Brands We Love - Companion: Camping without a dual battery system

If you have just bought your first 4x4 or van and you’re keen to start planning trips asap then getting your power needs sorted is the first step. But often understanding and figuring out which system works best for you can take weeks of research and conflicting opinions as there are hundreds of ways to do this. If you are the type of person that just wants something simple, easy and hassle free then rechargeable Companion products might be for you. If you just like getting away for the weekend and don’t want to pay an auto electrician hundreds of dollars to install a dual battery system. Or you don’t feel like understanding terms like: VSR, BC to DC, AC, amps, volts, watts etc. because math's just isn’t your cup of tea? If that all sounds awful to you, we understand, so we have decided to take the time and break it down as simply as we can whilst providing the perfect products to get you on the road and exploring as fast as possible. For a basic camping set up you are going to need the following:  

1. A battery  

2. Lights 

3. A fridge  

4. A fan or portable heat (weather dependent) 

5. Hot water/shower 

There are a lot of ways to go about satisfying these basic needs. Some people get away with a lot less than this and some people like to go a lot harder. For us, the Companion rechargeable lithium range not only allows for long lasting 12v accessories but the ease of portability and functionality. So, let’s start with the battery. 

         1. Portable Battery Pack 

The Rover Lithium 70Ah Companion battery pack is ideal for powering anything across your campsite as a complete power solution to tricky 12v electrical set ups and heavy batteries. Enjoy the freedom of portable power, simply charge off the alternator and unplug to carry anywhere you like. Weighing in at just 6.8kg, you can enjoy up to 14 hours of portable power when running a fridge. The Rover Lithium 70AH Companion battery pack is designed to power 12V portable fridge/freezers and any other electrical devices such as, phones, camera batteries etc. With the Companion battery pack you can choose from multiple ports such as a DC Charger, AC Charger, 50A Anderson and USB ports.  

         2. Rechargeable Lights 

Next up we have lights. The Companion X450 LED Lantern Combo is rechargeable and portable.  

The ideal camping light is a lantern and torch all in one. With a removable torch function and remote control, easily turn your light source on and off from the comfort of your swag. Or if nature calls and you need to see where you are going for a quick visit to the bushes, the X450 offers 360° illumination with a glow in the dark power button. 

         3. The Lithium Powered Fridge 

For the most important accessory, we recommend the Companion Lithium 60L Single Zone Rechargeable Fridge/Freezer. This 60L portable Fridge/Freezer from Companion features a tough yet lightweight design, with lower power consumption plus AC and DC power operation. 

This is the newest and most innovative range of portable lithium battery powered fridge/freezers Companion and lets you enjoy your hard-earned time off, rather than worrying about tricky 12v wiring and solar panels not working. This range of battery powered rechargeable lithium fridge/freezers represents over 30 years of experience in design and manufacturing products suitable for harsh Australian conditions. The integrated lithium technology allows campers the freedom to really get off grid, with an in-built removable lithium battery pack that’s designed to last up to 16 hours. No matter where you decide to set up camp, whether it’s in the middle of the desert or at the very tip of Fraser Island, the Companion Lithium 60L Rechargeable Fridge/Freezer is a robust unit perfect for outdoor & recreational use. It even has 4 USB ports so your phone is always charged right next to the best seat in the house. (Next to the beers). 

        4. A fan or portable heat (weather dependent) 

Next, depending on when your headed, the weather can get really effect how much you enjoy your holiday. Escape the heat with a cool breeze with a Companion rechargeable fan or get nice and toasty with a Companion compact gas heater. 

National Parks or holiday campgrounds aren’t always going to allow campfires but, there is never a reason to suffer the cold. Especially if your parked up at Jindabyne for the long weekend, it can be a quite a task to get a fire going in the snow. The Companion gas heater is ideal for that consistent ‘campfire’ feeling wherever you are. It’s perfect for outdoor use, in the backyard and is even rated safe for use inside campervans and caravans. This Companion gas heater features three heat settings for your convenience and temperature tastes. With a protective front guard for added safety and an oxygen depletion sensor, this portable gas heater from Companion doesn’t need any electricity to get going.  

Another ideal solution to your portable cooling needs when temperatures soar to the extreme is a rechargeable fan from Companion and is even equipped with an AM/FM radio and LED light plus a USB port. 

                6. Portable instant hot water 

Finally, hot water is essential wherever you are, even if you are just using it to wash up the dishes, but for the most reliable and portable hot water system the Aqua Heat can last for days on one charge. 

The AquaHeat is a portable camping shower that provides instant hot water in one rechargeable unit that can tackle the dishes and get you squeaky clean on long trips. With a rechargeable battery capable of lasting over a week if you're just doing the dishes once a day. It is possible to enjoy instant hot water wherever you go with a portable camping shower that has a built-in lithium battery and superior heating technology. Perfect for long or short camping trips, this portable instant gas hot water system is super durable and a fantastic addition on more extreme 4x4 adventures. 

Now, if you take everything above into consideration and imagine that you're planning a trip to Fraser Island for a few days but don’t want to worry about spending time and money on a complicated 12v solar system or dual battery system. Companion have released a range of products that don’t require solar panels and will charge off the alternator every time you drive. If the lithium portable battery pack is always plugged into the car socket, it will keep all additional accessories charged at a consistent rate. 

This rechargeable system allows you to take your time in a particular spot if you just want to chill out and park without needing to idle the car for power. The other great reason we love this system is that most National Parks in Australia have strict noise limitations and therefore the use of a generator is not allowed. The entire system is portable and best of all completely silent. So, if you did want to hike up a mountain for the night, then it is entirely possible with the right mix of rechargeable lithium powered products from Companion. 

If you do want to stay at a spot for more than a few days and not turn on the car, then it is recommended to include a decent solar panel into the mix. This does require a tiny bit of math's to work out, but not to worry, we have done that part for you. Companion does not have a recommended solar panel to use so it is important to be aware of how compatible your products are if they are not from the same brand. The good thing about this lithium battery is that it comes with a built-in solar controller or MPPT management, meaning you can purchase just the solar panel/Anderson cable separately and plug it right into the portable lithium battery.  

However, the solar input can only handle 12 amps. What does that mean?  

Firstly, you would need to know that the solar charge is called DC = direct current. The battery dictates the circuit, the circuitry is therefore designed around it. So, when a battery is rated for 12volts then the math’s is: 

Power (watts) = Amps x Voltage. 

Think of the voltage as the speed of electricity and amps as the load at which how much power can be supplied and this can mean more heat depending on the wire gauge. Hot tip: If an appliance or wire is getting hot it usually means it is over loaded.  

The factory cigarette plug in your car or a 12v power socket is rated up to 15 amp and typically a DC cable is supplied with products that are designed to handle 15 amps from the alternator.  

Resistance is the distance that electricity must travel. So, it’s important to know that the longer the cable is, the voltage will drop over that distance and therefore you should consider measuring where you will have your solar panels and how far apart they will be from the portable battery pack. Consider rewiring and culling cable if there is too much, to maximise solar input capability. 

This additional Anderson plug will be the solar connection and can be bought separately. So now that you know what you need, here is the simple calculation to find out your solar panel needs: 

There is a 12-amp maximum input on the Lithium Rover Battery Pack and therefore the wattage of the solar panel will need to be limited to 140 watts of solar output. Any more than this, and it’s easy to overload the battery. However, since this unit has a built-in solar controller and MPPT smart battery monitoring system it’s very unlikely that you do any damage when using a 200w solar panel. The outcome of this would be the battery pack turning on and off and an inconsistent charge rate. 

A 140-watt solar panel can charge the battery pack to full in 9-12 hours (weather dependant). So, remember in this case, more watts does not always equal more power. In conclusion, you could stay in a spot for weeks and recharge most of your 12v lithium battery accessories over the period of a few sunny days in rotation and would rarely run out of power as lithium batteries are designed to last for such a long time. If you were driving every few days, an alternator does charge accessories faster than 12v solar panels, so if you do plan on road tripping, it is very unlikely you would run out of charge in any of the above-mentioned situations. Meaning that rechargeable Companion camping accessories are a viable choice in the place of a dual battery system.