batteries (help)

Zonks · Member

batteries (help)

Radar · Guru

Zonks wrote:
Hi. I have a Prado with an auxiliary deep cell battery. I have a cool Jayco Penguin with no battery. I want to:
1) run my (3 way) fridge while I travel (not on gas!) then switch to gas when I'm stopped
2) use a battery for little things like lights, a fan, toaster etc
3) employ a solar panel system to charge my battery when stopping for a few days
Where to start?
Do I need another deep cell in the van or is the car deep cell going to do the trick?
Anderson to run the fridge while travelling?
Help
I'm unsure exactly what I need

Hi Zonks. Nearly all my cars end up with a second battery, generally a deep circle type of mostly 85 or 100 amp, depending on what fits under the bonnet. Using a red arc second battery system, mostly what is simple to wire in. With a heavy lead to the bumper bar to feed the caravan frig. Simple and reliable and economical to do.

Yes to a solar panel, I am mostly in favour of fixed for convenient.

Jaahn · Guru

Hi Alan smile

My suggestion is to go to the Techies' Corner and look there and also it has a sub-forum called Solar.

You can read some of the answers already given and ask what you want to from more technical interested persons.

There are no simple answers really.

Jaahn

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

Hi Zonks,
I had an Eagle before stepping up to the current poptop.

If you're set to run the fridge while driving (& we didn't), you'll have to fit a Fridge Switch to prevent the battery to be dragged down while the car & van are stationary. I run our current fridge off the aux battery in the car via a CETEC DC-DC charger. Bear in mind that a CETEC without the // switch can only provide 20A & the van fridge draws something like 15-17A. The Redarc supplies 25A but is much dearer. Both of these units have SOLAR inputs.

The other issue comes from your windows that fold down over the kitchen items including the fridge. There is a vent on top of the fridge cabinet that does get warm - whether running the fridge would cause distortion to the plastic, I don't know.

We ran our fridge like an esky - the day before travelling, we packed it & cooled it down overnight. On the day of travel we cranked the thermostat up a bit higher for the last two hours & we placed a few frozen (750mL) water bottles in the fridge (one in the freezer compartment & a couple in the fridge compartment. We could drive from here (Townsville) to Rockhampton (700kms) in a day & still find everything cold & frozen in the fridge.

Note - run a toaster off a battery?? What's wrong with the gas?

You can run your internal lights off your aux battery - I assume it is a combination deep cycle/start battery or a marine battery. However be mindful of discharging it too low - see www.energymatters.com.au/components/battery-voltage-discharge/ . Some here will disagree but most battery people suggest not taking them down below 50%. Toyota is better than Nissan as they generally put the batteries up in the front of the engine bay. Batteries do not like being cooked.

As Jaahn said there is lots of stuff written on this subject in the Techies tabs (normal & solar).