Outback Touring and Dual Battery Setups From Mildura

This guide is for Sunraysia drivers heading off the bitumen or up the long roads north and west of Mildura. It covers what outback trips ask of your 12V system, how to plan a dual battery and solar set-up that copes with heat, dust and corrugations, and the checks and safety gear that matter when help is a long way off.

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Where Mildura drivers head

Mildura is a natural starting point for outback trips. The Silver City Highway runs north from Buronga through Wentworth to Broken Hill, which is around 300 km from Mildura. Mungo National Park, with its ancient lake beds and lunettes, is reached on unsealed roads that NSW National Parks describes as suitable for 2WD in dry weather only. West of Mildura, Murray-Sunset National Park is the second-largest national park in Victoria, with remote country between the Sturt and Mallee highways where water is scarce.

Each trip asks something different of your vehicle. Broken Hill is a long highway drive. Mungo means corrugated dirt roads and dust. Murray-Sunset means remote camping with no services. What they share is distance from help, and the need for reliable power.

What the trip asks of your 12V system

Out here, your vehicle's electrical system has more to do than in town. A fridge may run around the clock. Lights, a UHF radio, phone and camera chargers, an air compressor and perhaps a water pump all draw power. At the same time, heat makes the fridge work harder, and dust and vibration put extra stress on every connection.

Heat is the big factor in summer. NSW National Parks warns that summer temperatures at Mungo often exceed 40°C, and winter nights often drop below 0°C. A fridge in a hot vehicle can draw far more power than the same fridge on a mild day, so plan your system for the worst conditions, not the average.

Planning a dual battery system

A dual battery system keeps your accessories on a separate battery, so your starting battery is always ready. Our guide on how a dual battery system works explains the basics. For outback touring from Mildura, the key decisions are:

• Charger type: Most modern vehicles have smart alternators that vary their output, so a DC-DC charger is usually the better choice. Our guide on DC-DC charger or isolator explains the difference.
• Battery type: AGM and lithium are both popular. Check the battery's temperature ratings, and avoid mounting it in the engine bay if it isn't rated for that heat.
• Capacity: Work out your daily power use, then add a margin for hot days and cloudy weather.
• Cable and fuses: Use correctly sized cable to avoid voltage drop over long runs, and fuse every circuit close to the battery.

Solar in Sunraysia's sun

Sunraysia has plenty of sunshine. The Bureau of Meteorology's climate statistics for Mildura Airport show an average of about 8.6 hours of sunshine a day, rising to nearly 11 hours in January. That makes solar a good way to keep batteries topped up when you're camped for a few days.

Solar panels lose some efficiency when they get very hot, so allow for that in summer. Keep panels clean of dust, and angle portable panels toward the sun. Our guide on how much solar you need for your caravan helps with sizing, and the same principles work for a 4WD set-up.

Dust and corrugations

Unsealed roads are hard on electrical systems. Corrugations shake everything, loosening terminals, cracking solder joints and chafing cables against sharp edges. Dust gets into plugs, switches and fuse holders.

Mount batteries in a strong, secure tray with proper hold-downs. Use crimped connections rather than twisted wires, and protect cables with conduit or loom tape where they pass through panels or near sharp edges. Seal connectors where you can, and check all connections after a rough section of road.

Staying in touch and staying safe

Mobile coverage is limited in remote areas. NSW National Parks warns that Mungo has limited phone reception and recommends the Emergency Plus app, which helps emergency services find you using your phone's GPS. A UHF radio lets you talk to other travellers and nearby properties.

Tell someone your plans, and carry plenty of water, food and fuel. Check road conditions and closures before you leave, as unsealed roads can close after rain. A jump starter, spare fuses and a basic tool kit can turn a breakdown into a short delay.

One more thing to plan for: Broken Hill uses Australian Central Standard Time, the same as South Australia, so clocks there are half an hour behind Mildura.

Towing a camper or caravan

Many Mildura tourers tow a camper trailer or caravan with its own battery. That battery needs to charge while you drive, and on a long run up the Silver City Highway the cable between the car and the van matters. A thin feed, a long run and a tired Anderson plug can lose so much voltage that the van battery barely charges at all.

The usual fix is heavier cable from the car's battery to the rear, and a DC-DC charger in the van close to its battery. Check the trailer plug and Anderson plug for dust and corrosion after every unsealed section. Our guide on why a caravan battery isn't charging while towing walks through the common causes.

Pre-trip checks

Before you leave Mildura, run through these checks:

• Starting and auxiliary batteries tested and fully charged.
• DC-DC charger and solar regulator working, showing charge going into the auxiliary battery.
• Fridge running properly and cooling down within a reasonable time.
• All lights, including driving lights and camp lights, working.
• Wiring and connections secure, with no chafing or loose terminals.
• UHF radio, phone chargers and jump starter working.
• Spare fuses, cable ties and electrical tape packed.

Getting it set up right

A well-planned dual battery system makes outback trips much easier. If you're not confident doing the work yourself, have it installed by an auto electrician who does touring set-ups. Our pages for Buronga and Wentworth, on the road north, list local help.

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Questions Mildura drivers ask

What size dual battery do I need for an outback trip from Mildura?

It depends on your power use and how long you'll be away from charging. Add up the daily draw of your fridge, lights and chargers, then allow extra for hot weather and cloudy days. Many tourers use around 100Ah or more, but work out your own needs before you buy.

Can I drive to Mungo in a 2WD?

NSW National Parks lists the roads to Mungo as suitable for 2WD vehicles in dry weather only. The roads are unsealed and can close after rain. Check road conditions and closures before you go, and carry water, food and fuel, as supplies can be scarce in outback areas.

Why does my fridge battery go flat faster in summer?

In hot weather, the fridge works harder to stay cool, so it draws more power. Heat also affects battery performance. Park in the shade where you can, ventilate the fridge, and make sure your charging system is keeping up. A larger battery or more solar may help.

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