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Portable Battery box

PostPosted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 12:15 am
by Steve F
I'm thinking of making myself a portable battery box so when I park the camper and take the Jeep for a run I can put the battery/box in the Jeep and have it charge up and then in the evenings put it back in the trailer for the lights etc. I'd use a quick release type plug in the Jeep and the same in the camper.

The advantages are the battery can be charged easily when camped for a while without having to idle the Jeep while hooked to the trailer or take the trailer with me. I can take the battery out of the camper and easily keep it topped up on a bench at home.

Are there any disadvantages? Moving it from Jeep to trailer is a bit of a pain but it would probably only be every 3 days or so when camped, the battery would have to be sealed so it wouldn't vent gases whilst in the back of the Jeep. Other than that I cant think of anything, anymore?

Cheers
Steve

PostPosted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 6:24 am
by Sierrajack
Steve,
ALL batteries vent, even the AGMs to some degree. Why go through the hassle, mount the battery on the trailer, wire your 7 way plug so that it has a ground and a positive and it will charge while going down the road.
Looks like you have a Cherokee - no problem, they make wire harnesses for it.

PostPosted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 6:58 am
by Steve F
Trouble is I can camp in one spot for a week or two but take the Jeep out each day for some fun.

Currently my Jeep has a second battery which is charged via a solenoid and is under the bonnet in the Jeep. It runs the fridge I have in the back. I'm thinking I might just wire that battery to the accessories pin on the trailer socket. That way it gets charged like normal when I go out for the day and then at night I can plug the trailer back into the Jeep and use it to power the lights etc. Also means I dont have the weight of a third battery.

Make sense :)

Cheers
Steve

PostPosted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 8:23 am
by Tear Les
Steve,

Your last idea sounds like a good one by utilizing the second battery already in the Jeep. :thumbsup:

PostPosted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 10:32 am
by Dale M.
You will find moving batteries is going to become a pain.... How about solar charger on TD roof...

Dale

PostPosted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 1:42 pm
by IndyTom
Steve,

How about keeping a battery box in the Jeep and use a heavy gage power connector to connect it to the tear. I'm thinking about something like the cable from a heavy duty set of jumper cables. There are some high current quick disconnects that could be used to connect and disconnect from the tear.

Just a random thought sitting here at work.

Tom