How will you power your life on the road? Whether you've got a 4WD, camper trailer or caravan, it's important to choose the right battery charger for your set-up. But we're not just talking about on the road. If you select the right battery charger, you can use it at home too. Win, win!
Before We Look at Battery Chargers, Here's a Quick Intro to Dual Battery Systems:
A dual battery system is really common in touring vehicles and campervans. It's where you install one or more auxiliary batteries, in addition to the standard battery in your car, 4WD or caravan. This provides you with extra battery capacity to run appliances for life on the road, such as a fridge, lights, air-con and so on, without loading the starter battery. So, you don't have to worry about starting the engine when it's time to move on.
The question is: how do you keep your auxiliary battery system operating at peak efficiency when you're off the grid? This is where you need a battery charger.
There Are 2 Main Types of Battery Chargers:
AC to DC Battery Chargers
AC to DC chargers allow you to charge your battery from a generator or mains power. Rather than using a generator's 12V supply, get a regulated charger and plug it into the AC source on the generator. This provides faster charging plus less fuel wasted – a huge bonus when you're hours from the nearest service station!
To make life easier we have grouped the AC Chargers in their voltage and charging capability:
- 12 Volt Chargers are used on 12V Battery Systems
- 24 Volt Chargers are used on 24V Battery Systems
- Lithium Battery Chargers are used for Lithium Battery Systems
Plug and Play AC to DC Battery Chargers
Some battery chargers will come with all of the wiring you need to connect to your battery. These are a multi purpose, mobile, plug and play system which can be use across a variety of applications. you may choose to leave this one in your garage or take it on the road.
The most popular example of a plug and play AC to DC charger is the Dometic PBC110 10A Portable Battery Charger
It's good to know that a charger like this comes with everything you need. Simply plug it into mains or a generator and connect the clamps to the battery terminals. Select the charge current and battery type and let the charger take care of the rest. Suitable for Deep Cycle Batteries up to 300Ah.
Permanently Mounted AC to DC Battery Chargers
If you are looking to step things up to the next level, you will want to consider a permanently mounted AC to DC charger. Serious 4 Wheel Drivers and Caravanners will want to permanently mount their AC battery charger so when they pull up at a powered site or crank up the generator they can plug straight in. Hard wiring will bring with it the advantage of a secure connection with the ability to up the cable size for faster charging from larger battery chargers. It's a neat and tidy no fuss solution and worth the extra effort for long trips on the road. Enerdrive have a variety of size battery chargers for every battery type, size and application. Our development team has worked closely with the team at Enerdrive to release a DIY Battery Charger and Installation kit in 20A, 40A and 60A sizes.
The Enerdrive 40A AC to DC Battery Charging Installation Kit is suitable for all 12V Batteries including lithium. This premium battery charger has 3 outputs to charge three battery banks automatically. By far our most popular brand of chargers the Enerdrive ePower range are made for the tough conditions of the Australian climate and come with a huge 5 year warranty.
Enerdrive 40A AC to DC Battery Charging Installation Kit
DC to DC Battery Chargers
Think of a DC2DC battery charger as a smart-charger for your 12V system. The battery charger will boost charge into your battery while you're driving. At the same time, it acts as an isolator, so your starter battery doesn't go flat while you're stopped.
The DC to DC battery charger has a multi-stage charge which can charge your battery back up to 100%. This means you can arrive at camp fully charged and ready to power up your appliances after a day's driving.
Our most popular DC to DC battery charger is the Enerdrive ePOWER 12V 40A. This fully automatic multistage, multi-input battery charger has everything you're looking for in a DC2DC charger.
Caravan Battery Charger Review, Enerdrive EN3DC40+ DC to DC Battery Charger
You can charge from either an alternator linked to the battery, or from solar power using the in-built Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) solar regulator.
Another handy feature is the LCD display which is fully programmable to show which source is charging the battery, plus charger status, voltage and amperage. We also feature our unique installation kit with the Enerdrive 40A DC to DC charger. Enerdrive 40A DC to DC Battery Charging Installation Kit
PRO TIP: If you haven't already invested in an auxiliary battery, the best option might be to buy your battery and DC2DC battery charger at the same time. Check out our special lithium battery and Enerdrive ePower packs with three battery sizes to choose from: 100ah, 125ah and 200ah.
Enerdrive ePOWER B-TEC 200Ah Lithium Battery Pack
What About Battery Monitors?
Some people invest in a battery monitor as an extra accessory for the battery charger. This shows the true state of charge in your battery system. For example, the ePRO PLUS is a latest generation battery monitor comprising an intelligent shunt and a remote control display unit. Compatible with lead based and lithium batteries, the monitor can monitor up to three battery banks, supervise your system, and even control external equipment.
Enerdrive ePRO Battery Monitor
All in One?
Good news, if you're on the search for the ultimate camping battery and charger pack, look no further than the Enerdrive ePOWER B-TEC 200Ah Lithium Battery Pack! It Features a 200Ah Lithium Battery, a 12V 40A DC to DC Battery Charger and a 12V 40A AC to DC Battery Charger! Plus Enerdrive lithium batteries incorporate wireless battery monitoring technology. Simply download the Android or Apple app and you can monitor the following:
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Battery Capacity
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Battery Voltage
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Battery Current (Amps)
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Battery State of Charge (SOC)
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Battery State of Health (SOH)
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Battery Status
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Battery Temperature
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Individual Cell Voltage
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Battery Cycles
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Battery Alarms
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Battery Event Information
However our bundles don't stop here, we have over 40 different bundle configurations so there is something for everyone! Check out our battery bundle range here!
Need more advice on choosing the right battery charger for your rig? Get in touch!
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