[Damo]

I've seen these things go for a couple of hundred $, but can I make something myself for less? I want to use it with my 40L Engel.

I already have a 100AH AGM battery My idea is to have the battery box and dual battery controller together in one unit so I can drop it in the car, hook up the andersen plug for charging, connect the fridge and away I go. Then when I get to camp I can take the battery box out, hook the fridge to it and go wheeling and come back to cold beers I also want to have the option to hook up a solar panel to it to help out the battery.

I have done a little research so far but need to get some things down on paper. Has anyone else done something similar?

[tanshi]

i just use a gel battery (not sure what size)
and hook my fridge up to it. Last TT it lasted 3 days without charging

[tanshi]

PS if you come up with a good way of doing it without having to have massive wiring through the car i.e plug into the cigerette lighter i would be very interested.

[royce]

I had similar in my sierra ages ago

I made a ply box withthe battery in it, inside was a fuse panel, inverter, digital volt gauge.
on the side I had a few power sockets for stuff and a 50 amp anderson plug to plug into the car, I had the battery controller mounted in the car as it was already there from a previous install and it takes care of isolating the power lead to the rear

you could team it up with solar with the solar reg in the box and its own input or the reg on the panel and input through the anderson plug

It is useful if you have the battery capacity or means to not recharge via the car

[bigdogdazza]

I bought an oversize box with isolator switch and ciggy lighter plug already wired into the top from egay, from memory around $100-120 mark. It will fit up to 120ah deep cycle battery in it. Tigers11 have the ARK battery box on sale now for $144 which is good price and looks way better than what I have. I fitted 100ah battery deep cycle but also starting capable with 880cca, it runs my 40l waeco which Never gets turned off @ -4(just right for jimmies) my amp, UHF, etc and all managed through 140a dual battery isolator. No messy wiring just the positive from isolator and a sensor wire for monitor and connect the earth to chassis. Plug the fridge in via ciggy lighter and your done. The battery box DOES take up room but I have no rear seats in the jimny so I don't care. Plus can be run as start battery with flick of a switch if you leave lights on etc.
Just get the ARK from Tigerz11 much neater, has built in charger that accepts 12v, 240, and solar etc etc to easy. I know I am Gunna get one for the pajero so it can be removed easily and taken with my fridge for mobile beers!!!

[Damo]

bigdogdazza wrote:

I bought an oversize box with isolator switch and ciggy lighter plug already wired into the top from egay, from memory around $100-120 mark. It will fit up to 120ah deep cycle battery in it. Tigers11 have the ARK battery box on sale now for $144 which is good price and looks way better than what I have. I fitted 100ah battery deep cycle but also starting capable with 880cca, it runs my 40l waeco which Never gets turned off @ -4(just right for jimmies) my amp, UHF, etc and all managed through 140a dual battery isolator. No messy wiring just the positive from isolator and a sensor wire for monitor and connect the earth to chassis. Plug the fridge in via ciggy lighter and your done. The battery box DOES take up room but I have no rear seats in the jimny so I don't care. Plus can be run as start battery with flick of a switch if you leave lights on etc.
Just get the ARK from Tigerz11 much neater, has built in charger that accepts 12v, 240, and solar etc etc to easy. I know I am Gunna get one for the pajero so it can be removed easily and taken with my fridge for mobile beers!!!

That sounds pretty much like the setup I am looking at. What dual battery isolator did you use?

[got_bar_work]

Use a ctec dc to dc charger with solar mppt
I have one on my camper
It will step up the voltage so it dont matter wat is coming in
Lighter plug might be pushing it as thats only 10a
But some 6mm cable and anderson plug would do

[Damo]

This is what I have so far


It probably looks more complicated than it really is. It's 2 separate systems, a dual battery system and a solar charge system. Each system takes turns in providing charge to the aux. battery depending on whether the vehicle ignition is on or not. I am pretty sure it'll work.

[bigdogdazza]

The dual battery isolator system I am running is from eBay. Brand is ABR-Sidewinder. Basically links both my starting battery and 2nd battery together. Charges start battery first then when full throws the juice to 2nd battery. If start battery drains it will not let the 2nd battery send current to drain source UNLESS you manually flick a switch located on battery charge monitor mounted in car. Only then can you use 2nd battery to start/run etc your primary system if need be. Basically jump start your primary battery from your 2nd battery. As I said before I think what you want to achieve with your system is already available from ARK sold through Tigerz11 at the moment for $144 plus shipping. I bought 2 today. The battery system in my Jimny is awesome......but it's fixed...can't pull it out and lib on the beach with a fridge full of brewskies......unless you wish to disconnect it all and that's not worth the effort.

[royce]

No need for the relay, just hook them both in, you'll never be solar charging with the engine running and nothing will mind if you do anyway

[Poita]

Does the Tigerz11 ARK box include a battery isolator or does that need to be purchased as well? It looks like a neat unit...

I can get solar panels wholesale so it's tempting seeing as the charge circuitry is already built in!

[TheOtherLeft]

Isn't there a rule about not having the battery and charging circuitry in the same box? Something about possible sparking and hydrogen gases during charging?

Is it maybe a caravan rule?

[Damo]

bigdogdazza wrote:

The dual battery isolator system I am running is from eBay. Brand is ABR-Sidewinder. Basically links both my starting battery and 2nd battery together. Charges start battery first then when full throws the juice to 2nd battery. If start battery drains it will not let the 2nd battery send current to drain source UNLESS you manually flick a switch located on battery charge monitor mounted in car. Only then can you use 2nd battery to start/run etc your primary system if need be. Basically jump start your primary battery from your 2nd battery. As I said before I think what you want to achieve with your system is already available from ARK sold through Tigerz11 at the moment for $144 plus shipping. I bought 2 today. The battery system in my Jimny is awesome......but it's fixed...can't pull it out and lib on the beach with a fridge full of brewskies......unless you wish to disconnect it all and that's not worth the effort.

I saw the ABR one, I thought it looked pretty decent.

I looked at the Tigerz11 one as well but the box is too small for my battery. I kinda want to build my own anyway, it won't be bolted into the zook, i'll be able to disconnect it and put it in my trailer when the rest of the family goes camping and we have to take my missus car.

royce wrote:

No need for the relay, just hook them both in, you'll never be solar charging with the engine running and nothing will mind if you do anyway

I'd like to have the option of having the solar hooked up while it's in the vehicle. For the sake of a $10 it's worth it to me.

TheOtherLeft wrote:

Isn't there a rule about not having the battery and charging circuitry in the same box? Something about possible sparking and hydrogen gases during charging?

Is it maybe a caravan rule?

Good question, I have NFI. I was thinking I could put a little fan in the box and vent it out the side of the zook somehow.

[bigdogdazza]

The ARK box has a built in fan. It will also accommodate up to 130ah battery I believe. Now going huge on a deep cycle is great BUT.... Just remember if you want to lug this thing around to power your fridge, best hit the gym first with a bigger battery is being used! They do get quite heavy!!

[royce]

Damo wrote:

royce wrote:

No need for the relay, just hook them both in, you'll never be solar charging with the engine running and nothing will mind if you do anyway

I'd like to have the option of having the solar hooked up while it's in the vehicle. For the sake of a $10 it's worth it to me.

its another 3 connections to drop voltage, I run my solar reg straight into the battery with the engine running, its not going to effect the alternator or solar reg

[TheOtherLeft]

[quote="Damo]I kinda want to build my own anyway, it won't be bolted into the zook, i'll be able to disconnect it and put it in my trailer when the rest of the family goes camping and we have to take my missus car.[/quote]

I would have a serious think about how to secure it inside your car if it's not bolted in. The last thing you want in a sudden stop/rollover situation is a freakin' heavy battery flying around the cabin.