Seasons Greetings & some advice

Submitted: Friday, Dec 30, 2005 at 14:54

ThreadID: 29249 Views:3474 Replies:4 FollowUps:2

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MickO13

Compliments of the season all, just came across the website last nite and have hardly been off it since. Fantastic source of experience and knowledge. Thought I might try and tap into it if I can. I pick up my new Tambo "Cooper" C/T on 22 Jan 06. Have been vainly trying to research 12 volt power/inverters/gennies etc with a view to setting the trailer up. I'm trading the house for canvas for 12 months leaving late March 06 and heading west. Can anyone reccomend an electrical business with expertise in the field in the Melbourne area? It's bloody tough going on the web and the yellow pages are very non specific. Am gippsland based but work in Melb. Don't mind the travel to find an expert. Currently have a D/Batt system in the 04 Navara (STR 3l T/D). Also, if anyone has any advice re the strength of the suspension on the Tambo's, or any enhancements done, I'd love to hear it. Heading across the Anne Beadell then up nth to the Cape Laveque, Kalumbaru, The GBR etc etc. Picked up a couple of threads in the forum on the quality of the unit but nothing specific to suspension. Lastly, Cooper Tyres. I'm led to believe that the ST's, AT's etc should be run at less pressure when on the dirt but does anyone have any definitive model or rule for just how much less? Any experience as to how the pressure is affected by load/towing.

Many thanks and have a great New Year. I'll be up the Abberfeldy exploring.

Mick

''We knew from the experience of well-known travelers that the
trip would doubtless be attended with much hardship.''
Richard Maurice - 1903

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Reply By: Willem - Friday, Dec 30, 2005 at 15:30

Friday, Dec 30, 2005 at 15:30

Hi Mick

This site is a wealth of information. You can use the buttons in the header to research almost anything. You may also go into the archives and search for info dating back to 2001.

Everyone has a slightly different electrical set up. Maybe you should ask a definitive question as to what you need to run from your power supply

I have Cooper STT's. 32 on bitumen, 28 on dirt roads, 22-25 on bush tracks and 15 in heavy sand(Simpson/beachwork). When towing a trailer drop its pressures accordingly and even less than you vehicle in sand

AnswerID: 146004

Follow Up By: MickO13 - Friday, Dec 30, 2005 at 16:34

Friday, Dec 30, 2005 at 16:34

Thanks Willem. Here's what I was proposing. I have a Pirhana DB180S dual Batt system fitted which isolates the crank Batt. Currently have a 75AH Deep Cycle in the rear of the ute. Was thinking to put a D/C Batt of matching size in the trailer as well. The Pirahna system will cater for that. I run a 40Lt Engel fridge with a two zone attachment. This is the main draw on the aux Batts together with 12 volt lighting, radios etc. Wanted to utilise a generator (1 or 2KVA digital invertor type) as a supplimentary system rather than solar. Also looking to run/charge laptop computer from the DC probably utilising a 500W pur sinewave inverter. Probably the odd power tool as well (heaven forbid!). Was also hoping to use the gennie output as a battery top-up for the deep cycle battaries. Q. Do I run the 240 AC from the gennie into a battery charger that then to the Battary Management System. I thought this would be best as I can then use AC mains to top up on those occassions it's available (Caravan parks etc). Q2. How do you best wire the batteries to ensure access to a supply from both to power the fridge, thereby maximising time w/o having to top up charge. Q3. What difficulties are there in parallelling the two battarieswhen they are seperated in vehicle and trailer. Q4. Do I really need the inverter? What alternatives are there for utilising DC? I have a Dell laptop and they have nothing to accomodate. As you can probably see, I'm a fraction out of my depth and don't want to waste money unnecessarily. Mick.

''We knew from the experience of well-known travelers that the
trip would doubtless be attended with much hardship.''
Richard Maurice - 1903

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog My Position Send Message

FollowupID: 399551

Follow Up By: Willem - Friday, Dec 30, 2005 at 17:08

Friday, Dec 30, 2005 at 17:08

Mick, you don't seem to be out of your depth.

You should post your questions again when the 'luminaries' are around as there are some forumites who specialise in these sorts of things.

I used to go bush without even a fridge...lol....but times change. Still, I try to keep it simple though.

I have 2 Overlander 700cca cranking batteries in parallel through a solenoid ( I started off with a Rotronics Battery management thingy but it died)

I have a 150watt Pure sinewave inverter which is good for charging batteries including that of a laptop. However, I run the laptop off a Kerio DC powersource out of the cig socket. (This is after trial and error with the inverter). I run a mechanics fluoro light off the inverter with an 11watt globe. Enough light for us.

Q1. Not sure what the advantages are of running a gennie through a Battery Charger. My old genset has a DC charging outlet as well but I dont use it any longer.
Q2. For the fridge (32lt Engel) I use the DC fridge cable into a cig socket which is hardwired with 6mm wire. Never have a problem
Q3. Can't help you there as it is out of my field of knowledge..lol
Q4. If you are taking a gennie then an inverter is not needed

I only use my laptop for photo downloads, daily diary and the occasional time when I connect to the GPS when I am uncertain of my position. I don't have it running all the time.

I prefer to stay out in the bush but normally organise my trips so that I would stay a max of two days at a site. We don't really need the fridge except for daily milk and cold water( don't carry beer out bush..too cumbersome). Once we have eaten our fresh meat supply the fridge is only used for drinks, butter etc.

I have now upgraded to towing an Offroad Box trailer so that all the camping stuff comes out of the truck. We still tend to take too much with us. :o)

Cheers

FollowupID: 399554

Reply By: Bob Y. - Qld - Friday, Dec 30, 2005 at 22:36

Friday, Dec 30, 2005 at 22:36

Mick,

Try the Campertrailer site, also Track trailer site and Collyn Rivers(check member listing for his site) very informative site. i just bought one of Collyn' books on campertrailers, and there's a wealth of info, to do just what you are planning.

Plenty in archives on this site too, but some of it is difficult to screen, because of differing opinions. Some "snake oil" too.

Know nothing about Coopers, run BFG's at moment. As for pressures, I use 32psi allround, on bitumen and gravel. Unless have big load on, then put rear up to 34-36. This on an 80 series, with 265.75R16's.

Beware, Mick, this site can become addictive!

Hooroo...

Seen it all, Done it all.
Can't remember most of it.

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AnswerID: 146044

Reply By: Member - Geoff M (Newcastle) - Saturday, Dec 31, 2005 at 00:58

Saturday, Dec 31, 2005 at 00:58

Hello Mick,
As Willem sugested you've come back with some great questions, I've picked them out and will give my opinion,

Q1. Do I run the 240 AC from the gennie into a battery charger that then to the Battary Management System. I thought this would be best as I can then use AC mains to top up on those occassions it's available (Caravan parks etc).

Exactly what I do, works a treat. Other advantage is you can just plug a good 3 Stage charger in at home to maintain your batteries until the next trip. (I did notice you said you'd be on the road for 12 months. You'll eventually get home!!)

Q2. How do you best wire the batteries to ensure access to a supply from both to power the fridge, thereby maximising time w/o having to top up charge.

My suggestion here is an Anderson plug on the rear of the Navara with a corresponding plug on the trailer. Use a minimum of 8mm2 cable to join the trailer battery and the Navara auxilliary battery.

Q3. What difficulties are there in parallelling the two battaries when they are seperated in vehicle and trailer.

None provided the cable is of adequate size and in my opinion the batteries are of the same type, not necessarily the same capacity. eg, AGM paralleled with AGM or Deep Cycle paralleled with Deep Cycle.

Q4. Do I really need the inverter? What alternatives are there for utilising DC? I have a Dell laptop and they have nothing to accomodate. As you can probably see, I'm a fraction out of my depth and don't want to waste money unnecessarily. Mick.

In my opinion an invertor is not necessary. Try your local Dick Smith for a gadget called a Kerio adaptor. It should charge and run your Dell direct from a 12volt supply.

Mick, to ask those questions you are definitely not out of your depth,

Hope this helps,
Geoff.