Which is better? A solar panel charger or a portable jump starter?

radix27 Learner Dubber

4 posts · joined Mar 2005 · 10 Oct 2005, 1:52 am

#415759

Hi all...

Just bought my first Kombi on the weekend (an 1800cc '76 Camper with aircon :thumb) and wanted to get a bit of backup power just in case the battery goes flat.

Which solution would you recommend?
A solar panel installed on the roof (maybe with dual batteries?), or one of the portable battery jump starter thingies.
The packaging on the solar panel said to avoid getting it wet....how could I do that if it's mounted on the roof?

What would be the way to go?

And I'd eventually be running a TV/DVD in it.

I plan on taking it camping a fair bit and so don't want to end up stuck in the middle of whoop whoop.

Cheers....
Lindsay

MickH Hairy Gutted Sloth

3,389 posts · joined Sep 2003 · 10 Oct 2005, 4:22 am

#415763

starter pack for sure,or go the dual battery setup to be extra safe.

tssnq.com.au

DubCrazy Custom Title Time!

1,295 posts · joined Jul 2003 · 10 Oct 2005, 5:45 am

#415767

All three,

first Duel batterys then a starter pack and a solor panel. we put solor panels on the roof of my fathers motor home in the uk and it keeps the batterys toped up really well. No matter what some times u will drain them dead so a jumper pack is a great item to have.

You can buy fully sealed solor panels that go on the roof these days so all your have to do it mount them and run some wires.

to easy!!!!

steff..............

Life with out a v-dub is no life at all!!!!!

YIOughta Seriously Crusin Dubber

190 posts · joined Sep 2005 · 10 Oct 2005, 8:12 am

#415777

Go solar - contact rainbow Power company in you guessed it Nimbin - they will give you the sdvice you need!! its worth the call and they know there shit

🥷

Kombi Dad Slammed & Awesome Dubber

96 posts · joined Jun 2003 · 10 Oct 2005, 10:13 pm

#416130

After much reading and advice from a few of the experts including Fridge and Solar up on the Gold Coast I am going to a second battery (an AGM) in my 1982 Camper. This will last about 3 days for 25l fridge used as a freezer, computer and lights. At 3 days I will have to run a genset to recharge. This could be the Kombi but I will also have a Honda quiet generator to do the job with a smart charger. I was very keen on solar after meeting some travellers in the Flinders early this year but there are a few disadvantages like being in the sun or using mobile arrays. I prefer the shade when I am camping and thus the final option of the battery and genset. The new gensets like the Honda 10i are dead quiet and thus would not disturb other people. Cost wise it is about the same but the genset is portable and can be used for other things as well.

Purple Martin Fahrvergnugen

913 posts · joined Feb 2003 · 11 Oct 2005, 1:13 pm

#416332

Dual batteries are a great idea, I'm very happy with my setup. There is a really good article about them on www.aussiekombicampers.com but the site seems to be down at the moment.

1959 red & white Beetle
1975 Kombi camper

h fractals - an ever changing lifestyle

7,671 posts · joined Feb 2005 · 11 Oct 2005, 4:03 pm

#416368

yep go the whole hog especially when your going to whoop whoop.. :duh

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Craig Torrens 6 times Australian, 7 times State Hillclimb Class Champion

8,040 posts · joined Jan 2003 · 11 Oct 2005, 11:23 pm

#416555

With the second battery setup make sure you use a deep cycle battery. Also set it up so the charge can go into the second battery via the first battery, but the second battery can't drain the first battery!!! if that makes sense.

I think Jaycar and Dick Smith sell a kit that does this.:thumb

[ Edited on 11-10-2005 by Craig Torrens ]

Purple Martin Fahrvergnugen

913 posts · joined Feb 2003 · 12 Oct 2005, 10:42 am

#416661

Yes Jaycar and Dick Smith do sell those kits, but you are better off getting a high-current relay from a Marine store and wiring it in yourself. The kits can fail ( mine did! ), whereas the high-current relay is solid and reliable.

1959 red & white Beetle
1975 Kombi camper