Thread: Power Supplies
View Single Post
  #45  
Old 24-10-2024, 01:02 PM
OzEclipse's Avatar
OzEclipse (Joe Cali)
Registered User

OzEclipse is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: '34 South' Young Hilltops LGA, Australia
Posts: 1,453
Hi Geoff,

I have a power system I installed myself in the back of my Isuzu ute under a canopy back.

I purchased all the components from the 4wd super centre (Kings).

The battery is a 120AH LiPO4, currently on special for ~$350.

https://tinyurl.com/4ny6vu93

You can also install these batteries into a battery box:- https://www.4wdsupacentre.com.au/bat...ttery-box.html

Mine's held down in a battery tray with a quick release tension strap. It has two screw terminals that I have bolted an Anderson plug to. That battery is easily removed to power other things portably(15kg). The battery and a 160W solar panel are both connected to a solar charge controller. The output from the charge controller goes to a distribution panel that sends power to a 40L car fridge, a 6m 50A lead with a cigarette lighter plug on the end. The distribution panel has extra cigarette lighter sockets, Anderson connectors, and a couple of USB A sockets. I have a 300W inverter to generate 240V AC if required.

It's not all in one neat little package like the unit you are asking about but it has plenty of power to cover all my camping and astronomy needs including fridge, plus charging of all cameras, laptop and devices. I used it on a 6 week trip last year and it never drained below about 70%. If I needed to recharge the laptop, I did that during the day if I could with excess current from the solar panel not going into the battery and fridge. In hot weather, the fridge running at 4C drains about 10-15% from the battery overnight. The battery recovers next day even on a cloudy day.

Last edited by OzEclipse; 24-10-2024 at 05:00 PM.
Reply With Quote