SmartBank Advanced split charge

Now then,

I'm a Scout leader (yeah yeah Dib Dib Dib Dob Dob Dob **** taking - heard it all before). Got a 110 I'm trying to kit out so it's suitable for camps. Want to put a split charge system in place so that my fellow leaders and I can charge our mobi's/laptops etc so that we can keep in touch with work and the wives (shudder).

I'm thinking of the SmartBank Advanced with 2x 100 amp Lucas batt's. As we're only primarily charging we don't need pure sine wave, so most inverters like the Maplin 600w should be enough.

Looking for someone to tell me I'm either talking ****e, correct some detail or say yup, all ok. Just before I order the stuff and look an idiot. I'll pay for it myself so if I get it wrong and end up paying out again the wife will thrash me (hey hey!!!).

Thanks in advance.

Craig

why not save yourself a few hundred quid and get a universal charger or 2 that plugs into the fag lighter ?

Sean said:

why not save yourself a few hundred quid and get a universal charger or 2 that plugs into the fag lighter ?

Click to expand...

Hi Sean. OCD. Want the batts out of site and tidy, a nice tidy setup otherwise I'll go f*cking crazy

Also, want it to be all clean and nicely wired in so that any of the leaders can borrow the 110 and simply plug in their mobile chargers without much thought.

is this yours or scout funds you are spending ?

Sean said:

why not save yourself a few hundred quid and get a universal charger or 2 that plugs into the fag lighter ?

Click to expand...

Also, should've mentioned that a lot of stuff (charging, using laptop etc) will be done at night when the kids are asleep and our time is our own again. Thus the engine won't be running...

Sean said:

is this yours or scout funds you are spending ?

Click to expand...

Most likely mine. I work in IT so a mobi and laptop is essential. Finding charging points throughout a week camp is a nightmare and distracts from paying attention to the kids. Several of the leaders are in the same situation but we'd rather the Scout money is spent on the kids and it's my 110. We could carry on as we are (genny when possible and intermittent calls/emails) but it's not good for jobs/marriages and therefore not good for the Leaders and ultimately the kids.

Simple rule in Scout leadership, keep the wife/husband happy and everyone is.

I too am a scout leader.
I too work full time in IT.
I have not however spent £££'s on my landy to charge my phone

Take sean's advice and get a cigarette charger and plug it in. The power used to charge a phone is not going to flatten a battery big enough to start a landy. So no need for a split charge system.


P.S Where are you from? update your user CP to show your location

Very tidy system mate. Do you install yourself?

A mate recommended the same system as he has. Durite 0-727-33 relay and 2x Numax 86A batts. Fraction of the cost but achieves the same thing. Don't need the monitor, so seems ideal.

Got the Durite based system fitted, works a treat

Thought I'd update my post on this. Had the system all fitted, then thought better to make it portable. So made it into a battery box

Spec
- Wickes Galvanised Mobile Toolbox
- Maplin 600W Pure Sine Wave Inverter
- Numax Connect and Forget 10A Charger
- 2x 86Ah Numax XC24MF batteries
- Anderson connector to plug into the split charge system in my Landy - keeps it topped up when main car battery is full
- cables, sockets etc

It's weatherproof (ish) and the top box has an extension inside where I can lock away leaders mobiles on charge when we're on Scout camp. Last camp I took it on I used it to power phones, iPod, laptop, flood lights, cameras etc - lasted happily throughout the week.

The good bit - it seems to work very well, last time I went camping without power for a week I came back to so much email that I thought 'never again'. The bad bit - cost a small fortune, but if it saves the email hassle then it's worth it. The true problem, and no idea why I didn't think of this before.... weight. It weighs 58Kg, about 9 Stone. Lifting it in and out of the Landy is not at all fun, and with the Bell Tent and Stove, just these three things equal over 100KG. The joy of glamping

Pictures

Batteries


Inverter/Charger


Sockets


Extension box


Anderson connector


Battery box