If you want a simple and affordable way to run your fridge, camp lights and charge your devices then good news! There’s a basic setup you can use that you can put in or take out of your vehicle when you need it. So the next time you’re planning a weekend away, here’s a guide with some simple steps to follow! Just a note before we start  – an ideal setup would be to permanently mount the second battery somewhere in your vehicle and then use a DC-DC charger to connect the two batteries and provide the isolating and charging functions. But that ideal setup can be too involved for some people – particularly if you need to use your car through the week to get to work, do the shopping or picking up the kids. Adding all that extra gear can take up valuable cargo space, or if you’re not going camping every weekend you may not want to invest the time and money to set it all up… so instead you’re going to focus on the basics – you’ll need a deep cycle battery, a method of connecting up your accessories and some way of charging that battery!

Step one is that you’re going to need a second battery. The most commonly used type of second battery is an AGM deep cycle battery – AGM batteries are sealed so they’re safe to use inside your vehicle and being deep cycle they are able to be discharged down further than a normal battery and be cycled more times from fully charged to empty. But don’t make the mistake of getting one that’s too small – AGM batteries should only be used down to around 50% capacity so aim for one rated at around 100AH. That should give you around 48 hours of running a camping fridge in normal conditions. It’s a good idea to put your battery in a battery box and there are a couple of reasons for this. Number one is it just makes things so easy – you’ve got all the sockets and connections you need right on hand to plug in your portable fridge, or charge for phone or even plug a solar panel with regulator directly in. Secondly it’s going to protect the battery and your vehicle – with much less chance of an accidental short circuit where the battery can arc out and spark. Plus with handles and the recessed lid you can pick it up and strap it down easily.

Step two is to prep your gear in days leading up to your trip. If you have a portable solar panel, plug it in to your battery and let it charge up – this might take a day or two of full sun to charge completely depending on your panel and the conditions – and if you want the most effective charge aim for a solar setup with an MPPT regulator – it a more modern technology that can output more power than other types. Alternatively a great back up option is to use a 240V charger. You might already have one sitting in the garage or shed, but ideally use one that suits the type of battery you have for the best results and to prolong the life of your battery. At the same time, plug your fridge into the powerpoint and bring it down to temperature – once it’s cold, you can put your food and drinks inside so they’re ready to go too. Camping fridges work most effectively when they’re full – because the large amount of cold items inside help to regulate the temperature and prevent it from warming up quickly. So even if you’re only using half your fridge, fill the rest with drinks or water bottles!

Step four is to switch your power source from vehicle to battery box. When you’re ready to get on the road, pack everything in your car – strap your gear down so it’s safe and then plug your portable fridge into your vehicle’s 12V socket. That way while you’re driving you’re not using your second batteries power and saving it for when you actually get to camp. Once you arrive at camp, transfer your fridge cord to the battery box – now your fridge is being powered separately from your car so there’s no chance of flattening the car battery! Make sure you put your camping fridge somewhere out of direct sun and where it has ample ventilation. So take it out of your car if need be, or park in the shade and leave the windows down for air to circulate! This way you maximise the efficiency of your setup, ensuring your fridge is running cool without using too much power. Once you’re at camp set up a portable solar panel and plug it in to your battery box, this way your battery is being constantly charged so long as the sun is out. Batteries prefer to be topped up rather than flat so you’ll not only extend the run time and performance for your weekend camping trip but you’ll also be helping the battery live a long life

When you’re ready to head home, step seven is to again plug your fridge back into your car’s 12V socket to save having to use any more of your battery power. This will just stop the level of charge from dipping down too low and again extend the battery life long term. Finally when you get home and you’re unpacking, step 8 is to put your battery back on charge! If you have your solar panel, set it up in the backyard or use your wall charger. Batteries like to be charged up before they’re stored – because they will slowly discharge over time. Even charging it up to full means that if your next camping trip isn’t for a few weeks you will need to give it a top up before your next trip, but at least you’ll keep your battery happy in the meantime. Remember – batteries are happiest when they’re fully charged! Well, there you go! now you know how easy it is to run your fridge, camp lights and other camping gear on your next weekend away – so long as you look after your battery and keep it topped up!