Have you ever drained your vehicle’s battery using a portable fridge, air compressor or something else? You may need to source a secondary power supply, especially if you are starting to venture off grid.. Accessing power when off grid is absolutely essential!
Aside from being able to start your car with confidence, there are advantages with each setup. You will ultimately need to make the decision about what you’re looking for in a battery system, to make the right call.
Let’s look at some of the options.
Portable battery systems
A portable, compact battery system allows you to power all your accessories and appliances and take your power in and out of the car without taking up space in the engine bay. These can be charged on mains power at home when not in use. They can also be charged with a solar solution.
A portable system is right for you if you:
- do shorter, less frequent trips
- are not looking to invest a lot of money in a costly system
- have smaller usage requirements.
Portable battery systems are perfect for caravans, camping and four wheel driving adventures. They have the advantage of being compact and offer a range of outputs for charging your accessories and appliances while off grid.
Lithium batteries provide a high output and long-lasting power supply without the weight, cost and larger size of a lead acid or gel battery. Find out more here.
Dual battery systems
A dual battery system is a vehicle battery system that uses a second battery in addition to the vehicle’s starter battery. This second battery is used as a power source to accessories.
A dual battery system setup is right for you if you:
- are on the road a lot, travelling longer distances
- like your creature comforts and carry a lot of accessories such as coffee machines, lighting, fridge etc.
In a dual battery system setup, both batteries function as isolated systems. That means when your vehicle’s engine is operating, your starter battery works to power your vehicle. When your vehicle is turned off, the second battery powers all accessories and doesn’t draw power from your starter battery.
Which option is right for me?
Your usage is ultimately going to determine which solution is right for you. Things to consider include how long you want to travel for, what kind of vehicle you have and what type of accessories and appliances you want to run.
Drop us a line, call us or pop into our showroom to chat with our team and find the right solution for your needs.