you have a 110 A/hr battery that is not only able to be charge directly from a normal 4wd alternator but it is also portably packaged in the case. The view that heating the battery (being under bonnet) shortens its life consderably.)

Anyway, if other avenues fail or if you are after more info then they might be worth a call.

cheers.

Sparky, for what it's worth 4x4 Australia March 2005 edition did a comparison between the Engel Battpak 56, Opposite Lock Power Master 48, and Bushranger Power Tanks. According to the article the Battpak won. Also the Feb edition of the same mag discussed all sorts of auxilary power sources, from small gen sets to duel batteries to solar.

If nothing else it's worth a read.

Dunc

Was in Whitworth's Marine store in SA today and noticed a Battery Box for $65.00.
It included a meter, test button, carry handle, etc.
I think all you need to do is add a battery of your own choice. (brand, type, capacity, etc.) Didn't notice the type of socket on it but I'd guess the standard ciggy one.

Might be worth a look if your interested in a portable unit.

Just found it on their Website:-
Whitworth Marine