Justin Welsh's story

Modern day camping means getting away from it all - but still having it all. Computers, TVs, mobile phones, lights, fridges, microwaves, even hair dryers come along on contemporary camping trips.

Until recently, I camped in a constant state of power stress.  I wondered if our power would last until we could connect to mains again; I never knew when my batteries might die; I was anxious about power surges damaging my computer; even figuring out how to plug all our appliances in was a worry.

Finally, I discovered an end-to-end power solution that gives me peace of mind.  Successfully implemented in Complete Campsite camper trailers (the winners of CamperTrailer Magazine’s Offroad Camper of the Year 2009), the products are all supplied by Bainbridge Technologies, and they’re easy to DIY install.

Here’s how I eliminate my contemporary camping power stress:

This 12V 20A DC to DC charger automatically charges and conditions my batteries while I drive, so they’re always in great shape and ready to go when I stop to camp.

This 8-step charger automatically conditions, charges and monitors.  When I get where I’m going, I plug in to mains or generator power and get charged up quickly. The foolproof monitoring lets me forget about my batteries and never risk overcharging.

I’m confident of smooth, consistent, worry-free power for appliances like my TV and laptop.  Power surges are a thing of the past, and my sensitive electronic equipment is protected.

I plug up to 6 appliances into this one neat, tidy, fuse block.  If any of the appliances have power problems, it’s easy to figure out which circuit is playing up. 

All the vital statistics of my battery are monitored, and I have total power peace of mind.  No more wondering if I have to charge today or if I can afford to wait until tomorrow.  No more blackouts just when I need power the most!

Watch our Youtube on the end-to-end camper trailer power solution.  Ask Peter Blume, our “resident power systems expert", a technical question.  

In the water or on the road, the last thing you need is a dead battery.  Whether it’s your start battery, your house bank or your accessory battery that dies, the consequences can be dire.  If your start battery dies when you’re far from land or civilisation, the consequences can even be deadly.

That’s why you need the Sinergex PureCharge battery charger – a heavy duty 3 stage battery charger designed to increase the performance and life of your batteries.  Like other truly automatic 3 stage chargers, the Sinergex PureCharge delivers charges in bulk, absorption and float stages.  Unlike other chargers, though, the PureCharge features 3 isolated outputs to charge up to 3 batteries at one time; it can charge almost any type of battery including Lead Acid, AGM, Sealed, maintenance free and GEL; and it can charge even big batteries with a charging output of up to 40 AMPS.

The Sinergex PureCharge is a powerful, multifunctional battery charger that will keep your batteries in better condition for longer – so you won’t be caught dead.

Find out more about how the PureCharge works and how it can give your batteries a longer life by checking out our Youtube video.  If you have any questions about it, just ask Peter Blume.

Don’t cut short your adventures

It’s not always convenient to connect to mains power when you’re off adventuring on the road or on the water.  But the last thing you want to worry about is running out of battery power.  So how can you keep your batteries not only charged, but also in optimum condition, without mains power?

condition your leisure batteries using your alternator power, solar power, or both.  So you can save your time for adventuring instead of being tied to mains power; and you can save money on battery replacements by keeping your batteries in great condition.

The new CTEK D250S Dual is simple and affordable

Any leisure vehicle with a dual battery system will benefit from the convenience and cost-savings of the CTEK D250S Dual.  With 2 DC inputs – one for alternator power and one for solar power – you can charge your batteries while you’re on the move or when you’re ready to stay put for awhile.

The simplicity of the CTEK D250S Dual is what makes it affordable, too:  it doesn’t need heavy gauge wiring; it can be easily DIY installed; it doesn’t require a solar regulator; and it doesn’t need a VSR.

Keep your adventures going with the CTEK D250S Dual

The CTEK D250S Dual gives you the freedom and flexibility to keep your batteries charged and in optimum condition without having to connect to mains power.  Will it work for your battery set-up?  Watch our Youtube on what the CTEK D250S Dual does and why. You can also ask questions directly to our “resident power systems expert”, Peter Blume.

Email us about your best or worst “dead battery” story in 50 words or less, and you could win a FREE CTEK D250S Dual.  The competition closes on 30 September 2010.

Adventurers in today’s world have serious toys to take on the road: computers, mobile phones, GPSs, lights, even fridges.  The problem is, not all vehicles have the right plugs for your appliances and toys.

Baintech introduces an easy and inexpensive solution: the Plugger 3.  This combo pack of 3 plugs – Engel, Merit and Ciga – lets you “plug and play” any appliance or toy into any socket of any car, 4WD, RV or boat. Now Engel fridges can plug into Merit sockets; Waco fridges can connect into Engel sockets; and any other combination of appliance and socket is possible, too.

The best thing about the Plugger 3 is it connects all your plugs with an Engel connector, which is the most secure and robust, least likely to fall out, connector.  You just cut the existing connector off your 12 v appliance or toy and connect the wires to the back of the new Plugger 3 Engel connector.  Then if you want to plug into a Merit socket or a Ciga socket, just screw on the matching Plugger 3 connection, plug in your appliance or toy, and away you go!

At only $35, the Baintech’s Plugger 3 gives you affordable versatility to take any appliance or toy on any adventure in any vehicle.

Baintech also offers a full range of sockets to suit these plugs so you can match to fit!

When you have serious power needs for your “home-away-from-home”, you need power you can rely on – whether you’re on the road, on the water or in a remote location.   It takes a lot of power, and heavy duty chargers and inverters, to ensure fridges, computers, televisions, hairdryers, ovens, even washing machines, run smoothly all the time - wherever you are.

The Victron Phoenix MultiPlus from Bainbridge Technologies gives you a serious power boost and can even automatically switch between generators and mains – with no interruption to your power. It’s a sophisticated sinewave inverter, battery charger and power transfer switch all in one compact unit.  It’s perfect for big boats, serious caravans and remote houses off the power grid.

Now you can get power you never thought possible for your boat, RV or remote home:

· Get uninterrupted power: Don’t lose data on your computer or come home to rotting food in an unpowered fridge.  If your marina or mains power is interrupted, your Victron MultiPlus will automatically switch to inverter mode – and back again when the power is restored - so quickly your appliances won’t even flicker.

· Boost your power: Add the power you need to marina, mains or generator power to keep all your appliances running all the time – even during periods of high demand.  Get a power boost so you can use a smaller, lighter generator – that means a lower upfront cost, less fuel consumption and less pollution.

· Maximise the life of your batteries with minimal space: With limited space in your home-away-from-home, the Victron Multiplus is the perfect, compact all-in-one solution to automatically monitor and charge your batteries, keeping them in optimum condition and saving you money on replacements.

· Get virtually unlimited power: Get as much power as you need by connecting multiple Victron Multipluses in parallel.

If you’re serious about reliable, uninterrupted power wherever you are, ask Peter Blume, Bainbridge Technologies’ in-house “Total Power Systems Expert”, about the Victron Phoenix MultiPlus for your boat, RV or remote site.

The CTEK D250S simply and affordably charges, maintains and conditions your leisure batteries whilst you’re on the move, to:

• increase your batteries’ performance
• extend your batteries’ lifespan
• save you time
• save you money on battery replacements

What’s so ‘smart’ about the CTEK D250S?

Using either your alternator or solar energy, the D250S:

• turns itself on when it senses your engine running
• reads the condition of your battery and starts the right stage of its 6-stage cycle to charge, condition or maintain it
• switches itself off when your engine stops

The D250S is completely separate from your starter battery, so your starter battery’s performance and operation aren’t affected. It also speeds up charging time so you don’t need to let your engine idle.

What makes CTEK D250S so affordable?

Some onboard charging systems use heavy gauge wiring and need specialists to install them, making the total system cost expensive. With simple, straightforward installation and cabling requirements, you can install the D250S yourself – cheaply.

Are you interested in saving time and money on your leisure batteries this summer?

Call us on 1300 224 683 or click here to find out more about this smart charger!

• convenient: affordable, simple and small
• flexible: available in 1amp, 3.5 amps and 6 amps to charge GEL, AGM, MF and Lead Acid batteries
• intelligent: can sense a battery’s voltage and automatically power up a depleted battery or supply a permanent maintenance charge
• safe: anti-sparking connectors, over-heating temperature sensors, fuse-less short circuit protection, reverse polarity protection
• tough: IP65 weatherproof and made of ultra tough ABS plastic

Call us on 1300 224 683 or click here to find out more about these robust, compact chargers.

OUTDOOR adventurers attending the this year’s “2009 Victorian Caravan Show” from May 6 to 11 will find the best range of DC power sockets when they visit Bainbridge Technologies at the Battery World stand.

Bainbridge Technologies’ General Manager Andrew Smith said with school holidays happening again in June/July many families would be travelling to the great outdoors and would want to make sure they had the right accessories to power necessary devices such as lights or a fridge.

BAINBRIDGE TECHNOLOGIES is set to supercharge the product offering at this year’s Australian Automotive Aftermarket Expo showcasing a range of new and improved products under its exclusive BAINTECH brand.

A relative newcomer to the auto aftermarket scene, Bainbridge Technologies General Manager Andrew Smith said the range featured a combination of parts and accessories suitable for a wide variety of vehicles.

BAINBRIDGE TECHNOLOGIES is enjoying supercharged success after exhibiting its range of new and improved BAINTECH products at the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Expo earlier this month.

Bainbridge Technologies General Manager Andrew Smith said the expo had given the company an opportunity to launch its new range of BAINTECH DC Power Sockets.

IF you are looking for a fusing solution that won’t make you get your ‘wires crossed’ and provides coverage against fire and electrical shock, BAINTECH’s DC Fuse Blocks are a great choice.

Andrew Smith General Manager of Bainbridge Technologies, the company responsible for the BAINTECH range, said with fusing being such a critical part of an electrical system it was important to choose a product that provided safe connectivity and was simple to install.

AUSTRALIA Day is fast approaching and people looking to hit the great outdoors without compromising on the safety and creature comforts they enjoy at home need look no further than their chosen mode of transportation.

Michael Tyrrell Managing Director of Bainbridge Technologies said people could power everything they needed for the long-weekend by maximising the life and power quality of a battery.