Does anyone know about ARK Portable battery boxes and where to buy them
- Thread starter scot zimmerman
- Start date
Brett From Ark
Supporting Sponsor - ARK
Hi Ed B - JJ Biggs and Corey
yes you are all correct the units are shipped out from Chicago.
Regards
Brett from Ark
yes you are all correct the units are shipped out from Chicago.
Regards
Brett from Ark
Brett From Ark
Supporting Sponsor - ARK
Just ordered my ArkPak yesterday, should have it pretty quick since im locali also already have the Sears Platinum for it so should be able to give it a workout right away
Hi Vladig
That is great news also have you watched the filed test video of the Ark Pak ? Just in case you have not please find the link below, its a real good video and also a great laugh.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giZd8eqJrA0
if you have any questions about the unit please ask
Best Regards
Brett from Ark
Brett From Ark
Supporting Sponsor - ARK
Hi to all
just wanted to advise that Ark is sponsoring the Del Tierra Sol event, it is being held on the 1st and 2nd of March 2014
has anyone heard of it or been to this event ?
i will not be there this time but hoping to in the future.
the link to the website is below
http://www.tds4x4.com/2013-desert-safari/event-information/
http://www.tds4x4.com/
Regards
Brett from Ark
just wanted to advise that Ark is sponsoring the Del Tierra Sol event, it is being held on the 1st and 2nd of March 2014
has anyone heard of it or been to this event ?
i will not be there this time but hoping to in the future.
the link to the website is below
http://www.tds4x4.com/2013-desert-safari/event-information/
http://www.tds4x4.com/
Regards
Brett from Ark
A few questions -- answers all in one spot
Finally got around to messing with my ArkPak -- ordered it a month or so ago.
When would you want to use the battery terminals on the side of the ArkPak? Just for jumping your vehicle?
Those Anderson plugs -- any reason to use those? It seems the only reason to use it is to charge the ArkPak faster, or use it as more of a true dual battery set-up. Otherwise, no use for it since it bypasses all of the charging features?
The ArkPak will be in the bed of my truck charging in a 12v outlet that is only on with ignition. There is no need to disconnect this to have the ArkPak on? So the ArkPak can stay connected the entire time, yes?
Related -- why can't I run my fridge from the ArkPak while charging it in the truck bed while traveling? It advises against doing this too often. That means one extra step to unplug the fridge from the truck power supply and connect it to the ArkPak when in camp.
Thanks for the answers
Finally got around to messing with my ArkPak -- ordered it a month or so ago.
When would you want to use the battery terminals on the side of the ArkPak? Just for jumping your vehicle?
Those Anderson plugs -- any reason to use those? It seems the only reason to use it is to charge the ArkPak faster, or use it as more of a true dual battery set-up. Otherwise, no use for it since it bypasses all of the charging features?
The ArkPak will be in the bed of my truck charging in a 12v outlet that is only on with ignition. There is no need to disconnect this to have the ArkPak on? So the ArkPak can stay connected the entire time, yes?
Related -- why can't I run my fridge from the ArkPak while charging it in the truck bed while traveling? It advises against doing this too often. That means one extra step to unplug the fridge from the truck power supply and connect it to the ArkPak when in camp.
Thanks for the answers
Corey
OverCamping Specialist
On the battery terminals, I will be using mine to hook up to a solar panel.
Not the Powerfilm one in the pic though, that panel will go to my rigs main battery to keep it topped off while camped.
Note that the above pic is using a separate charge controller since my Powerfilm does not have one built in.
I have a 100 watt solar panel specifically for the ArkPak to keep it charged up while camped, and it has its own built in charge controller.
It comes with alligator clips that will connect it right to the terminals on the side of the ArkPak too.
Not the Powerfilm one in the pic though, that panel will go to my rigs main battery to keep it topped off while camped.
Note that the above pic is using a separate charge controller since my Powerfilm does not have one built in.
I have a 100 watt solar panel specifically for the ArkPak to keep it charged up while camped, and it has its own built in charge controller.
It comes with alligator clips that will connect it right to the terminals on the side of the ArkPak too.
"Related -- why can't I run my fridge from the ArkPak while charging it in the truck bed while traveling? It advises against doing this too often. That means one extra step to unplug the fridge from the truck power supply and connect it to the ArkPak when in camp. "
Where are you seeing the advice not to do this too often? From day one, this is the way I have run my fridge when traveling. Arkpak plugged into the vehicle's 12V and fridge plugged into the 12V socket of the Arkpak. Have not had any issues. I just reread the manual and do not see this mentioned. Can you let me know where you are getting this from?
Thanks
Where are you seeing the advice not to do this too often? From day one, this is the way I have run my fridge when traveling. Arkpak plugged into the vehicle's 12V and fridge plugged into the 12V socket of the Arkpak. Have not had any issues. I just reread the manual and do not see this mentioned. Can you let me know where you are getting this from?
Thanks
JJBiggs
Supporting Sponsor | SEES
Quick note - I finally have the time to do a 24-48hr test on the ArkPak. This is a test comparable to my average outing. The only difference...the ambient temps will remain constant. Assuming the overnight lows in the field are much less...there could be a better result from the fridge not running as often overnight.
Here are the parameters and results so far...
Arkpak
Fridge - Indel B 40qt
Battery - Exide XMC-31 AGM 200
Amp hour rating - 100Ah to 110Ah
Ambient temp - 68 degrees F
LCD display turned off to conserve power.
Fridge was chilled to temp via 120v before placing on battery
Started Friday night at 8:22pm
Battery = 100%
Fridge set to ECO
12hrs later (8:23a) Sat
Battery = 99% (correction) / 12.5v
24hrs later (8:30p) Sat evening
Battery = 96% charge / 12.5v
36hrs - Sun Morning (8:30a)
Battery = 93% charge / 12.4v
Fridge set to MAX
Changing the setting on the fridge to compare. Will run this as long as possible without hurting the battery. So far...very impressed with my choice of battery. The Exide is holding up nicely.
Once the discharge cycle gets down to a safe low, I will plug in the ArkPak and evaluate the charging.
More to come.
Here are the parameters and results so far...
Arkpak
Fridge - Indel B 40qt
Battery - Exide XMC-31 AGM 200
Amp hour rating - 100Ah to 110Ah
Ambient temp - 68 degrees F
LCD display turned off to conserve power.
Fridge was chilled to temp via 120v before placing on battery
Started Friday night at 8:22pm
Battery = 100%
Fridge set to ECO
12hrs later (8:23a) Sat
Battery = 99% (correction) / 12.5v
24hrs later (8:30p) Sat evening
Battery = 96% charge / 12.5v
36hrs - Sun Morning (8:30a)
Battery = 93% charge / 12.4v
Fridge set to MAX
Changing the setting on the fridge to compare. Will run this as long as possible without hurting the battery. So far...very impressed with my choice of battery. The Exide is holding up nicely.
Once the discharge cycle gets down to a safe low, I will plug in the ArkPak and evaluate the charging.
More to come.
Last edited:
Brett From Ark
Supporting Sponsor - ARK
Hi Srpat
as you can see we have a excellent community of Ark Pak owners willing to help out and give input on there experiences with there Ark Pak.
to confirm your answers please read below.
When would you want to use the battery terminals on the side of the ArkPak? Just for jumping your vehicle?
ANSWER - you would use the external positive and negative post if you want to put power back into the Ark Pak, as per Corey's photo, you can even hook up a larger inverter to the post as well.
Those Anderson plugs -- any reason to use those? It seems the only reason to use it is to charge the ArkPak faster, or use it as more of a true dual battery set-up. Otherwise, no use for it since it bypasses all of the charging features?
ANSWER- the Anderson plug is an inlet for power and also an outlet for power in Australia majority or caravans are powered by an Anderson plug connection so this means when you free camping with no power you could plug your anderson plug connection into the Ark Pak and power your caravan. and again some solar panels have an Anderson plug connection instead of the standard aligator clips and you plug your solar panel into the anderson plug to charge the battery back up. also the other reason you have stated a well.
The ArkPak will be in the bed of my truck charging in a 12v outlet that is only on with ignition. There is no need to disconnect this to have the ArkPak on? So the ArkPak can stay connected the entire time, yes?
ANSWER - yes you are correct with the above statement just make sure and double check that the 12volt outlet is ignition dependent because if it is not and stays on when you shutdown the car the Ark Pak will continue to draw power from it till your starting battery is flat.
Related -- why can't I run my fridge from the ArkPak while charging it in the truck bed while traveling? It advises against doing this too often. That means one extra step to unplug the fridge from the truck power supply and connect it to the ArkPak when in camp.
ANSWER -the Ark Pak is able to be charged and discharging at the same time, on page 15 sub heading 5 it does mention that if the battery fails to reach 12.8 volts after 25 hours of charging you may get the Alarm warning check battery, but as it mentioned if you have something plugged into it then you can disregard this message.
if you do have any more questions about the Ark Pak please ask away only to happy to help out and as you have seen so are the other Ark Pak users
best regards
Brett from Ark
Last edited:
Brett From Ark
Supporting Sponsor - ARK
Hi Chad
thanks for posting up your findings on your test run of the Ark Pak, when i conducted field testing i got 11 days and 7 hours of power from the Ark Pak and the battery i was using was the MSDC31 which is the Australian version of the XMC31, it was powering a 45ltr Engel fridge part number MT45FP
and just to point out i took the battery down to zero percent charge which was 10.5 volts, i would just like to point out that unless it is essential i would not do that under normal circumstances. under normal circumstances i would take the battery down to no more then 30% absolute min 20%, by keeping your battery above 20% you will extend the life cycle of your battery and you get much longer use from it.
if you have any more findings please share.
take care and best regards
Brett from Ark
thanks for posting up your findings on your test run of the Ark Pak, when i conducted field testing i got 11 days and 7 hours of power from the Ark Pak and the battery i was using was the MSDC31 which is the Australian version of the XMC31, it was powering a 45ltr Engel fridge part number MT45FP
and just to point out i took the battery down to zero percent charge which was 10.5 volts, i would just like to point out that unless it is essential i would not do that under normal circumstances. under normal circumstances i would take the battery down to no more then 30% absolute min 20%, by keeping your battery above 20% you will extend the life cycle of your battery and you get much longer use from it.
if you have any more findings please share.
take care and best regards
Brett from Ark
Brett From Ark
Supporting Sponsor - ARK
Hi All
Just wanted to advise that Ark is also now on Facebook as well, the link is listed below.
https://www.facebook.com/arkportablepower
Regards
Brett from Ark
Just wanted to advise that Ark is also now on Facebook as well, the link is listed below.
https://www.facebook.com/arkportablepower
Regards
Brett from Ark
mcieplinski
Adventurer
Hi Brett,
Would you be able to post here or on your website the operating manual. I seem to have misplaced mine and would love to have it around for my trips this summer.
Thanks.
Michal