Do any GNs have the ArkPak "portable power station"? I mean the relatively new, black one with a built-in inverter etc. selling for about $400+, NOT the older, simpler, blue-topped battery box model.
They look as though they would be useful on the road, including the availability of a DC-DC connector to charge the battery while you drive without having to do any hard wiring. Engel seem to have something similar (in fact it looks in photos to be a rebadged ArkPak).
All comments welcome, Cheers, Tony
tonyd said
08:28 PM Apr 8, 2013
Thanks, Peter. Yes. I've seen that link. My Colorado has a dedicated power outlet next to the cig lighter socket, rated at 120 watts which should work OK. It is physically bigger than the lighter socket.
Have also been in touch with Ark, who say the DC-DC charger ($100) does NOT have a built-in isolator, so you would obviously need to remember to unplug it when the motor was off. Ark seem to go so far with their products, but skimp at the last hurdle, which is a mite irritating (the original battery box, for example, cannot be charged from the vehicle).
Cheers, Tony.
-- Edited by tonyd on Monday 8th of April 2013 08:31:15 PM
PeterD said
03:03 AM Apr 9, 2013
Here is what I think is the link to the above item and its accessory DC-DC charger.
The DC-DC charger requirement -"Insert large car charger plug into 12V accessory port in your vehicle cabin or rear luggage area. The accessory port must be rated at 120W or higher." A cigarette lighter point in your tug will be hard pushed to provide this over a long period of time.
vk6tnc said
03:24 AM Apr 9, 2013
PeterD wrote:
The accessory port must be rated at 120W or higher." A cigarette lighter point in your tug will be hard pushed to provide this over a long period of time.
Got to agree with that ! 10 amps continously through a plastic cig lighter plug is not to be recomended...
Wombat 280 said
07:57 PM Apr 11, 2013
Have you tried to design and build one to meet your needs, JayCar have all the bits and BCF have the Box to fit it in Should work out less than 400 as I presume that the 400 doesn't include the battery. I did a simple one with two 12 volt outlets and a volt meter. You can get the high wattage cig lighter plugs have used them in a mobile lab I was involved with some years back to run incubators and electro microscopes while in the field.
Banglabill said
08:51 PM Apr 14, 2013
Hi Banglabill here
I have purchased a blue top battery box manufactured by projecta, it comes with a AC to DC charger and it has a 12v plug on it as well as a battery isolator, when in van parks I just plug it in the the van AC power, when not in van parks I use a portable DC - DC charger and charge it from the solar panels.
I also installed a couple of extra outlets, of different type and a small 12v meter to let me see how it all goes, I have run my 40 lt engle for 7 days without having to charge it.
I have a 120AH AGM battery in it, the only draw back is that it is a little heavy, But I can lift "eavy fings" I reckon it is a small draw back, the unit without the battery cost $120 at BCF, I already had the battery.
Do any GNs have the ArkPak "portable power station"? I mean the relatively new, black one with a built-in inverter etc. selling for about $400+, NOT the older, simpler, blue-topped battery box model.
They look as though they would be useful on the road, including the availability of a DC-DC connector to charge the battery while you drive without having to do any hard wiring. Engel seem to have something similar (in fact it looks in photos to be a rebadged ArkPak).
All comments welcome, Cheers, Tony
Thanks, Peter. Yes. I've seen that link. My Colorado has a dedicated power outlet next to the cig lighter socket, rated at 120 watts which should work OK. It is physically bigger than the lighter socket.
Have also been in touch with Ark, who say the DC-DC charger ($100) does NOT have a built-in isolator, so you would obviously need to remember to unplug it when the motor was off. Ark seem to go so far with their products, but skimp at the last hurdle, which is a mite irritating (the original battery box, for example, cannot be charged from the vehicle).
Cheers, Tony.
-- Edited by tonyd on Monday 8th of April 2013 08:31:15 PM
Here is what I think is the link to the above item and its accessory DC-DC charger.
The DC-DC charger requirement -"Insert large car charger plug into 12V accessory port in your vehicle cabin or rear luggage area. The accessory port must be rated at 120W or higher." A cigarette lighter point in your tug will be hard pushed to provide this over a long period of time.
Got to agree with that ! 10 amps continously through a plastic cig lighter plug is not to be recomended...
Hi Banglabill here
I have purchased a blue top battery box manufactured by projecta, it comes with a AC to DC charger and it has a 12v plug on it as well as a battery isolator, when in van parks I just plug it in the the van AC power, when not in van parks I use a portable DC - DC charger and charge it from the solar panels.
I also installed a couple of extra outlets, of different type and a small 12v meter to let me see how it all goes, I have run my 40 lt engle for 7 days without having to charge it.
I have a 120AH AGM battery in it, the only draw back is that it is a little heavy, But I can lift "eavy fings" I reckon it is a small draw back, the unit without the battery cost $120 at BCF, I already had the battery.
Best regards
Banglabill