I don't have any answers but just a few questions Brownie. Where do you store the genny?, they take up a lot of room. They are quite heavy aren't they? so how do you get on lifting it when needed? Wouldn't a solar system be better on the roof as it is lightweight and stays in one place and although costs a bit will do the job a lot quieter and always be there?
Thinking for myself as well as you with your dilemma.

I intend getting a 12 v ciggie lighter connection for my laptop. Will take away one worry, can recharge while travelling. I asked in Dick Smith the other day, the woman couldn't show me anything. I asked if there was a connection with varying attachments. Never heard of it she said. Maybe she was new on the job.

I have Solar But i also use a Generator. If you only want to charge batterys ocasionaly use a small generator & battery charger. There are plenty of 1000Watt generators which are relativly quiet & small. Brand of generator depends mainly on howmutch you want to spend.

This is a link to show you the one I have.   I will be using it direct from the Solar Battery.

http://dicksmith.com.au/product/M9694/90w-auto-air-adaptor

 

Cheers,

Sheba.

 

 

-- Edited by Sheba on Wednesday 22nd of June 2011 12:59:22 AM

I also have thought about this question. To have or not to have a generator.

Peterpan, seeing you have one I would definitly keep it and use it.

I decided not to get one because,
(1) They are expensive, and I figured I could have a lot of nights in a CP for the price.
(2) They are heavy and I could'nt lift it.
(3) I have no space to carry it anyway.

My solar set up is definitely not large enough even to run fridge and lights only. Will be looking at getting a larger setup.
(just don't know where to start at the moment)

Son got me some special plugs so that I can plug into the 12v system for the laptop. (he still has to fit them) He said they did'nt cost much. Will ask him what they are and how much. In the meantime intend to charge up as I go along. (he's an IT techie)

-- Edited by ChiChi1 on Tuesday 21st of June 2011 09:36:46 PM

Sheba wrote:

---

http://dicksmith.com.au/product/M9699/kerio-90w-notebook-power-supply

I will be using it direct from the Solar Battery.

---

 The one that link takes you to is a 240 V device, not 12 V.

I run my toshiba laptop from 12v with a multi voltage cig lighter attachment, which runs off the house battery, with is charged by 120ws of solar .It also runs the fridge /freezer, along with the tv, and other stuff. I have a dongle so you can get digital tv on you laptop, but usually use the separate tv/dvd combo. All batteries are charged with the engine alternater when running. I have a genny, but don,t use it very much, usually for power tools or emegencies.If you need help on how to set things up, please ask or pm.My system seems to work well as I can usually go a week til I have to start the car engine.I hope this helps. Bill

wouldnt an inverter solve this problem, I bought a small one for $75 from and I can use it off the car battery for a few things.

My rig is set up with a 120 watt solar system mounted on the roof of the box body charging a 105 amp hour deep cycle AGM battery. This runs my fridge, cooler box, lighting etc with no problems. All lighting (lots) is LED 12v, although the trailer runs 240v led lighting. I run 2 small invertors, one on the truck and another in the camper trailer. Using the invertors allows me to charge my phone, net book,TV etc. The trailer is electrically connected to the truck via heavy anderson plug cables and both systems are fuse protected. When the engine is running , the alternator also charges the deep cycle battery. As the sun doesn't always shine, I also have a small 1KVA generator. As a note, those cigarette lighter outlets are best left alone, They are cheap..but they are nasty and tend to over heat and also have been known to start fires

lost Gypsy wrote:

---

wouldnt an inverter solve this problem, I bought a small one for $75 from and I can use it off the car battery for a few things.

---

 Provided it's a pure sine wave (PSW) inverter.  A $75 inverter would not be pure sine wave.  These cheaper inverters are (erroneously) called "modified" sine wave (MSW).

Using a MSW inverter with sensitive electronic equipment runs the risk of it not working properly or even damaging it.  There are probably many out there who have used a MSW inverter with a laptop without problems but given the cost of laptops and the inconvenience of having one fail I would not consider it a risk worth taking.

Pure Sine wave inverters usually cost 2 - 3 times that of MSW but I recall Super Cheap Auto having a 300 watt (I think) one for around $120 which is very good price.

I think this what "Happywanderer" uses, Marj (HW) may be able to confirm this.

For those who wish to use an inverter for other purposes as well, a Pure Sine Wave inverter may be a viable alternative.

(Note: this post has been edited to correct a significant technical error in the original)

-- Edited by jimricho on Wednesday 22nd of June 2011 06:32:17 PM

Sheba wrote:

---

(pictures deleted by jimricho to save space...refer to original post)

 

These.are the plugs I use .   The first one is attatched to the Battery.   The second plugs into it, and I could use 3 items at a time if necessary.     I think you can get 5 plug adapters now.   They are not at all expensive.  I think the Triple was under $10.00

Cheers,

Sheba.

---

 These connectors are ok for items that do not draw much current such as phone chargers, ipods, gps etc.  Inverters can draw quite a bit of current when they have stuff plugged in to them (depending on the size of the inverter and what's connected).  Too much current being drawn through a setup like this can overheat the plugs and sockets and damage them.  (note the comment to this effect in Peterpan's post above)

It's also been my experience that they are not reliable enough to run car fridges although some people may have used them without problems.

My preference is for the Clipsal 2 pin plugs and sockets that look like ordinary household 3 pin plugs except for the pin configuration.  This would also be my preference for a smaller inverter.  Larger inverters should be either "hard wired" to the battery or connected via an "Anderson" type plug.

-- Edited by jimricho on Wednesday 22nd of June 2011 06:37:26 PM

One comment about charging 12 volt batteries from a genny is that the 12v output on the genny may not adequately charge a battery and that the better option is to use the normal 240v output via a normal battery charger. I don't have hands-on experience with gennies so someone with a technical background who has, may care to comment further on this.

I would think it would be ok but I'd be inclined to plug it directly into a socket rather than through that adaptor if that's practical. Try it in the adaptor but feel the plug to see if it gets warm. If so you may have to use a separate socket elsewhere in the vehicle. I definitely wouldn't run an inverter or car fridge through that adaptor.

cheers,

Jim

(PS: This advice will cost you a lemonade scone! )

-- Edited by jimricho on Wednesday 22nd of June 2011 07:13:44 PM