Rig setup and electical power managment

[Mikeblack]

well I just got my new membership here and I'm glad to be a full member. I one question to everyone here that is way more experienced than me by a large amount. How do you deal with power management on your vehicle setup. Understanding you calculate what will be from Radio communication and charging unit to help offset that. I was wondering if everyone here. Could givrive me some insight and how they managed power production. You better at I've been watching a few videos and reading some of the forms involving solar and deep cycle battery storage inside the vehicle that runs off a dual battery setup.


With All that said I was wondering how you deal with the weather that can adversely affect batte life cycle and efficiency?

 

[California Overland]

well I just got my new membership here and I'm glad to be a full member. I one question to everyone here that is way more experienced than me by a large amount. How do you deal with power management on your vehicle setup. Understanding you calculate what will be from Radio communication and charging unit to help offset that. I was wondering if everyone here. Could givrive me some insight and how they managed power production. You better at I've been watching a few videos and reading some of the forms involving solar and deep cycle battery storage inside the vehicle that runs off a dual battery setup.


With All that said I was wondering how you deal with the weather that can adversely affect batte life cycle and efficiency?

Most truck setups only need one battery to handle a winch, comms, charging, etc. when driving. The need for dual battery comes into play if you want to run various things when not driving- like charging a bunch of batteries or using all your lights to illuminate your camp. But unless you're doing these things and running a fridge, a dual battery set up is overkill. Even if you're running a fridge you can use an external battery, like Goal Zero or Jackery, along with a solar panel and never need a dual battery set up. Or, if you use an ice chest you'll really never need a second power source. We make sure to charge our phones and tablets while driving so they're full by the time we pull into camp. With us comms and winch stay off unless they're being used, so we're still not needing extra power. Carry an external battery with jumper cables if you're by yourself, we've used that more than once after I accidentally turned my flood lights on with my knee and couldn't see the lights because they were covered. I drained the battery in the middle of nowhere but had that external jumper and it saved my butt.

 

[Heartland Overland]

Like said above you can run a single battery setup and be just fine for just about everything. I have a Goal Zero in the back for when I get to camp and need extra power for overnight. I also carry a Noco portable jump starter just in case.Running a quality battery under the hood will be beneficial as well. I run a fridge, camera gear, winch, handful of LEDs, and electronics inside.

 

[Mikeblack]

Like said above you can run a single battery setup and be just fine for just about everything. I have a Goal Zero in the back for when I get to camp and need extra power for overnight. I also carry a Noco portable jump starter just in case.Running a quality battery under the hood will be beneficial as well. I run a fridge, camera gear, winch, handful of LEDs, and electronics inside.

Thank you I really appreciate it the gentleman above made a great point and thinking about it doing the math on power consumption calculation and the need for the current battery capacity is very important. I was looking at doing the photography + the Drone work for school. And thought about the need to do remote work and be with the power all of the gear charging computer so and so forth I also have watch and seeing some articles about people using the spare deep cycle battery to power their Heating in their tent either via power cable or on a rooftop tent

 

[Mikeblack]

Most truck setups only need one battery to handle a winch, comms, charging, etc. when driving. The need for dual battery comes into play if you want to run various things when not driving- like charging a bunch of batteries or using all your lights to illuminate your camp. But unless you're doing these things and running a fridge, a dual battery set up is overkill. Even if you're running a fridge you can use an external battery, like Goal Zero or Jackery, along with a solar panel and never need a dual battery set up. Or, if you use an ice chest you'll really never need a second power source. We make sure to charge our phones and tablets while driving so they're full by the time we pull into camp. With us comms and winch stay off unless they're being used, so we're still not needing extra power. Carry an external battery with jumper cables if you're by yourself, we've used that more than once after I accidentally turned my flood lights on with my knee and couldn't see the lights because they were covered. I drained the battery in the middle of nowhere but had that external jumper and it saved my butt.

Thank you very much for your wisdom. Didn't know that having the two batteries will be Overkill. Thing of the winch and fornication gear would start to add up when you think about cell phones ham radio and then GPS accessories Galore. Also I know about that whole foot light situation and drain the battery. I have no real need for a fridge at this current time like to be light on my feet but it is consideration to keep some Meats cold.
For me it's having the ability to charge up computer and camera gear like drones and would not want out and about in the forest. Looking at attending a school this year that trains for drone work so thought I would be a nice deal for me to be able to work without the need for commercial power. Also what do you use to regulate and make sure you have clean power coming to your systems Austin Do you have a breaker system that protects it from discharge and issues with old batteries and would not protecting your investment in short

 

[Heartland Overland]

Thank you I really appreciate it the gentleman above made a great point and thinking about it doing the math on power consumption calculation and the need for the current battery capacity is very important. I was looking at doing the photography + the Drone work for school. And thought about the need to do remote work and be with the power all of the gear charging computer so and so forth I also have watch and seeing some articles about people using the spare deep cycle battery to power their Heating in their tent either via power cable or on a rooftop tent

Depending on if I am traveling or stationary depends on how I charge my drone and cameras. If I am sitting at camp I try and run most everything off of the Goal Zero so I don't take a chance at running the Jeep battery down.

 

[California Overland]

Thank you very much for your wisdom. Didn't know that having the two batteries will be Overkill. Thing of the winch and fornication gear would start to add up when you think about cell phones ham radio and then GPS accessories Galore. Also I know about that whole foot light situation and drain the battery. I have no real need for a fridge at this current time like to be light on my feet but it is consideration to keep some Meats cold.
For me it's having the ability to charge up computer and camera gear like drones and would not want out and about in the forest. Looking at attending a school this year that trains for drone work so thought I would be a nice deal for me to be able to work without the need for commercial power. Also what do you use to regulate and make sure you have clean power coming to your systems Austin Do you have a breaker system that protects it from discharge and issues with old batteries and would not protecting your investment in short

If you're just looking to charge batteries, be it drone, camera, or laptop, you should seriously consider just getting a Jackery external battery with solar panel.
The whole breaker set up is way beyond my needs, so I'm no help there. There's vids on YouTube on that stuff if that's the route you want to go.
As for staying warm, layer up with bags and quilts and if need be a Heater Buddy. Insulate your mattress well as cold air coming up will freeze your butt off.

 

[Mikeblack]

Depending on if I am traveling or stationary depends on how I charge my drone and cameras. If I am sitting at camp I try and run most everything off of the Goal Zero so I don't take a chance at running the Jeep battery down.

What system do you use to protect your electrical system from causing shorts and producing clean power. The in between section of the Goal Zero and all of your electrical devices will protect it?

 

[Mikeblack]

If you're just looking to charge batteries, be it drone, camera, or laptop, you should seriously consider just getting a Jackery external battery with solar panel.
The whole breaker set up is way beyond my needs, so I'm no help there. There's vids on YouTube on that stuff if that's the route you want to go.
As for staying warm, layer up with bags and quilts and if need be a Heater Buddy. Insulate your mattress well as cold air coming up will freeze your butt off.

The weather question was pertaining to how you deal with the battery is holding charge and being efficient in cold weather but definitely using a air mattress or a closed cell foam to keep my butt from freezing and turn it into a black popsicle LOL

 

[Heartland Overland]

What system do you use to protect your electrical system from causing shorts and producing clean power. The in between section of the Goal Zero and all of your electrical devices will protect it?

The Goal Zero has internal self resetting fuses to protect equipment. I have only had one instance the fuse tripped and it rest itself. Never had any issues with the unit and charging my laptop, hard drives, phone, tablets, Phantom 4, Nikon cameras, go pros, fans, and plenty of other things. I have the 1400 and 2 100 watt solar panels. One of the panels in on top of the Jeep and it charges the unit when I am on the go and using other outlets in the Jeep. When I get to camp I set the other panel out and it helps charge a bit faster. The unit is a bit pricey but well worth it for a back up battery system.

 

[Kilo_17]

I can't add much to the electrical aspects of your questions but as far as staying warm at night you can look into military surplus "sleep system" sleeping bags. It has two bags that fit into one another and snap together along with a wet weather cover too. All of it fits in a stuff sack that doesn't take up much room at all and is light weight.
I'll have to snap some picks of mine I kept from the military if interested

 

[Mikeblack]

I can't add much to the electrical aspects of your questions but as far as staying warm at night you can look into military surplus "sleep system" sleeping bags. It has two bags that fit into one another and snap together along with a wet weather cover too. All of it fits in a stuff sack that doesn't take up much room at all and is light weight.
I'll have to snap some picks of mine I kept from the military if interested

O I know that sleeping bag very well.

But finding a good one in great shape is key

 

[The Captain]

As others have mentioned, I started out with a Goal Zero and as I became more experienced tended to travel further and further. It's pretty critical to have a good 12v system here in Aus.

From my point of view they both have pros and cons;
vehicle mounted dual battery, under the hood, frees up valuable space in the vehicle.
portable system, Goal Zero or build your own, can be transported to other vehicles.

A second battery certainly gives you the freedom to power all your needs, you can also buy 12v electric blankets!
A 12v system is a big investment so the key is research, good luck with it all Mikeblack.

 

[Kilo_17]

O I know that sleeping bag very well.

But finding a good one in great shape is key

That is very true! I only have a spare because one was left in a 1097 during a state active duty mission to fight the wildfires years ago, reported it an no one came to claim it

 

[Mikeblack]

That is very true! I only have a spare because one was left in a 1097 during a state active duty mission to fight the wildfires years ago, reported it an no one came to claim it

That's one way to do it for sure

 

[jlprest]

I can't add much to the electrical aspects of your questions but as far as staying warm at night you can look into military surplus "sleep system" sleeping bags. It has two bags that fit into one another and snap together along with a wet weather cover too. All of it fits in a stuff sack that doesn't take up much room at all and is light weight.
I'll have to snap some picks of mine I kept from the military if interested

Those sleeping bags are very good. I have used them open air in the German winter and stayed warm. They pack very small compared to the older green sleeping bags.

 

[Kilo_17]

Those sleeping bags are very good. I have used them open air in the German winter and stayed warm. They pack very small compared to the older green sleeping bags.

Oh for sure! I had a prior service guy ask to buy mine when talking shop an I brought up the fact I had a spare, he made a fair offer too, but I just laughed and told him to get bent if he thought I'd sell it :D

 

[Mikeblack]

Oh for sure! I had a prior service guy ask to buy mine when talking shop an I brought up the fact I had a spare, he made a fair offer too, but I just laughed and told him to get bent if he thought I'd sell it :D

The the best bags in the Army are the ones that have not been on a deployment covered in sand and been in places guy only knows where. I have mines when I deployed he's for a while but it was a pain to clean. If you can get a new one for cheap if you know where or free let me know

 

[Kilo_17]

The the best bags in the Army are the ones that have not been on a deployment covered in sand and been in places guy only knows where. I have mines when I deployed he's for a while but it was a pain to clean. If you can get a new one for cheap if you know where or free let me know

Will do