Drawing battery charge

Plus of course I forgot to mention, the fuse in the cigarette lighter circuit will prevent you drawing more than the alternator puts in.

Cheers

Thanks Bob

I don't suppose replacing the 10A fuse with a 20A is a great option?

Is a high power connection something that can be done by oneself, or is this a auto-electricians domain?

Rob

Rob,
it certainly can be done by a handyman, but it has to be done properly because there is a risk of fire if an unfused short were to occur. I suspect a lot of the fires in 4WDs are due to non-original wiring failures. The important principles are to have fuse (a fuse that will blow before the wire cooks) protection at each end of additional wiring, to have sound connections appropriate to the current carrying capacity of the wire, use wire of sufficient calibre for the job, and to avoid mechanical abrasion/cutting of insulation which could lead to a short circuit.Bob

Thansk for the advice Colin

In my original post, I mention that I will be running the fridge of gas when camped. The 12v is just to keep it cool while travelling between camping spots, 5-6 hours at a time maybe.

Is the cigarette lighter sufficient to do this?

I forgot to mention that I also run the frig through a low voltage cut out switch, available from Kmart for $20 ? it cuts out at 11.6V from memory, cant remember the brand name (too hot outside to go and check!).
I also changed to a deep cycle battery which will cope with a discharge - something to consider when running a 'normal' car battery down - they don't like it! A deep cycle is adequate to start a 2L petrol motor, not sure about big 'tanks'.
I don't have space for a dual battery and don't 'need' to carry all that extra weight.

You will be supprised with the extra performance (+ 100% ?) from your frig on 12V if you do the mods I recomended.Subaru Forester
"size isn't everything"

Iagree with the above comments. To run just a fridge you should upgrade your wiring or you will soon get sick of changing fuses.Jack at sleep

Its a good idea to run the fridge circuit through a relay hooked up to the battery through its own fuse. Have the relay wired so that it is only on when the accessories circuit is live. This will only allow the fridge to run while the car is on , or switched to accessories. May save a few flat batteries.

How about you just get a second battery installed, it's great for peace of mind.

Hi Dave

You may have missed the original post - I've got a 17AH jump starter to use as a backup power source. Lots cheaper than installing a second battery (as not really experienced enough to do that myself). I figured this would do for lights etc at camp.

I'll be running the 3 way off the gas when camped, rather than using the battery.

Thanks for the warning re disconnecting when stopped though. It looks like I'll get an auto elec to sort out a connection in the rear, but through a relay.

Rob

I know, I was being tongue in cheek.

Some smilies would really help here!!

While you're at the auto 'leccy get them to wire in enough capacity for you to charge the jump starter properly from the car. They charge very slowly through the cig ligter attachment, but much faster if you go straight to the alligator clamps, we charge ours straight off the solar panel (reg in line of course) thru the alligator clamps, very effective.

So a decent cable to the fridge, thru a relay to cut out when the ignition is off, and with your jump starter in the same (fridge) circut, with good input and viola, you just made a dual batt system.

Nice thinking re adding jump starter to the fridge circuit.

Now to find a decent auto electrician in Darwin....

Just thinking about what you say about charging being slow through the cig lighter attachment. My jump starter only charges through a 240v regular plug transformer, or through cig lighter attachment.

Is the problem just with the main cig lighter, or are all of them tainted with mediocrity?

I have found with mine (and I have tested this with ammeters) that if I charge through the socket with the cigy pliug it takes a long time to charge, however if i go directly to thealligators it charges in less than half the time, what I am saying is that somewhere inside there is a limitaion on the amount of charge that is capable through the cigy plug (I believe that this is inside the unit).

My testing procedure was simple and follows;

120 watt solar panel, in good direct sunlight, measured charging amps while voltmeter on battery pack showed about 25% (I should have measured the voltage on the battery pack with the multimeter) Charging amps were around 9amp (which I was very happy with actually) with the clips off the solar panel (thru reg) directly onto the alligators on the battery pack. (charging voltage was 13.8 volts (the reg has a setting for sealed/wet batteries goes up to 14.4 for wet)).

same solar panel, same sunlight, same level on battery pack guage, same charge voltage, but the draw thru the cigy socket method was down around 5/6 amps (it actually jumped around a bit).

In both cases I finished charging when (with solar panel disconnected) the guage on the pack showed a little over 100%.

I should add that these packs were 7ah models.

As you can see when charged directly the pack took well less than an hour, thru the cigy plug it took longer.

If I had known that i was writing an opus on my experience I would have taken more careful notes, as it was I was just satisfyting curiosity.

Dave

Give the guy a break Floyd. What's wrong with what he's taking? Each to his own. Some people take a bloody great caravan - he's not taking much more than most people these days. What are you - anti technology?
So what is the "real meaning and purpose of getting out into the bush"?

Before this one gets out of control, most of the electrics is for A) back up (eg jump starter, large light for night time repairs, GPS if lost) - I am travelling with 2 small kids or B) to capture the real bush in pictures so I will remember it !

Moose thanks for the support

Floyd - just trying to be prepared in the outback so kindly folks like you don't have to rescue newbies like me.

geez flloyd, what's the problem with that consignment??

It's not like he's taking DVD players and microwave ovens.

(see, this is where a smilie Icon would be great)

;-)

Did I mention the laptop had a DVD player...? Not that it will get used at all.

;-)