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12volt Power on a tight budget

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12volt Power on a tight budget

Postby Justsomebloke » Thu Sep 04, 2014 8:26 pm

Hi All & Thanks in advance for any help offered. 8)

So just like any project that is done from the heart I have blundered on without laying out my spending so I've come to the end with very little cash. :D Don't Panic though as I'm pretty much good to go there's only a few things I need & hardly anything I can't do without.
I would like some 12v sorted though but like I said cash is short. I need a leisure battery & an inverter & a isolator switch, Isolator switch is not the right name, It's the thing that stops me running my engine battery down ?

So..
What's the smallest inverter I can get that will be any good & worth having ?
Where's the best place to buy my leisure battery ?

All I'll want to use it for is to charge my moby & laptop have a couple of strip lights & a radio, Bound to be something else I'll think of later.

Lastly is there anything you think I should know before doing owt. 8)
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Re: 12volt Power on a tight budget

Postby DodgeRover » Thu Sep 04, 2014 8:35 pm

Do you mean a split charge relay to charge the leisure battery as well when the engine is running? If you wire all the accessories to the extra battery only then you shouldn't be able to flatten the main one by accident.

It depends on what you want to do with the invertor, if its just for charging batteries etc I personally wouldn't bother just buy a 12v car charger. Also to get any useful amount of 240v power you'll flatten the battery in no time...

I personally wouldn't bother with a dedicated leisure battery - just nip down your local scrap yard and get the biggest battery they have (make sure you see them hit it with a heavy discharge tester before paying though...)
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Re: 12volt Power on a tight budget

Postby frank308d » Thu Sep 04, 2014 9:07 pm

I got a split charge relay for the 'spare' battery. Got a 2nd hand 1000w inverter off Egay for about £30 just to have it on board should need arise. All other stuff I've fitted is 12v run off the spare battery. LED lighting uses bugger all so the battery should last for ages even when the engine isn't run up to recharge it
I've got a semi
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Re: 12volt Power on a tight budget

Postby Justsomebloke » Thu Sep 04, 2014 9:54 pm

Cheers for the advice Guys, Total noob here so I appreciate being pointed in the right direction. 8)
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Re: 12volt Power on a tight budget

Postby darkbluevanman » Thu Sep 04, 2014 10:04 pm

I'd sack the invertor off if it's just laptop/phone... you can get 12v laptop chargers (even if the laptop voltage is higher...), I got a super Chinese invertor off ebay, when it came there was something rattling inside so took the top off.... looked like a fire waiting to happen, got a ring one in the end (2nd hand) big lessa battery in rear with 3 way charging.... used it...errr errr once in 4 years :).... just use led lights and they'll hardly do your 2nd battery in :)
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Re: 12volt Power on a tight budget

Postby darkbluevanman » Thu Sep 04, 2014 10:05 pm

2nd batt, split charge as above... :)
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Re: 12volt Power on a tight budget

Postby Justsomebloke » Thu Sep 04, 2014 10:41 pm

Sounds good, Sounds Cheaper. :lol:

I don't need much at all now I'm just gonna get out there. 8)
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Re: 12volt Power on a tight budget

Postby Guy88 » Sat Sep 06, 2014 6:05 pm

what age van, if its MK5 or earlier the split charge can be done with a bog standard 100a relay thats less than £10
2005 Ford F250 Super Duty
1992 MK3 ambulance
1980 A Series crew cab
1984 A series RB44

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Re: 12volt Power on a tight budget

Postby Justsomebloke » Sat Sep 06, 2014 6:43 pm

Guy88 wrote:what age van, if its MK5 or earlier



It's a Mk6 Guy but Cheers anyway. 8)
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Re: 12volt Power on a tight budget

Postby Guy88 » Sun Sep 07, 2014 11:47 am

Justsomebloke wrote:
Guy88 wrote:what age van, if its MK5 or earlier



It's a Mk6 Guy but Cheers anyway. 8)



how old??
2005 Ford F250 Super Duty
1992 MK3 ambulance
1980 A Series crew cab
1984 A series RB44

REMAPPED BY http://WWW.VANTUNER.COM HE IS THE WAY FORWARD

LIVIN' LOUD
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Re: 12volt Power on a tight budget

Postby Justsomebloke » Sat Sep 13, 2014 11:18 am

Guy88 wrote:
Justsomebloke wrote:
Guy88 wrote:what age van, if its MK5 or earlier



It's a Mk6 Guy but Cheers anyway. 8)



how old??


9/11/01
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Re: 12volt Power on a tight budget

Postby Guy88 » Sun Sep 14, 2014 10:43 am

Justsomebloke wrote:
9/11/01



easy to split charge one that age :wink: :wink:
2005 Ford F250 Super Duty
1992 MK3 ambulance
1980 A Series crew cab
1984 A series RB44

REMAPPED BY http://WWW.VANTUNER.COM HE IS THE WAY FORWARD

LIVIN' LOUD
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Re: 12volt Power on a tight budget

Postby Justsomebloke » Wed Sep 17, 2014 10:55 pm

Guy88 wrote:
Justsomebloke wrote:
9/11/01



easy to split charge one that age :wink: :wink:


Do you have a link on How to ? This is all new to me, Appreciate the help. :)
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