My 12 Volt setup in the Amarok!

When I first started dreaming of a 12volt setup for extended travel in my Amarok, I really didn’t know where to start! With the amount of info online and constant bits of new gear becoming available, it can get pretty confusing, especially for newbie to the off-grid power world. Thankfully, the legends at Redarc were more than helpful and suggested a system best suited to my needs. 

The goal when installing my off-grid system was to have the freedom and comfort of powering my gear, without any hassle or worry. As a photographer and videographer, I wanted to have the ability to keep my cameras, drone, and laptop charged whenever and wherever I go – from moving between photography jobs to extended off grid camping trips.

After a chat with the tech support team at Redarc and explaining what I wanted to gain from a 12v setup, we decided I needed an in-vehicle battery charger, a pure sine wave Inverter and some solar. Having this gear installed into the canopy meant that not only would the auxiliary battery remain charged, but I could convert and use the battery power to charge my 240v household accessories.

Having already had my hands on a 150amp AGM battery, the main bit of kit that was needed was the BCDC charger to keep my auxiliary battery charged up. I opted for a BCDC1240D smart charger which not only connects my starter battery to the auxiliary battery to keep it charged whilst on the move, it also gives me the option to connect a solar panel to keep the battery topped up when setup at camp thanks to the built in MPPT solar regulator. Charged battery = fridge constantly running = cold beers 24/7!

Being a photographer and videographer not only do I need to power the usual stuff like a fridge and camp lighting, but I need the ability to charge cameras, drones, laptops, and phones. This led me to deciding on also installing an inverter. I opted for a 2000W Pure Sine Wave Inverter, to charge and power any of my household appliances, 2000W might be a little overkill, but I’d much rather have more power than needed, than be stuck without any. It also gives me the option of running a pod coffee machine if I’m feeling fancy. As anyone with a dual battery setup knows, a charged battery means a fridge constantly running which equals cold beers 24/7!

When looking to install this setup into the Amarok, I decided to install it all in the canopy. By going this way, I was easily able to get it neatly wired up on a board behind my fridge. This also means the whole setup is easily accessible should I need to adjust anything in future.

Because I wanted to install the BCDC into the canopy, the size of wire needed to be taken into consideration. When running extended wiring – over 3 metres in length – a bigger gauge of wire is needed. This is to avoid voltage drop as the current travels the longer distance. To install the BCDC in the Amarok’s canopy, approximately 4.5 metres of wiring was needed and the Tech Team suggested a 6 gauge wire.

Having a rooftop tent, I was left with little room for fixed panels on top of the Amarok so I opted to go with a portable 150W solar blanket. Not only does a blanket give greater flexibility in placement when looking to catch the optimal amount of sun, but it fits perfectly on the bonnet of the Amarok. I may add a flexible panel to the top of the rooftop tent in the future.

Being not so handy with electrical work, I left the installation up to the professionals, shout out to the absolute legends at OnTrack Auto Electrical (@ontrack_auto_electrical) on the Gold Coast - Not only did they fit me in last minute, the work they did is second to none and as neat and tidy as could be.

This setup has given me the ability to continue shooting photos and videos all day without worrying about running out of battery. Moving between photo jobs I can also charge up my gear whilst on the move. This setup means I can be at ease on extended off grid camping trips utilising my solar blanket to keep the battery topped up. I now have the freedom to stay out bush longer than ever, without having to worry about any of my gear going flat.

After now having spent a few months with the setup, I can confidently say it works like a dream. From weekenders to extended trips and being setup at camp for 3-5 days, I’m absolutely loving it and haven’t come close to losing any significant charge. The system has absolutely fulfilled my goals for it.