Best backup 12v charging source????

If the alternator failed . . . wouldn't you have a lot bigger problem then being able to charge your other batteries ?

Cristie charger if the one on your car stops working you can always get going and keep going it is reliable (it has a honda motor you carn't get better than that and a good old bosch alternator ) try 4WD monthly number 88 page 201 couple that with a good invertor you have got the best of both worlds good luck

Get a diesel and the need for 12 V can be negated. I know I can start my engine with no battery installed with a push start.

Christie charger it is then seeing as you are already carrying petrol.

I will sooon be investing in a 1KVA gennie for this reason - Yamaha EF1000iS probably - inverter technology - can run any appliance up to its max current rating - 'puters included. I will power a good battery charger from this. For mine, this option has the least compomises involved. Solar is for good weather, daytime only. The Christie is good and has high, fast output, but is a battery charger only.
Although gennies are banned here and there, I reckon I can work it into my trip plans and practices.

Why use a Christies ?

Its only good for charging batteries , nothing else.

If you are paying $1000 or so dollars , why not then buy good Gennie that is dual purpose ?

Why pay a huge amount for something you may use . . . just in case ?

Might as well chuck in a spare Alternator.

Drew,

I'd say alternators are fairly reliable, phaps get an auto sparky to give it a health check before you go, but certainly carry belts, (a full set, not just alternator)thats a more likely interuption.

I know some will say they can fail, but how far do you take the spare parts bin..

Rgds

Ron

Where do you stop.

Alternator, drive belt, watepump, fuel pump, ecu, radiator, clutch, brake hoses.

Best to make sure of the 4WD before your trip and only take what you need.

Sat phone is lighter than a alternator.

Regards Derek. Me !

Drew, if you cant make one up yourself (which I did) the Christie unit has better alround usefulness than a larger 240/12v. gen. The 12v. output from these is only around 8a., the Chri. unit up to 55a.
Given this you only need to hook it up to the 12v. aux. or main system in your vehicle and run a 500w. invertor which will power small elec. drill, grinder etc.
For long term camping (which we do) my home made Honda powered 12v. alternator keeps all our batteries up for around 4l. petrol/wk. (Trailblaza freezer, lights, laptop, water pump etc.)
kesh

A portable jump-start pack.
Bloody handy

Get a decent one that will crank a big diesel, and you'll find it also has enough grunt to power your fridge for a good day, plug an inverter in and have portable 240V power, hang your camping fluoro off it and you have a mobile streetlight.
You can carry your power and not need your car and it recharges by mains, so if you have an inverter you can recharge it while you drive. No need to waste time waiting for a small charger/genny/alternator to get charge to the battery- just connect it, start the car and pack it away.
I havent charged it since I got it and its jump started 4 cruiser diesels and I used it pretty well over the chrissy- new years break, and only used up 20% of its capacity.

Well this may be a tad obtuse....but IMHO if the alternator fails it is usually the bearings that cack themselves, then the thing throws itself to bits and the belts and things under the bonnet that rely on the alternator to be there don't seem to work as well.

So, if you're really worried then take another, then you should be OK with all and asunder that goes around under there.

IF I was buying an alternative source I would go for a 1000va (1KVa) generator 240/24, like the Kawasaki unit mentioned above or a Honda EU10 or the like, theyre quiet, compact and red (the kwaka is blue or green I think) but the red ones go faster.