Seeking Dual Car Battery Installation Advice--Part II (Power PackApproach)

[W. Watson]

I'm restarting this thread with the addition of Part II in the Subject. My
comments relevant to Part II are below. I added them to the the old thread,
but they have gone unnoticed. If there any comments about the 600W Xantera
or other choices, I'd like to hear about them; otherwise, I'll be purchasing
it very soon.

--------------------New Comments at the Bottom of Old Thread--------------
Hi, I left for my 3 week vacation on the 9th, my last post. I was unable to
really start installing it, so figured I'd do it on my trip. Fortunately, I
found a much better solution on my way before I tinkered with anything. It's
called a power pack.

When I happened into the Tower campground in Yellowstone, I asked the
campground host if he had any electric outlets I could borrow. One thing led
to another, and he offered me the use of his Xantera 600W PP. It worked fine
in that it powered my CPAP unit for 8 hours. One can recharge it by plugging
it into the car's 12v outlet.

<http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200317822_200317822>

Although I don't need it, it has a radio. alarm, and a light. Allows for 3
AC devices. I used it for 3 nights. I think Xantrex makes an ever higher
wattage one. Amazon has it for a lower price, much lower depending upon how
shipping figures into it. The campground host told me there might be a
bigger (wattage) model.

 

[Ross Herbert]

I'm restarting this thread with the addition of Part II in the Subject. My
comments relevant to Part II are below. I added them to the the old thread,
but they have gone unnoticed. If there any comments about the 600W Xantera
or other choices, I'd like to hear about them; otherwise, I'll be purchasing
it very soon.

--------------------New Comments at the Bottom of Old Thread--------------
Hi, I left for my 3 week vacation on the 9th, my last post. I was unable to
really start installing it, so figured I'd do it on my trip. Fortunately, I
found a much better solution on my way before I tinkered with anything. It's
called a power pack.

When I happened into the Tower campground in Yellowstone, I asked the
campground host if he had any electric outlets I could borrow. One thing led
to another, and he offered me the use of his Xantera 600W PP. It worked fine
in that it powered my CPAP unit for 8 hours. One can recharge it by plugging
it into the car's 12v outlet.

<http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200317822_200317822>

Although I don't need it, it has a radio. alarm, and a light. Allows for 3
AC devices. I used it for 3 nights. I think Xantrex makes an ever higher
wattage one. Amazon has it for a lower price, much lower depending upon how
shipping figures into it. The campground host told me there might be a
bigger (wattage) model.

The Xantrex 600 has a smaller battery which means that it won't last
long if you power more than one low/medium power device. You would
therefore have to recharge it more frequently. Unless you have a high
Ah capacity vehicle battery I would hesitate to charge it from the
vehicle except in a dire emergency. If it suits your purposes then go
ahead and buy it.

The higher power Xantrex is the XPower 1500
http://www.preparedwithpower.com/backup-emergency-power/powerpacks/powerpack-1500.html#product-menu

It doesn't have the gimmicky extra "fruit" of the 600 and it is
trolley mounted so you don't have to lift it to move it around. The
battery is a 60Ah unit so they appear to have put the value into
making it more reliable rather than the gimicks. Northern sell it for
$330 compared to Amazon's $745 (what a rip-off)
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200313775_200313775?cm

At $330 from Northern it would be my choice.

 

[W. Watson]

Thanks. I agree with your "fruit" comment. Trolley mounted is good, but for
my app, I think I can lift it around. Basically, I need it for my CPAP
device when I'm car camping. The plan is to just put in the back of my van
or Subaru SUV. I can recharge it from the 12v outlet during the day while
I'm driving.

The Amazon price sounds wrong. Maybe Xantera has other choices. Maybe they
have a web site?

 

[W. Watson]

One more point. What are safety concerns here? When I was considering the
dual battery approach with a solenoid, and so on, it included an enclosed
battery box had a vent via a tube to the outside world. This was to remove
any noxious gases. With the PP approach, the lack of ventilation to the
outside could be hazardous. Comments?

 

[Ross Herbert]

One more point. What are safety concerns here? When I was considering the
dual battery approach with a solenoid, and so on, it included an enclosed
battery box had a vent via a tube to the outside world. This was to remove
any noxious gases. With the PP approach, the lack of ventilation to the
outside could be hazardous. Comments?

If you are planning to use a dual battery approach on your Subaru SUV,
there may be sufficient room under the engine bonnet to mount a second
battery - this is the usual method adopted by off-roaders. Both
batteries would preferably be of similar Ah capacity. You would need a
battery isolation device which controls the charging of both the main
and auxiliary batteries and prevents over discharge of your main
battery. These days, most people use "smart" battery isolators which
do not employ mechanical switches or solenoids.

HEre is an example of one such system
http://www.powerstream.com/battery-isolator.htm


The company is Xantrex, and the link I gave to the X1500 is the
Xantrex website page for portable power devices they manufacture. As
you will see on the page they make only 4 devices and of these I doubt
the 300EP would be suitable, the 600 you already know about, the X1500
I recommended, and the more specialised sound unit which again is not
recommended.

 

[W. Watson]

Thank, it'll be the 600, but what about toxic or noxious fumes for using the
PP inside the car. That is, if I'm driving along life's highway charging up
the 600, am I going to die of poisoning the air in the car?

 

[W. Watson]

Their real website is <http://www.xantrex.com/index.asp>. Support can be
obtained there.

 

[Ross Herbert]

Thank, it'll be the 600, but what about toxic or noxious fumes for using the
PP inside the car. That is, if I'm driving along life's highway charging up
the 600, am I going to die of poisoning the air in the car?

I don't know the battery type in the 600 but being a portable unit I
would think it would be a maintenance free battery which is not likely
to emit gas provided it is charged with an approved charging unit. Why
not ask Xantrex for their opinion?

 

[W. Watson]

I have. No answer yet. I'll post the response when I get it. See my
additional post on "Poisoning" below. Looks like the battery is AGM.

 

[W. Watson]

I have. No answer yet. I'll post the response when I get it. See my
additional post on "Poisoning" below. Looks like the battery is AGM.

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

I have. No answer yet. I'll post the response when I get it. See my
additional post on "Poisoning" below. Looks like the battery is AGM.

That is a gel cell type of battery, and unless you charge it at a lot
higher than recommended current, it will not release any Hydrogen or
Oxygen gas.


--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida