Waeco RAPS 36 Battery Packs - Are they an alternative?

Find your local Gofer/Scooter maintenace place and get some second hand gell cells. I got two 32 AH for $25. $120 worth of parts and some bits from the scrap box later I have a home made battery box with a solar controller, 2 anderson plugs, a cigarette lighter socket and a trailer plug ready to power up whatever I need.

Cheers

Pete

Des,

Your reply is misleading the readers mate.

"The Waeco Coolpower 36 packs are not the same as the old Blue Apple-made Thumper/Urban/Outback etc."

The Blue Apple Thumper/Urban/Outback contain AGM batteries so they charge just as quick. They each have different Amp Hour capacities.

Whatever you are going to use, you need to ensure that the capacity of the battery source, be it portable, or fixed in a vehicle/van, is suitable for the current draw of the device plugged into it.

Although costing about the same as a top brand "fixed" dual battery system, the portable battery pack from Blue Apple has the advantage of being removed from the vehicle (where it is recharged whilst travelling via an optional in-car charging kit) and put into a Camper, tent, or where ever else you need a portable power source. And it comes in several different capacity sizes and features. (including an inverter optioned model)

I don't work for Blue Apple, I'm just a satisfied customer.
The best thing they ever did was pull out of the Waeco arrangement to enable unhindered manufacture and marketing of their product line.

I have yet to see anything that comes close to the "Thumper" in quality and functionality.

And people may like to know that you can have your "Thumper" repacked if necessary. Don't know the cost as I've never needed to look at this option.

Sand Man,

I looked into getting my 48a/h Thumper repacked after I saw one open at Batteryworld at Wantirna. They just contain 4 sealed 12 amp batteries. The top of the Thumper is easily removed by digging out the silicon 'plugs' on each corner. The 12 amp batteries are about $45 each (if I remember rightly). Batteryworld sell them.

I reckon it would be easy to do yourself. Prior to visiting batteryworld I was under the impression they were not serviceable - which is just the way the manufacturer wanted it I presume;-)

BTW, I didn't end up getting mine repacked as I wanted more capacity - ended up with a Remco 100a/h AGM in a box with an auto reset breaker, 2 hella outlets, 3 ciggi outlets, connected via an Anderson plug to a Redarc - serves me well.

The guy at Batterworld was however quite interested in buying my old Thumper - I reckon he makes a fair quid out of people getting rid of them thinking they are not serviceable.

I still carry mine as a back-up - doesn't hold a full charge for long - but is handy to have for lighting etc.

Oh yeah, in reply to the original question - I reckon they are a good product - but you can do better if you get your own box made up - cheaper too.

Thanks for the correction re Thumper Sandman. My (obviously faulty) recollection was that they used gel batteries - thanks for putting it straight.

How much was the DIY power pack Moggs?