Tips on charging up outside of CV parks - where do you go

Hi Zigdog,
what have you got as in setup ,how many batts ,I am guising you dont have a solar panel but do have bateries so in my thinking you need to,

A- buy a gennie ...but they make noise

B- Charge useing your car whilst traveling,but you need good size cable and you will want to drive a fair bit for a good charge.

C- put on solar and bite the bullet ,I did :)

If you hook up to power be it gennie or mains you will need a good charger like a C tek at about 15 or 25 amps there not cheap but very good.

Speak to mandrake on this site he will explain this all better than me and Im just learning so please dont take my advice as gospil LOL!

Good luck , Regards John.

zigdog.

Have a look at the dc-dc multistage chargers available. Maybe what you are looking fooor.

regards

Hi Zigdog. I reckon you are a bit of an optimist! You added an mention of topping water as well as power: I've noticed in recent years it is harder and harder to find a tap to use for filling water tanks, let alone an 'unguarded' power point. Who is the kind person who is going to donate the power you need, when they are reluctant to let you have 50 litres of water? but also it will take at least a couple of hours to recharge you storage batteries, probably longer, so it's not just a matter of 'fill up and go'.
Generally, I rely on the vehicle's alternator, via heavy cables, to recharge on the move, but I have also bought a Yamaha generator and take my charger with me on trips. I confess that I'm not too sure this is the way to go, even tho my genny is about the quietest on the market.
As you know, many have opted for solar.
I sure don't fancy your chances of getting access to 240v other than by paying for a powered site: Imagine the queue of grey nomads waiting for their turn at free power: it'd be worse than a Broome caravan park!!

Zigdog, you need to tell us how you camp.....1 night and then move on ?......3 nights and then only move 2hrs away ?

I have a KK and nearly always its a weekend away ( or 4 nights max ) and I wait till I get home and recharge..

But the rare times its for a week or more, I'm usually moving either everyday or two....which means I recharge via the 4x4 while driving.....but have been known to stay overnight in a van park to fully recharge..

Now in an ideal world....wouldn't it be nice to be able to "borrow" a solar panel just once a year !!!!

Zigdog,
I fill up at sevice stations and usually ask when Im handing over $150 for the diesle I just bought, they are ok about it most of the time but be prepared for a no once in a while,I have also filled up at bunnings and I have filled up at a cemetary ( not all that creapy LOL! )

Cheers.

Agreed re the above - when in small towns put the bite for water onto anyone you are trading $ with - service stations are often happy - we filled up at a new Foodland supermarket a few months back - just have to keep an eye out for a stray tap or two - best places for us are usually at the town oval / sportsground.
As for bludging power - have never asked - can't imagine why anyone would say yes ! We use solar and then a gennie as last resort.

Depending on the bits that you already have, a 240V charger driven by an inverter powered from your crank battery with the engine running will give a proper charge.
Sooner or later you will want to do the job 'properly', so spend your dollars on gear that gets you closer to that goal.


Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 Motorhome

Hi zigdog

Like Johny Boy, refuelling is a good opportunity for taking on water. We use far more fuel than water so it doesn't happen very often. We always ask BEFORE filling, as some servos have not had suitable water connections, or the only tap may be in a spot where it is going to block the traffic through a busy servo.

For power - go solar. You'll find heaps of advice in recent threads. We also carry a genny and could use it to run the battery charger, but if it looks like a few days wet wintry weather, sometimes heading for a caravan park where you can plug in a heater as well as ensure there is plenty of power is a good idea. We have taken the 'wet day' option to stay at a CP and do the washing. The small fan heater worked well as a clothes dryer. We didn't need power for our batteries as our solar was adequate. Cold wet and windy weather is no fun out walking and touring anyway.

Motherhen

Whilst camped at Culyamurra waterhole one time I managed to discharge my camper van battery (Waeco Outback 24ah) so that it was dead flat. I knew that it would need a good 240v source to kick it along with the charger I had, so I went into Innamincka and asked the garage to let me plug it in on their 240v overnight. Luckily the battery came up OK the following day. Cost $25.00!

Since then I have upgraded to a 80ah AGM and rewired the van so that it charges quickly from the car 12v. I also monitor the situation more carefully now!

Kingo

G`day zigdog,

I have/had ,
solar.......250w fitted to c/van roof
240v a/c multi stage charger 20amp
vehicle alternator
This is more than sufficient to keep the c/van batteries (450 a/h) charged.

However when away from the c/van with the vehicle I need sufficient a/h capacity to run an 80 ltr fridge/deep freeze that is in the rear of the vehicle drawing 6 amps when running as a deep freeze with extra fans for air circulation.
More solar is an option but not when leaving the vehicle unattended.

SO ...... after about a year of research I have now fitted a Sterling DC-DC 12v-12v 50 amp charger under the drivers seat of the vehicle to charge 2 x 6v 200 a/h fully sealed (no gas in the vehicle) gel batteries.
This charger will charge these batteries while the engine is running at 14.8 v
( battery specs say 2.45 v / cell ) at up to 50amps depending on SOC of batteries, at the same time fully protecting the starter battery keeping it fully charged.
This is the fastest and most efficient way I could find to keep the fridge running as a deep freeze 24/7 for whatever weeks required.

For any further information contact Ian at .info@powerstream.com.au

Cheers.

Scrubby

Try a new housing estate. The water taps are usually available and not metered and most houses these days have at least one outside power point.

Hardly a scenic holiday destination though.