dual battery advice needed
Submitted: Saturday, Jul 26, 2008 at 02:53
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Jeelan
hi guys
a couple of weeks ago i posted a query about voltage drop in my DIY dual battery setup. Thanks to everyone's suggestions, i've now addressed the fault and got everything working fine.
I just hv another questions about a particular type of setup.
Basically all the accessories in the rear of the rig are now running off the aux battery (from a fuse box). what i now want to do (if possible) is setup something up so that if i am ever at powered campsites, i can use 240V mains power to run this circuit AS
WELL charge the aux batt (if this is possible).
i guess the setup would be similar to caravans where they can tap into mains power at a powered site, but run from Aux batt when not connected.
Anyone know if this is possible and what i need to do?
cheers
Jeelan
Reply By: Affordable Batteries & Radiators - Saturday, Jul 26, 2008 at 08:12
Saturday, Jul 26, 2008 at 08:12
Hi Jeelan
To keep up with say a 12v compressor fridge and also top up the battery you would need around 15amps.
Buy a 15A Smart charger and fit Anderson plugs to it. Then either mount it to your cargo barrier or keep it portable but out of the rain.
This will do exactly what the chargers do in most caravans.
Regards
Derek.
AnswerID:
317277
Reply By: Notso - Saturday, Jul 26, 2008 at 08:12
Saturday, Jul 26, 2008 at 08:12
All I do is plug my charger into the anderson plug at the back of the truck, this charges the Aux which runs the fridge etc.
I have replaced the battery clamps on the charger with an anderson plug and back feed it to the Aux Battery.
AnswerID:
317278
Reply By: samsgoneagain - Saturday, Jul 26, 2008 at 08:48
Saturday, Jul 26, 2008 at 08:48
remembering that your portable 12v fridge is no supposed to run of a 'charger'. the power is too 'spikey'
AnswerID:
317284
Follow Up By: Affordable Batteries & Radiators - Saturday, Jul 26, 2008 at 08:53
Saturday, Jul 26, 2008 at 08:53
Hi Sam, If he leaves the fridge connected to the battery he will have no problem. The Smart charger is better regulated than most alternators.
Regards
Derek.
FollowupID:
583586
Reply By: Jeelan - Saturday, Jul 26, 2008 at 12:20
Saturday, Jul 26, 2008 at 12:20
thanks guys. much appreciated.
cheers
Jeelan
AnswerID:
317306
Reply By: Member - Alastair D (NSW) - Saturday, Jul 26, 2008 at 13:04
Saturday, Jul 26, 2008 at 13:04
Jeelan,
I have a 15 amp 4 stage charger permanently mounted in both of my Landcruisers which have dual batteries. If power is available I plug it in. As Derek has said, if everything is all connected to the battery all is ok. The accessories will all run and the battery will charge.
The only problem I have seen is when I turned on the onboard compressor whilst the charger was on, is that it seemed to get a bit confused about what stage it was at due to the voltage drop. After 5 minutes all was ok so don't worry.
If you regularly leave your charger plugged in at home then make a piece of cardboard with "Battery Charger'" written on it and sit it on the dash when connected. It is easy to forget and drive off without disconnecting - I did this a year ago and now always use the
sign. Maybe my brain is fading more than most !
alastair
AnswerID:
317312
Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Sunday, Jul 27, 2008 at 09:35
Sunday, Jul 27, 2008 at 09:35
alastair,
I suffer the same brain fade - so I run the cable through the drivers side window where I'm more likely to notice it :-)
FollowupID:
583796