[Smudger]

I have several backpacks used for tfr and other chemical applications  they are charged in the unit but all the sockets and wires are a pain and occasionally one is needed out on the road but been left behind, so my thoughts are this - could it just be wired up to the leisure battery and charged while driving around, after all they are battery powered and one of them (the mobi can be charged off a cigarette lighter socket)

Do you think this is viable or will they get over charged and burst into flames or some such thing 

Any thoughts ?

Darran

[SB Cleaning]

Your backpacks must get a lot of use Darren

I charge my gardiners one up and it will last weeks before recharging.

[Ooooooog]

Guess they’d charge too fast. Think they’re only 15ah or thereabouts.
You could use the correct charger with an inverter. Seems daft going from 12v to 240v, then back to 12v though.

I have charged one with jump leads off a running battery before, got me through the day, but shortened battery life.

[Splash & dash]

I have 240 volt sockets in all our vans when we put them on charge at night we just connect the backpacks and cameras etc into the socket inside the van and they are charged up automatically

[Ascjim]

Yes it can be done, just like your leisure battery gets charged from the crank.  Prob need another split relay.

[TomCrowther]

I’ve recently got a matabi backpack sprayer and lance for roofs and soffits etc. Has a lithium battery which charges really quickly and is good for 25 fills at least. Great bit of kit.

[Spruce]

I have several backpacks used for tfr and other chemical applications  they are charged in the unit but all the sockets and wires are a pain and occasionally one is needed out on the road but been left behind, so my thoughts are this - could it just be wired up to the leisure battery and charged while driving around, after all they are battery powered and one of them (the mobi can be charged off a cigarette lighter socket)

Do you think this is viable or will they get over charged and burst into flames or some such thing 

Any thoughts ?

Darran

I'm considering a pure sin wave converter and using the standard charger to charge the backpack and gutter vac camera and monitor using the leisure battery.

These backpacks maybe 12v but they can't be connected directly to your van's alternator. They need a charger that regulates the rate of charge given to the battery. My Gardiner backpack charger has an output of 1.7amps at 12v.

If this was 2amps then the inverter needs 2.4 amps to run the charger.  So a 300watt inverter would be fine. The smaller inverters around this size are usually supplied with a plug for using a cigarette lighter. This is a good way of ensuring the inverter isn't left on doing nothing.

If you were using the full capacity of the 300 watt inverter you will need 30 amps to run it. This is the problem.

This inverter mustn't be too big or else the lads will try to run a hot plate off of it. Larger inverters are designed to be powered by large battery banks.

[Smudger]

SB - jus trying too make things easier - I know if the guys leave them on a van no one will charge them and they will run out mid job 

Splash - yes I love that idea/setup and considered it as I have immersion elements in tanks, but it would mean trailing wires around the unit and then some tw@t (ie me) driving off with it still plugged in the mains supply 

Spruce - sounds interesting, pretty please for a link 

Darran

[Spruce]

SB - jus trying too make things easier - I know if the guys leave them on a van no one will charge them and they will run out mid job 

Splash - yes I love that idea/setup and considered it as I have immersion elements in tanks, but it would mean trailing wires around the unit and then some tw@t (ie me) driving off with it still plugged in the mains supply 

Spruce - sounds interesting, pretty please for a link 

Darran

Something along these lines.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300W-600W-pure-sine-wave-inverter-12v-300-watt-230v-AC/202052164055?hash=item2f0b3f59d7:g:LWMAAOSw9mFWJ0vH

Pure sine wave as it mimics 230v electricity at home. Modified sine wave inverters are cheaper but they have a dirty wave form and don't work well with some electronics. My opinion is that if you are going down this route buy better.

I would try one on one of the vans and evaluate it before making it part of each van's standard kit.

[Spruce]

I'm going to add to this as inverters aren't the perfect solution.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAnrqxBbd3c

[Smudger]

Cheers for that 👍

Darran

[NWH]

Mine has that feature I have a socket inside that you can plug a backpack into when I’m charging the leisure’s from mains outside the van,Grippa fitted mine good to have if you must use a backpack.

[andyM]

Just buy a cheapish Inverter and connect up to a 110ah leisure battery.
Personally I don't think you need to spend out on a Pure sine wave inverter as a charger on those backpacks isn't sophisticated electronics.
I've got a £30 ish one from Toolstation which has a peak power of 1000 watts and a constant 500 watt supply and has a 240 volt socket.

https://www.toolstation.com/power-inverter/p29911?store=K4&utm_source=googleshopping&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=googleshoppingfeed&gclid=Cj0KCQjwpNr4BRDYARIsAADIx9y4X4u7ESXVmd4Bp8bcIXO1Wd12DJzZ5xGx8JlD-xqMdIYjxaTNxI8aAoMBEALw_wcB


I would suggest you try something similar and if it doesn't work just take it back for a refund.
My one will charge Tablets, Phones run a 9" Desk Fan etc. so i would assume it's good enough to charge a Backpack. 

[Smudger]

Thanks AndyM


Darran