Hi, guys, Andrew here from Accelerate Auto Electrics & Air Conditioning on the Sunshine Coast. Today, we’re going to look at some of the options that are available for portable dual battery boxes. Portable dual battery boxes have become increasingly popular due to their ability to be moved as needed.
THUNDER 12V BATTERY BOX
Here we have the Thunder 12-volt Battery Box.
The Thunder Battery Box provides 12 and 240 volt power for common devices and appliances, acting as a dual battery system to manage solar and in-vehicle charge.
It features a 7 stage smart charger to maintain battery condition. The unit is compatible with all types of battery, although we always recommend the AGM. Setting up the battery box is simple, with a step-by-step guide that helps you select your type of battery. It remembers the last battery you used and will warn you if there’s a fault during the charge.
Some of the features include:
- Control panel with LCD
- 6 amp 7 stage AC/DC smart charger
- 300-watt, 240-volt modified sine wave inverter
- 2x 10-amp cigarette sockets
- 50-amp Anderson plug
- 5-volt USB port
- Isolator switch.
- Jump Start Terminals
Both these jump start terminals are protected as well. A great feature that is unique to the Thunder is the built-in charger that allows you to plug it directly into 240-volt to charge the battery.
Like most other portable battery boxes, if you want to charge it from your car’s alternator, you’ll need to install an isolator or a DC/DC charger like these.
PROJECTA POWER-HUB
The next one here is a Projecta Power-Hub. Similar to the Thunder, it turns your 12-volt battery into a convenient, versatile, and user-friendly device. With 10 power outlets, the Power-Hub allows you total freedom to charge or power multiple devices simultaneously.
Its versatility makes it ideal for a wide range of applications, including camping, caravanning, on the work site, in the backyard, or four-wheel-drive expeditions. The Power-Hub is ergonomically designed for outdoor applications with gutters moulded into the top housing to allow water to drain away from vital electronics.
There are waterproof covers to shield the plugs and sockets, with a slot that allows the cords to remain plugged-in while the cover is closed. The handle provides maximum grip comfort and double as tie-down points to secure it from moving around in your vehicle.
Some of the features include:
- 4-inch full colour LCD display
- 300-watt, 240-volt pure sine wave inverter
- 2x USB ports
- 2x Cigarette Lighter Sockets
- two angled sockets
- 50-amp heavy-duty Anderson plug
- 2x Merrit sockets
- DC/DC Output Terminals
Like the Thunder, it can fit 130-amp AGM battery as well. The Power-Hub does not come with a built-in charger, but it’s priced accordingly, so for the difference, you could purchase a charger.
Similar to the Thunder, they both need the DC/DC isolator or smart charger to charge from the vehicle.
AAE CUSTOM BATTERY BOX
Okay, here we have one of our own custom battery boxes. This one here is our basic model.
The main advantage of the custom battery box is we can fit it with exactly what you want. We can fit as many different types of sockets, meters, and different Anderson plugs as you can possibly think of.
The other advantage is that we can fit different DC/DC chargers inside the lid, meaning it’s a bit more compact and it’s a lot easier to swap between different vehicles as the DC/DC charger remains in the box. If you’ve got an older vehicle, we can use the SBI12 as well, and that’ll work quite well.
The main saving with these is we don’t have to add anything you don’t need, so we can build these to suit a budget. We always use the 130-amp AGM battery, and we find these are a great option for people who want something a bit more flexible and a bit custom.
These are just a few of the options currently available for portable dual battery boxes. If you would like a price or options on a custom battery box, shoot us an email to info@amae.net.au or give us a call on 1300 227 353.
