Do I need a battery charger?
 

Setup:
Van with second battery, 135 amp/hour + 1000 watt inverter to run 230 volt house electrics.

Travel style:
Driving 'most' days, for at least 3 hours, and occasionally in one spot for 3 or 4 days, the deep cycle will keep the 12 volt
fridge happy for that long

it's unlikely we would be camped up for longer, and even less likely to use a powered camp site.

Am I missing Something or
do I still 'need' a battery charger to maintain my deep cycle, which gets charged by 90amp car alternator?

it is worth a battery charger at home to charge the deep cycle before setting out as it gives the battery a better charge than the alternator i believe

I'd be suprised if 1 battery would keep a fridge going for 3-4 days without top up, esp. if you are running an inverter on it too. in high ambient temp , what fridge have you got ?

Driving days should be fine

Rich

Hi rich,

I have a 40 litre engel chest fridge, which draws .5 - 2 amps,
without inverter on a 100amp/hour deepcycle they run 3-4 days without recharging, my theory is that I should be able to do the same with a 130 amp/hour batt AND use an inverter - a little bit.

Will soon find out if this theory works in real life

I hear what you're saying about fully charging/conditioning battery prior to trip, just trying to justify buying an - expensive - batt charger just for that,
not sure I cAN justify if it doesn't see any use during the trip.

If I would be using it (for instance a multistage ctek 15 amp charger) from time to time to maintain/recondition the battery it would be easier to justify.

On the fence.

I have the charger at home, useful for toping up and the occasional boost start of a vehicle had a good reason for buying it which i can't remember now but that was years ago

Probabily wouldn't go out and buy one especially

thanks rich - i think you've just saved me $269 - $400 australian dollars :thumbup1:

gotta love this forum...