Does anyone know about ARK Portable battery boxes and where to buy them

[mhiscox]

It says in the manual if you use the 110v outlet outside, you need to drive a grounding stake into the ground and run a ground wire from it to the box where the ground wingnut is? Also I think it states if using the 12V charger inside of your rig that goes to your rigs 12V aux socket you must also use a grounding wire from the wingnut to the chassis of your rig?

Hey, Corey . . . so, I'm posting because I'm worried Brett can't really tell you the answer is to ignore the grounding stake. I suspect that there is a REALLY small chance that events could make the ArkPak unsafe without the grounding stake, but I can attest that it's got nothing to do with the actual operation of the unit. It's more, I suspect, ArkPak covering every possible contingency for liability reasons, sort of like when the dryer company tells you not to tumble small children in it. So I suspect Brett can't say anything except that it's best to use it.

And he's right. It would indeed be safer. But I personally am going to put life and limb in peril and continue to ignore the grounding stake. (I'm just a wild, risk-taking kind of guy, I guess.)

 

[Ed B]

Ok, battery in, everything hooked up and looks like it is good to go. The display reads 12.8V and 100%. Since it appears fully charged and ready to go, what is the best way to store this until ready to use? Just close the LCD cover and store it? Any need or benefit to turning the LCD screen off?

Thanks

 

[MartinfromArk]

Hi Guys,

Brett is away up the coast for a few days so can't reply at present, but Mike is pretty much on the money....

Although i am not the technical expert at Ark, my understanding is that all discussions about the grounding wire relate to the 110v usage via the inverter - and yes we are "required" to recommend people do this !!!

I'm sure Brett will confirm this on his return next Tuesday.

 

[Corey]

Ed, I thought it said to use the ground strap to the rig too even when charging via the 12V cig outlet, but I may have misread it.

Mike, I do not plan on using a ground strap either.
I never did with my Goal Zero Extreme 350 Ranger battery/inverter, and it was fine.

Although if I test out my guitar and tube amp with it, I may light up like a Christmas tree when I strike the first note

I may not even get to test it though tomorrow, as here it is 6:30 PM and no UPS truck, so no battery.
He may still get here before I turn in, if not, UPS will be getting a complaint about a no show when their site states it is on the truck.

 

[MartinfromArk]

Ed,

Yes - it's up to you, but the best thing, if you've not left it plugged into the mains (which we recommend you do if you can to condition your battery and prolong it's life) is to turn off the LCD screen by holding your finger on the on/off button, and turn off the battery isolator switch too, to cut all power output.

 

[MartinfromArk]

Corey,

Hope you get your battery soon!

M

 

[wallrats]

I have an ArkPak installed in the back of my D4. I put a 75Ahm Optima battery in it, we are limited to battery types here in Malta. I took it on a 4 week journey in the Alps and it worked perfectly. Also took the Ark battery charger which I connected to the car outlet. I powered the Waco 40 liter, goal zero lamps, cameras, portable compressor and Ipad, no problem. Also connected the SwissRoomBox to the system to use the water heater.
At night I would switch off the display as this will save energy and the box cooling fan will only work with the fridge kicks in. I also recommend getting the tie down kit from Ark. All in all I am very happy with the product; the only think I would change is the battery. Try finding a bigger one and connecting my Goal Zero panels to the system when I am camping for more then 2 days.
When I am not using it I keep it plugged in the main supply as this keeps the battery 100 percent at all times.

 

[Corey]

Martin, it came a little after 8 last night.

Wall, I saw your other pics in the tent section, very nice.
Seems the ArkPak is working out great for you.

Besides the mounting kit, I will probably run a cargo strap over the battery and under the cargobox to secure it.

 

[Corey]

Before I hook this to 110V current to charge the battery, I need info on the battery.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003FFVI8A/ref=pe_385040_30332200_pe_309540_26725410_item

The setup on the ArkPak wants you to select amp hour rating, but I am not seeing it in the info on the battery or at Amazon's site.
Only this info is supplied:
925 CCA at 0 degrees F
1110 CA at 32 degrees F

 

[Corey]

ArkPak has been installed.
http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...erland-amp-daily-driver?p=1428805#post1428805

 

[Brett From Ark]

This would be perfect for a 2nd battery.

Mine was waiting for me when I got home, but the battery is on a different UPS truck, strange.
My UPS guy is always here by 10 am or so, but the battery must have come in later and put on a different truck that runs a later route.

I have assembled the mounting brackets, and will attack the whole install tomorrow with lots of pics.
I will have it in my FJs build-up thread, but I will put the link to it in this thread.

Brett, a little confusion here.
It says in the manual if you use the 110v outlet outside, you need to drive a grounding stake into the ground and run a ground wire from it to the box where the ground wingnut is?
Also I think it states if using the 12V charger inside of your rig that goes to your rigs 12V aux socket you must also use a grounding wire from the wingnut to the chassis of your rig?

I also wanted to see if this would power a small guitar amplifier in my place, what about that grounding wingnut inside of a home to run something off of the 110V?

The ArkPak seems very well designed!

Hi Corey

Iam out in the field up at Coffs Harbour NSW at the Australian Offroad rally championships, have some mobile phone coverage and wanted to reply to your question about the grounding of the unit.

answer

you only ever need to ground the unit if the cord you plug into the Ark Pak has 3 prongs, you dont need to do it if the plug has 2 prongs as it is double insulated cord and does not require a grounding point.

mhiscox is correct the grounding depth is based on the size of the inverter and is put on there as a OH&S warning, from personal experience i have used a length of copper wire and grounded it using my metal tent peg which goes into the ground about 10 to 15cms deep. you can even ground it by connecting to you chassis of your car if you have it in your car.

the ground is there as a safety back up because if something goes wrong with a product that is plug into the Ark Pak it will ground using the wing nut and not thru the person who picks the product up.

Best Regards

Brett from Ark

 

[Brett From Ark]

I saw that too, so waiting on the response too.

"Also I think it states if using the 12V charger inside of your rig that goes to your rigs 12V aux socket you must also use a grounding wire from the wingnut to the chassis of your rig?" I read this to mean when using the 110 inside the vehicle when plugged into the 12v vehicle power port. Is this what you were talking about?

Hi Ed B

the only time you need to ever ground the unit is if you plug a 3 prong plug into the inverter,under no other circumstances would you need to ground the Ark Pak, if you plug a 2 pronged plug into the inverter it is double insulated and does not require grounding.

also to add some info you can still use the inverter with 3 prongs and not ground it but this is not advisable as if a fault occurs and you pick the product up you will ground it and the shock will travel thru your body this is why we say if a 3 prong plug is used always for piece of mind ground it, its always better to be safe then sorry.

Best regards

Brett from Ark

 

[Brett From Ark]

Before I hook this to 110V current to charge the battery, I need info on the battery.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003FFVI8A/ref=pe_385040_30332200_pe_309540_26725410_item

The setup on the ArkPak wants you to select amp hour rating, but I am not seeing it in the info on the battery or at Amazon's site.
Only this info is supplied:
925 CCA at 0 degrees F
1110 CA at 32 degrees F

Hi Corey

we have that exact battery here at Ark HQ and if it is the XMC-31 i can confirm this is a 120AMP Hour battery capacity it can take a beating very strong and solid battery, from personal experience field testing with the XMC-31 it lasted 11 days and 7 hours charging a 40 engel fridge model no MT45FP it was set to level 1 Refrigerate without putting any charge back into it at all it was done to see just how long the exide battery would last.

you have made an excellent choice with your battery.

Best Regards

Brett From Ark

 

[Corey]

Thanks Brett.
I will change the setting when I fire up the Ark to 120.
Right now it is set to 100, but I have not plugged in the 110V yet to charge it.

You guy's rock!
Have fun at your event you are at this weekend too.

Yes, this seems like a very nice battery.

 

[nickmimi]

Ordered mine. Excited to see and use it. This will be replacing a goal zero yeti.