Message Forums

A few hours use of a tent light can be enough to cause starting difficulties.

What I do is to carry a small spare battery for lighting, phone charging etc. when I am not on EHU.  The battery I use is one for a Fiesta, about the smallest car battery available, and it cost me less than £20.  This battery also has flat bolt-on terminals instead of the usual posts, making it easier to connect to, and I can charge it from the car if necessary.

I use a 12 amp hour mobility scooter battery for lighting ...its only 6 inches by 4 inches and will run an 8 watt strip light for well over 24 hours on a full charge...thats 6 days at 4 hours per evening ...i used the car battery once a long time ago but never again as i had to be pushed to get the car started...along with all the women driver jokes from the men...

kim

Quote: Originally posted by kimola on 05/7/2008

---

I use a 12 amp hour mobility scooter battery for lighting ...its only 6 inches by 4 inches and will run an 8 watt strip light for well over 24 hours on a full charge...

---

That cannot be correct, 8 watts for 24 hours is 16 amp hours, more than the capacity of your battery.

hi bernie

I am told that mobility scooter batterys produce 12 amp hours at 80% of the charge but i cook mine to 100% so it must store more than it says on the battery ....not sure how it works but it does..

kim

 Hi,  i dont know if this is any use to you, 

        i bought a new car battery then found out it wasnt the battery, so i  use it for camping, i bought from the pound shop ( cigarette lighter attachment, two car torches that plug into lighter,)  i plug them up to the spare car battery run the two lights all night for my son ( his scared of the dark ) ran these for three nights no problem.

      ive now bought dvd player that plugs in, second hand portable tv, adapter for my laptop, we love our camping and havent needed electric hook up yet.( but we only camp long weekends) i always carry masking tape too.

Quote: Originally posted by Bernie47 on 05/7/2008

Quote: Originally posted by kimola on 05/7/2008I use a 12 amp hour mobility scooter battery for lighting ...its only 6 inches by 4 inches and will run an 8 watt strip light for well over 24 hours on a full charge...

That cannot be correct, 8 watts for 24 hours is 16 amp hours, more than the capacity of your battery.

A cheaper & safer option is to buy a rechargeable lamp.  You can charge them up from your lighter socket during the day, or from the mains.  Much safer than flattening your car battery.  Don't rely on parking up a hill.  Bump starting can cause the timing belt to "jump" a tooth & wreck your engine.

One of these would do the job.  Think I'll get one myself at that price!