The Shadow

[Bugger]

After Project Hope
We Decided the cost and time it would take to upgrade the Challenger trailer it was easier to just buy one with our wishlist items


So Meet



Shadow (It's a Shadow in the Touaregs rear view mirror )



A Jurgens XT 140





With pressure pump
2 water tanks
A Hansen gas/220v built in Geyser
Duel compartment 90L National Luna Fridge freezer
Flip.down gas stove

Drawer system and
The
One point that was On.the top.of the Priority list was the TTT with the room part of the Sleeping Area so you.do not need to climb out of bed in to the open as the Roof top tent that was on previous trailer

We used it to the YEF 2022 and arrived in the rain and set up in the rain

It has the large side canopy area but will Un zip.this as I still want the Set up time as short as possible
And this eliminate 6 poles and ropes

The room side and Kitchen side have small but useful shade if need be

The Elecketricks needs full do over

Trailer power pack.220v -12v dc charger is not working and previous owner just installed a 8a Cteck
I managed to track down the company in Kzn that manufacture the power box
Sent them a email requesting Info

They Relied with
Owners manual
Full circuit diagrams and Bill of Materials
I'll remove the power box and see if I can check what is blown as I am a Qualified Electronic Mechanition got some experience to faulting

With the 220v plug connected on certain areas on trailer if you touch the trailer a certain way
You get a soft shocking tingling

This seem there is a slight earth leakage and will check that out aswell


Orderd
Victron smart Solar charger
Victron smart DC- DC charger
Victron Smart Battery protector
Victron Smart shunt

Was hoping to have all the Victron equipment to install over the festive season but waiting on the battery protect and Smart shunt

So this installation will wait for early 2023

My upholstery guy will be helping doing some upgrades the comming week
And I'll do basic maintenance and some other upgrades the comming week

Same as previous trailer the Tow hitch Shock is worn Kapoet
But this one seem like a real mission to remove
But that will be a challenge for next week

.

[HenriSteyn]

Enjoy Bugger!

[Mad Manny]

Nice Bugger.
Much better than the first trailer.

I'm always confused as to why guys need a a DC - DC charger, I've had my trailer for years, did Richtersveld and Bots and never needed a DC - DC charger.

However, Victron should have a DC to DC Charger cum Solar Charge controller in one, surely?


4x4Direct have a 20Amp WRND DC-DC charger and Solar Controller that can also charge LiFePo4 batteries for R2 500

[Woolf]

Down or maybe upside of Victron is that there is no combined unit.
If one module goes one still has the other. With the combined unit a fault may put everything out of action.
Separate modules much more bulky though.

Lithium batteries need 14.4V to charge fully which is higher than what a normal alternator puts out

[Bugger]

@Manny as Woolf mentioned that you need 14.7v to charge the deep cycle batteries
Hence the reason I opted for this dc to dc charger

Currently there is 2 oversize battery cables running from the battery in the trailer battery box to the tow hitch on a Brad Harris plug to charge the battery on long trips
That will be replaced with 6mm Silicone wire from Touareg to the dc-Dc charger in trailer

[Mad Manny]

Correct Woolf
for LiFePo4 batteries one needs a proper DC to DC charge controller...

Sorry, wasnt aware he went Lifepo4

[HenriSteyn]

Deep Cycle batteries also require 14.7v to fully charge them

[iandvl]

Deep Cycle batteries also require 14.7v to fully charge them

Yes... This. Which is a fact conveniently forgotten by most 4x4 fitment centre salesmen. They want to sell you a deep cycle for uber$$ but don't mention this. Which means your deep cycle becomes an expensive paperweight when you try and charge it from the alternator.

Currently (there is a pun there somewhere) I just run the fridge from the largest crank battery I can find which fits in the NL battery box. It has worked well. My current (there it is again) aux battery is a Dixon and has lasted about 5 years. This is a good innings for a battery - especially for an auxiliary battery as they normally are abused a little. It is on the way out now though and I need to replace it. If it were not for the solar panel, I would have had warm beer at Lekwena a few weeks ago...

I've got to relook at my power set up in the truck. I'm contemplating moving the NL battery box to the trailer and putting in a DC-DC charger with MPPT and deepcycle in the truck. But I'll get there one day.

[HenriSteyn]

With a little inconvenience a normal crank battery is best economical choice for running appliances in your car. It's cheaper and no DC DC charger required.

Yes you can only discharge to 75% of battery charge left, but I have lived with that for many years.

[Mad Manny]

I have nothing in Fearless other than a (fused) cable running from the battery to the rear of the vehicle.
This cable splits to 2 Brad Harrisons.
I can run the fridge in the back if I take it with on 1 BH.
The other BH charges the trailer battery when towing.
The trailer has a 104Ah High Cycle Lead Acid battery.

In the trailer I have a Meanwell 20A (AC to DC) charger that charges the battery with 220v - if available.
I also have a Solar controller (think it's 15A) that charges the trailer battery if I plug my panels in.

That are it.

No Shunt.
No Blueteeth.
No DC - DC.
No Isolator.
No Battery Protector.

No problems.

I think we tend to over-complicate things.

[HenriSteyn]

Mine are about the same.

Only I have longer solar panel cables than you. Much longer.

[Bugger]

I have 2 Sno battery boxes I used as Axillary power packs

Both had the largest car battery fitted I could find to fit in the box

Both have solar MPPT charge controllers mounted on the side making it nice and Mobile

With Brad Harris plugs to double up in my vehicle system
Or stand alone

For me this did work as battery's were cheaper But did not last longer than 2 years due to not often used


In my Syncro I installed Ctech more than 10 years ago with out a days problem

Duel input -Solar and Alternator D250S
220v 8Amp charger
Together 2x105A/h Gel Batteries
2x120W Folddable solar panels
This setup have worked perfect for 8 years till the Batteries gone kapoet

Now with 1 New Lithium Iron Battery it works perfect again


I rather spend the right money on the right equipment and have peace of mind


In Richtersveld I had charging problems from the Solar input
But in Covid I figured out the input connector had a bad connection. And I installed a Volt meter on the Solar input wires
This gives me a indication of voltage coming from the Solar panels -Indicating good or bad chRge

Yes I know you want to know the Current supplied to charge
But for my self I wanted to have indication the system is charging

Done similar in my Autovilla with a 330W panel on the Roof and a simple Charge controller
Working beautiful like that

[Bugger]

So Complaints sorry Ment to say Compliments for 2023
My fist post this year on.the Forum

Today my Victron kit was delivered
Dc-dc
Solar Mppt
SmRt Shunt
And
Smart Battery protect

I did buy a few thing in December for the installation
Isolator switch for cutting off the battery power to complete system

I'm contemplating to install all my power equipment in the nose cone

Or fit all the equipment on a back board then I can just fit the board inside of the trailer and the battery in Nose cone

.

[Woolf]

Nice

[Bugger]

Ok who would be the best to supply a Lifepo4 battery

100Ah or a 200Ah