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Firstly to answer your question YES you can.
Simply running multiple items of the one source is fine but you are right in your question setting it up is important.
1 - What items are you running and how many amp do you need to run them.
2 - what is the size of the battery and the output ratings.
3 - how long do you intend to run the items for.
As far a connecter go and how to hook everything up you need to be careful here.
DO NOT just use alligator clips on every thing and connect one to the other - especially if using car batteries etc, they will cause you heap of issues. Some people will disagree but clamping one clamp to another will cause breakdown in voltage (current) and sparking. If the items being connected to each other are electronic, computers mount etc, there is nothing worst than having it all going and bumping the claps for it to spark. This can cause pulses into circuitry and destroy items.
What I have down in the past for astronomy, mechanical, camper trailers etc is build a distribution box. Quite easy and depending on the type of current draw, quite easy to make.
I will try and explain a simple system and others may like it as well.
Part list
Jiffi Box
2 x anderson plug
4 port RCA panel (female connectors)
4 RCA male plugs
Small fuse box for blade fuses
some 15 amp wire twin core (around 4mm)
Some thinner wire if not needing higher amps.
2 battery terminal (car bat) or bolts for other batteries
Solder, connectors and some bit and piece.
Jaycar electronics for most parts, start with a jiffi box which is a blank box for mounting switches etc to which is sealed and can be purchased in different sizes.
*Drill holes to mount the RCA Wall plate or panel.
*Attach Anderson plug to jiffi box for power in (from Battery)
*Cut 15 amp twin core cable to length required and attach (both end) Anderson plugs
*attach battery clamps to battery. Use twin core wire, one end to another Anderson plug and the other end connect to battery terminals.
*ON the positive side of Battery attach a max size fuse inline. I would suggest 20 to 50 amp.
Know you have a power source from the battery to jiffi box that is protected.
Ok ( hope) you are still following, not real good explaining in words all of this, time to connect the output power.
working at the jiffi box
*ONE black and ONE red ( + and - ) out of the Anderson plug
*Positive to the fuse box
*Negative to a bus bar.
*All the outer RCA plugs can be linked together (negative post) and it can connect to the negative post.
*On the center pin (positive) each individual connect goes back to a separate fuse.
Know for any items that need power, you simple make a cable with RCA male plug to the item and plug it in.
RCA plugs will hold a small current and I have used them to 10amp in a non continuous running environment. I use them for 6amp constant.
The use of MONO headphone jacks is another way of doing it. You can build a battery box and do away with the cable in the middle, I just do that so I don't have batteries at my feet and I can mount the distro panel somewhere and leave. There are plenty of ways to do it, I am sure some more will be listed.
The main this are,
what are you running, how long for and what current required. What size batt do you have. If you are running a 4amp hour battery and your items use 2 amp hour you are only going to get 2 hour out of it?
I will post some images of the latest distro panel I have just mad for a camping trailer, it will give you some ideas.
Hope this helps
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