Camping and battery charging

[sleedale]

We are going on holiday next week   We are going camping in our old campervan with tent or awning.
we have electric hook up for the van and do have a couple of sockets I can use to charge my batteries, but wondered if it's ok to use the 12v socket with a car USB plug thing ( you know what I mean, the one we can use to charge phones etc)
if its ok, then I can charge batteries while travelling instead of trying to make sure they are charged when we are plugged into the mains, which would mean probably leaving them overnight 

And and I assume it's NOT ok to use the USB on the radio? 

Oh, and.......sorry there's more........
do I take my coil kit, including blowtorch thing, or should I just make up a few as spares? I don't have spare heads to put them in, I'd just have to make some, maybe test them at home and take them with me to fit if needed? Or maybe just recoil my 3 tanks before I go and hope for the best?

you see.....the last time we went away, I was vaping but also had stinkies to fall back on, and now I don't. 

Thank you peeps

[Pepperty]

I don't know anything about power........... sorry

But what coils would you be needing to redo? if its protanks then they last weeks, you would maybe have to re-thread some cotton wool, if thats what you use

[sleedale]

Jun 20, 2014 18:46:31 GMT Pepperty said:

I don't know anything about power........... sorry

But what coils would you be needing to redo? if its protanks then they last weeks, you would maybe have to re-thread some cotton wool, if thats what you use

Thank you Pepperty that's what I hoped you'd say......I have two protank mini 2 and one naturevape mini pro. I'll take some cotton wool and tweezers and leave the wire at home......less to find space for. 
And yes, I probably 'need' a few more tanks but I've spent a load recently.......since I joined in here strangely 

[toots]

ronaldo is the best person to ask about charging your batteries, hopefully he'll sneak in here and give you some advice

[ronaldo]

Jun 20, 2014 19:59:16 GMT toots said:

ronaldo is the best person to ask about charging your batteries, hopefully he'll sneak in here and give you some advice

im here I will read above post and make my comment

[ronaldo]

Jun 20, 2014 18:41:44 GMT sleedale said:

We are going on holiday next week   We are going camping in our old campervan with tent or awning.
we have electric hook up for the van and do have a couple of sockets I can use to charge my batteries, but wondered if it's ok to use the 12v socket with a car USB plug thing ( you know what I mean, the one we can use to charge phones etc)
if its ok, then I can charge batteries while travelling instead of trying to make sure they are charged when we are plugged into the mains, which would mean probably leaving them overnight 

And and I assume it's NOT ok to use the USB on the radio? 

Oh, and.......sorry there's more........
do I take my coil kit, including blowtorch thing, or should I just make up a few as spares? I don't have spare heads to put them in, I'd just have to make some, maybe test them at home and take them with me to fit if needed? Or maybe just recoil my 3 tanks before I go and hope for the best?

you see.....the last time we went away, I was vaping but also had stinkies to fall back on, and now I don't. 

Thank you peeps

yes you can use your car lighter accessory socket just make sure the 12v plug to usb is low rated about 550 ma or below and you will be fine

+ I use the U S B on my car radio as that is only rated at 480 ma so the answer is yes and yes  

[sleedale]

Oh wow ronaldo, you have no idea how happy I am at those two piece of information

It's just going to make the whole holiday so much nicer, more chilled and relaxed. I will check the 12v plug to USB rating just to make sure though, but didn't think I'd be able to use the one on the radio. That will be a lot easier cos it's in the front while the socket thing is in the back of the car lighter accessory socket is in the back (moved there when we had the leisure battery moved)

A huge thank you Ronaldo, it's great to get advice from someone who knows.

[VapingBad]

I have loads of batteries partly to avoid this problem as my car cuts off the cigar lighter with the ignition, so I wired on to the torch recharging socket in the glove box to find that switches off after 45 mins, Still managed a week with no hook up (IIRC 15 18650s).

Charging off the hook up would be best, if you have to do it unattended get a large biscuit tin and make a cutout for the charger cable and charge them in that with the lid, u could put dry sand or a stone place mat in the bottom for extra heat protection. I have never used a charging bag so can't comment on those. The first time I camped when vaping generic cigalikes I just had to have some stinkies as keeping them charges was getting in the way of the holiday too much.

Having a fast charger and batteries that can be charged fast really makes like a lot easier here, I can charge 4 VTC4s in 70 mins.

[VapingBad]

If you do go the car cigar lighter root I would get inline protector or power supply that prevents you from running your car battery down too much.

[sleedale]

Jun 20, 2014 20:15:37 GMT VapingBad said:

I have loads of batteries partly to avoid this problem as my car cuts off the cigar lighter with the ignition, so I wired on to the torch recharging socket in the glove box to find that switches off after 45 mins, Still managed a week with no hook up (IIRC 15 18650s).

Charging off the hook up would be best, if you have to do it unattended get a large biscuit tin and make a cutout for the charger cable and charge them in that with the lid, u could put dry sand or a stone place mat in the bottom for extra heat protection. I have never used a charging bag so can't comment on those. The first time I camped when vaping generic cigalikes I just had to have some stinkies as keeping them charges was getting in the way of the holiday too much.

Having a fast charger and batteries that can be charged fast really makes like a lot easier here, I can charge 4 VTC4s in 70 mins.

Thank you VapingBad, but to use a fast charger and loads of batteries I'd have to spend even more dosh on more shiny stuff, cos I only have ego t and spinner batteries at the moment. Have yet to move up to the next level, if I do so will try out the biscuit tin charging box method, or get a charging bag maybe?

[sleedale]

Jun 20, 2014 20:21:11 GMT VapingBad said:

If you do go the car cigar lighter root I would get inline protector or power supply that prevents you from running your car battery down too much.

We should be ok as we would be using the campervan leisure battery which is charged through the zig unit when driving or on hook up (I hope  )

[VapingBad]

Jun 20, 2014 20:21:39 GMT sleedale said:

Jun 20, 2014 20:15:37 GMT VapingBad said:

I have loads of batteries partly to avoid this problem as my car cuts off the cigar lighter with the ignition, so I wired on to the torch recharging socket in the glove box to find that switches off after 45 mins, Still managed a week with no hook up (IIRC 15 18650s).

Charging off the hook up would be best, if you have to do it unattended get a large biscuit tin and make a cutout for the charger cable and charge them in that with the lid, u could put dry sand or a stone place mat in the bottom for extra heat protection. I have never used a charging bag so can't comment on those. The first time I camped when vaping generic cigalikes I just had to have some stinkies as keeping them charges was getting in the way of the holiday too much.

Having a fast charger and batteries that can be charged fast really makes like a lot easier here, I can charge 4 VTC4s in 70 mins.

Thank you VapingBad, but to use a fast charger and loads of batteries I'd have to spend even more dosh on more shiny stuff, cos I only have ego t and spinner batteries at the moment. Have yet to move up to the next level, if I do so will try out the biscuit tin charging box method, or get a charging bag maybe?

Yep, I'm quite a heavy vaper and use higher power stuff.  I would consider a second battery if I were you and then you will never be caught out.  Also charging a eGo should not run your car battery too low and shouldn't need a protector, I mentioned as we have often has a couple of NiMh 8 bay charges for torches etc and an eCig charger running off the car that sometimes stays at the camp-site for days.  The only time I did kill the car battery is with an electric cool box.

Happy camping, I love it, my favourite type holiday.

[smifee]

Jun 20, 2014 20:24:25 GMT sleedale said:

Jun 20, 2014 20:21:11 GMT VapingBad said:

If you do go the car cigar lighter root I would get inline protector or power supply that prevents you from running your car battery down too much.

We should be ok as we would be using the campervan leisure battery which is charged through the zig unit when driving or on hook up (I hope  )

You  may want to get a 'Battery Master' from a company called Vanbitz. It takes charge from your leisure battery to ensure that the engine battery doesn't go flat.

I'm a bit obsessive about battery power in my camper. The leisure battery capacity is 500Ah, 4 x 125Ah, as I go away for a couple of months at a time and don't use campsites. I avoid 'maintenance free' batteries and check the levels regularly. That's why my leisure batteries are over 9 years old and still going strong.

I'd better stop now. I used to only be able to 'bore for England' about Campers but now I've added Vaping to my repertoire

[Deleted]

Jun 20, 2014 20:48:32 GMT smifee said:

Jun 20, 2014 20:24:25 GMT sleedale said:

We should be ok as we would be using the campervan leisure battery which is charged through the zig unit when driving or on hook up (I hope  )

You  may want to get a 'Battery Master' from a company called Vanbitz. It takes charge from your leisure battery to ensure that the engine battery doesn't go flat.

I'm a bit obsessive about battery power in my camper. The leisure battery capacity is 500Ah, 4 x 125Ah, as I go away for a couple of months at a time and don't use campsites. I avoid 'maintenance free' batteries and check the levels regularly. That's why my leisure batteries are over 9 years old and still going strong.

I'd better stop now. I used to only be able to 'bore for England' about Campers but now I've added Vaping to my repertoire

that last sentence lol i know so well after owning a Hobby 600fse 23ft Fat Duccatto 2.8jtd chipped engine motorhome ooh with an Oyster dish

[sleedale]

smifee thank you, I'll look at that. We tend to use EHU on sites where possible and I'll use mains when we do, but charging things like ecigs and phones can be a pain, so knowing I can safely use the cig lighter socket (or our 12v) is useful, and being able to use the radio USB is even better. Our leisure battery is sited under the rear r&r seat so the socket is in front of that, not the most useful place but it's neat and we have an extension lead thing. As far as I understand our zig unite charges the van battery then the leisure battery when driving and it's a long drive from North Yorkshire to Pembrokeshire and we will be trundling around when we get there too. Hopefully be ok.
VapingBad camping is our favourite type of holiday too......in fact it's our only type of holiday, made more enjoyable with our 29 year old campervan and canvas tents.