New camper power supply's

Congrats on your Goldie. I am sure you will be happy with it. I have had mine 2 years now and it has been great.

If yours is set up like mine, there is a battery switch in the boot. Batt1 Batt 2 Both or off.

When driving set it to both and it should charge from the Anderson plugs when you drive.

Troy,

"While driving, what sort or recharge goes on to the van battery? better or worse than charging with the ctek?"

Depends on which ctek, but the general answer is that charging from the vehicle will be pretty slow unless the wiring from engine bay to battery is very heavy and/or a suitable dc-to-dc (battery to battery) charger is used and connected close to the van battery. Because of voltage drop in the cable, unless you do include a 12v-12v charger, there will probably be no charging at all if you are also running a 3way fridge on 12V through that same cable while travelling.

Inverters - I think you're proposing to run all the 240V gear in the van from an inverter, even when 240V mains power is available, and simply run the charger into the battery when you have mains power. This will work, BUT...

It is more efficient to avoid using 240V if you can. The main objection to your plan though is that much 240V gear is pretty hungry. With a big enough inverter you could, in principle, run an electric jug, but the battery would not survive long enough to boil the water! Any electric heating device is very hungry. Suggest have a look at the rating plates on every bit of 240V gear you'd like to use and see just what is feasible.

Most of the small jobs - recharging batteries for camera, torches, phone, laptop... can best be achieved using 12V adapters which will be far more efficient than using an inverter.

These considerations, and many more, are discussed in some detail in our blog Electricity for Camping.

Hope that helps

John

Troy,
Your first question is:
" WHILE DRIVING, what sort or recharge goes on to the van battery? better or worse than charging with the ctek? "

The caravan battery will receive what is can handle from the alternator, only if you use thick cable between the vehicle and the van battery.

The grey 50 Amp Anderson plug will take 13mm² cable which will give < O.O1 Volt drop in a 7 meter distance between batteries, which is less than next to nothing at all.

When your in a caravan park run your 240v gear from the 240v supply your paying for, also charge your Aux battery system with the ctek while your there too.

Maîneÿ . . .

"While driving, what sort or recharge goes on to the van battery? better or worse than charging with the ctek?"
The battery will basically get no charge. Powering a fridge and attempting to charge a battery at the same time is technically impossible. Cable charging from the vehicle alternator does not work regardless of the size cable you use.

To correctly charge the battery in the Goldstream you will need a DC to DC charger like the Ctek D250S

Wire your vehicle with Redarc SBI12 battery isolator, 6B&S cable to Anderson plug and on the Goldstream 6B&S to the Ctek D250S and then 6mm auto cable to direct to the fridge element.
The Ctek D250S will give you a fully charged battery at the end of the days travelling. Keep in mind the amount of power you will use the previous night and the amount of travelling you will do the next day.

"Also we'll get an inverter to run some gear off the battery"
What gear do you intend to power from the inverter?

Generally the inverter required would be a maximum 180W inverter

"Is there any merit to an idea of mine, to run all the 240v plugs through an inverter of the battery?" To do that would require an approved 240V change over switch fitted and certified by a licienced electrician. Cost would be in the region of $300 to $400.

Majority of campers would want to charge laptop, phones, power small fan, DVD player. For every 10W power use on 240V is 1A on 12V.

Whatever inverter you buy ensure you buy an electrically isolated inverter. All Jaycar Powertech inverters are electrically isolated.

"Is there any merit to an idea of mine, to run all the 240v plugs through an inverter of the battery? So if we were to plug into mains or generator, that would charge the battery as the inverter draws of it to run the gear. "

HI Troy
Apart from the lost efficiency & possible size of the inverter & battery needed, you should be aware that ANY changes to the 240v wiring MUST be done by a qualified electrician & in accordance with AS/NZS3001:2008
Very strict & specific as to requirements for good reasons .
240v from an inverter or genny can be just as deadly as from the mains supply

Peter