Car Battery and 12 Volt Appliance Use
Submitted: Wednesday, Jul 02, 2008 at 22:14
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Geoff1967
I'm a weekend camper in my small Mitsubishi Colt. I'm after an opinion on whether my standard car battery would be strong enough to do the following between Saturday night and Sunday morning:
1. Power my twin fluro light (1 amp draw, probably use for 2-3 hours)
2. Power my portable DVD player (1.5 amp draw, probably use 2-3 hours)
3. Power my car kettle twice for evening and morning cuppa (uses around 11 amps).
I've read the battery info at this website and still can't figure out where I stand or if I need a 2nd battery. Obviously I don't want to risk being stuck in the middle of nowhere with a flat battery...
Appreciate any feedback.
Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Wednesday, Jul 02, 2008 at 22:27
Wednesday, Jul 02, 2008 at 22:27
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.
AnswerID:
313529
Reply By: Crackles - Wednesday, Jul 02, 2008 at 23:11
Wednesday, Jul 02, 2008 at 23:11
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.........
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Nomadic Navara - Wednesday, Jul 02, 2008 at 23:15
Wednesday, Jul 02, 2008 at 23:15
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
AnswerID:
313541
Reply By: Mainey (wa) - Wednesday, Jul 02, 2008 at 23:25
Wednesday, Jul 02, 2008 at 23:25
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 . . .
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Member - Royce- Wednesday, Jul 02, 2008 at 23:55
Wednesday, Jul 02, 2008 at 23:55
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
AnswerID:
313550
Reply By: Mike Harding - Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 05:58
Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 05:58
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
AnswerID:
313562
Follow Up By: T-Ribby - Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 09:04
Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 09:04
Yeah I'd go with the spare battery as a backup.
I have an 18ah deep cycle SLA which recharges via an Anderson plug when travelling and this powers an 18w fluoro (_Affordable_Storage_Drawers.aspx 1.5a) for the night and then tops up when on the road.
cheers
T.R.
FollowupID:
579629
Reply By: Gronk - Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 09:36
Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 09:36
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..
AnswerID:
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Reply By: ben_gv3 - Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 10:37
Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 10:37
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.
AnswerID:
313589
Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 16:42
Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 16:42
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.
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Member -Dodger - Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 16:57
Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 16:57
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.
AnswerID:
313641