Around 90 camper trailers, caravans & tents & 226 people attended the  Australian CamperTrailers Group's 5th national meet along the grassy banks of the Bogan River in the Riverside Caravan Park at Nyngan NSW during the week from Monday 5th to Friday 9th of October 2009.

    Jamie was there once again attending his 3rd meet & willing to share his vast knowledge of this often misunderstood topic of 12volt. Jamie is a keen member of the Australian CamperTrailers Group with his modified Landrover 130 & flipover camper trailer. He presented two workshops, the first on 12volt power, solar panels & batteries. This is a topic which is debated within the group. To get hands on, face to face information from a professional is a great asset to the group members.

    Jamie explained the different types of batteries, their uses in off road vehicles & camper trailers which can be very different to normal everyday car batteries. The usual camping application is a high draw over a number of days using a 2way fridge, lights & perhaps a computer or Cpap machine. In these circumstances a 100amp hour deep cycle battery is a minimum requirement.

    Recharging 12volt batteries can often be a problem when camping away from 240volt power. Solar panels are becoming more common these days as a means of recharging 12volt batteries in the bush. Jamie showed the different types of panels available, setting up a panel to the optimum size for your requirements & how to include a solar regulator into the system between the panel & battery. It was pleasing to see most had a good grasp on the subject at the end of the workshop.

    The second workshop was on understanding invertors. Unfortunately Bainbridge technologies Queensland sales manager Justin Welsh could not be in attendance for his planned workshop, but Jamie jumped into the spot to explain what a 240volt invertor does & the different types suitable for the camper trailer owner who wishes to use 240volt accessories from a 12volt source. An invertor produces 240volt electricity from a 12volt battery to run a variety of appliances from TV's, videos or computers & also battery charges to recharge your camera or video batteries while out camping.

    Jamie also explained how to size a suitable invertor for the appliances requirements & the safety aspects of using 240volt.