You can plan to bring electronic devices on your next camping trip to the beautiful Australian outdoors.
A 12V power setup that uses an additional car battery means you can run 12V appliances anywhere.
Whether you want to take the family camping or just want to enjoy cold beer by the beach, you can use your car’s power system to get electricity while camping.
How to Setup Your Car Battery System For Camping
Why You Need A Second Battery For Power While Parked
Car batteries supply power to the starter motor to get the car running and charge while the motor runs. The most common type of car battery is a lead-acid battery, though hybrid or EVs have lithium-ion batteries.
When camping, it is important that you avoid draining the starter battery by using the 12V socket to charge devices so the car will start when you are ready to drive again. The simplest way to prevent your starter battery from going flat is to use a second battery that’s isolated from the starter battery to power appliances while you aren’t driving.
The second (or third etc) battery in a dual battery system can have a range of different battery chemistries. The type of battery you choose, whether it’s lead-acid, AGM, Gel, Calcium or Lithium-Ion, will depend on your budget and where you have space in the vehicle to install it.
Most Pre-2010 Vehicles: Use A Battery Isolator
A dual battery isolator prevents a second battery from draining your starter battery. A microprocessor monitors and protects the car’s start battery from excessive discharge, while still allowing the auxiliary battery to supply power to loads.
Battery isolators allow your auxiliary battery to charge while the vehicle motor runs. Once the car stops, the battery isolator will isolate the starter battery. Once isolated, your additional battery can power your 12V appliances without drawing from the starter battery. The upside? The vehicle will start when it’s time to move to a new campsite or head home.
If the second battery receives charge from another source, like solar panels, the smart sensor detects this and isolates it from the starter battery.
A battery isolator is the simplest solution to charge a second car battery so that you can confidently run 12V appliances, like a portable fridge, anywhere off the grid.
However, a battery isolator is only suitable for older vehicles with a fixed voltage alternator. If your car has a smart alternator, which it most likely will if it’s made after 2010-11, you will need to use a dual battery charger instead.
Check your vehicle: Does my car have a smart alternator? How To Test.
Most Post-2010 Vehicles: Dual Battery Charger
Newer vehicles with smart alternators create variable voltage, which aims to decrease vehicle emissions. If you used a battery isolator, the auxiliary battery wouldn’t charge correctly as the output voltage is inconsistent.
A dual battery charger, or DC-DC charger, smooths out the voltage to charge a second battery effectively. It also isolates the auxiliary battery when it isn’t charging, and even has a solar regulator so you can charge the battery from solar panels or a solar blanket.
This way you have all the benefits of 12V power for a family camping trip, with no fears that your car won’t inconveniently refuse to start.
Using Solar To Charge Your Auxiliary Battery
Setting up solar power allows you to harness the sun’s energy and convert it into power that can recharge your second battery. It is important to find a good camping spot so solar panels will have full exposure to sunlight.
Power Your Camping Trip With REDARC
If you want to start planning a 12V power setup, there’s no better place to begin than with REDARC’s tried, tested and true blue options. A dual battery setup will revolutionise how you camp, elevating the basic tinned food to allow proper meal planning and cold beers. Got questions? Our expert staff are here to help — get in touch and begin the adventure!
FAQ
Can I use a normal car battery for charging?
While you can use a car battery by itself for charging, it is not an ideal solution for long periods of time or sensitive devices like a laptop. Car batteries are used for shorter bursts of energy that start the starter motor, not for charging devices long term.
How long does a car battery last as a power source?
A 100AH Lithium Deep Cycle Battery is perfect for when high currents are not required for an extended period. A LiFeP04 battery can last over 2000 charge cycles.
How to use the car battery while camping
To use the car battery as a charger for your sensitive electronics or 240V appliances from home simply add an inverter to convert DC voltage to AC voltage.
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