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Have you ever wanted to set up a 12v camp power source, but don\u2019t know where to begin \u2013 we\u2019ll break down the essentials so you know exactly what parts you might need to gather to set up your own 12v camping system. \u00a0<\/p>\n An Adventure Kings Solar Panel<\/a> <\/strong>is an incredibly efficient way to charge your camping power source back up to full! With more than 9 hours of sunlight shining even on the darkest winter days, There are a plethora of options to recharge your battery, from the The Portable 120W Solar panel<\/a> <\/strong>which is capable of outputting over 7 Amps of charging power every hour, to a massive 5.5KVA Generator<\/strong><\/a> with capabilities to charge 12v as well as running 240V AC. There are 2 separate ways to connect your camping dual battery setup within the range of the Adventure Kings products. The first is via a Voltage Sensing Relay (VSR)<\/strong>,<\/a> and the second is with a DC-DC Charger<\/a>.<\/strong> A VSR is essentially a \u201cDumb\u201d isolator what its roll is within a dual battery setup is to ensure that whilst your vehicle is running your alternator will keep a charge constantly flowing to your auxillary deep cycle battery, until the vehicles engine is turned off. Whilst the VSR will not instantly switch off the connection between your \u201ccrank battery\u201d but rather will stay \u201copen\u201d until a threshold is met.<\/p>\n In the case of the Adventure Kings Dual Battery System <\/strong><\/a>the cut-out threshold is 12.8V this means as soon as your \u201cCrank\u201d and auxiliary batteries both drop to this level they will be cut off from one another. This is important, for two main reasons, the first being your crank battery is now protected to be able to turn your motor over when you need to get up and break camp, but also so you prevent damage to your starter battery. An AGM battery uses Absorbent Glass Matting (hence the name) to prevent leaking and spilling and gassing, whilst also preventing sulphating of the lead within the cell as per the chemistry in the typical crank batteries.
The Adventure Kings range stocks heaps of different accessories for you to upgrade your setup, starting with an extremely simple 12v setup all the way to a comprehensive setup that is entirely self-sustaining.
Starting with one of the most basic setups, a simple deep cycle battery, such as the Adventure Kings 115Ah AGM Battery<\/a>. <\/strong>the idea being that you charge up your deep cycle battery at home, and use it whilst you are at camp, and simply charge your battery back up once you get home. This simple setup will work okay for a few days, but when you get to extended trips away you will probably want to consider a way to tip up your batteries and replenish your energy source.<\/p>\n
With the choice to simply \u2018refuel\u2019 your battery when you need it, however starting a generator isn\u2019t always an option and you\u2019ll have a bit of difficulty setting up your solar panel if you are driving through the day meaning your setup may not charge to its full potential. This is where a real true blue \u201cdual battery\u201d setup comes into its own.
For those who may not know, a dual battery setup uses a relay\/switch between your vehicles \u201ccrank\u201d battery this means you use your vehicle alternators massive 100+ amp output can be rediverted to top up your accessory battery \u201cautomatically\u201d meaning your campsite power will always stay fully charged!<\/p>\n
There are a few fundamental reasons you want to maintain your crank battery from dropping the voltage too low, for far too long, the chemistry within a starter battery and an AGM deep cycle battery is vastly different.<\/p>\n
Whilst the VSR is perfect for older vehicles which don\u2019t use a \u201csmart alternator\u201d which is a modern type of charging system that varies the alternators output to suit the demands of the vehicle. If you find that your vehicle uses a smart alternator you are going to have to get your hands on a DC-DC charger<\/a> like the CTEK D250SA<\/a> <\/strong>which is even more clever than the VSR- a DC to DC charger uses extremely clever circuitry to not only isolate the two batteries, but also to charge both batteries from each other by adjusting voltage and current supply to both batteries to top them both up, additionally, you can add an unregulated solar panel to the solar input, and it will regulate and divert the voltage directly to both batteries and ensure the battery with the least amount of charge stays topped up.<\/p>\n