Baintech has the largest range of sockets in Australia, and recently we introduced an all-new ‘white range’ to coordinate stylishly with white and light walls in caravans. No more ugly, obvious, black sockets to detract from interior caravan decor.Women in particular love the way the white sockets blend in unobtrusively. Manufacturers love the new ‘white range’ because it increases the consumer appeal of their vehicles.

The Baintech white range includes:

• Flush mount single: Powers one appliance.
• Flush mount double: Powers up to 2 appliances.
• Surface mount cool white LED: Lights up foot wells, stairways and other dark spots with LED lights in place of the ciga socket.  This easily mounted, low power consumption, high light output accessory provides protection from the dangers of stumbling around in your caravan in the dark.
• USB sockets:  Compatible with iPhones, iPads and iPods which can be easily connected to your car, campervan, caravan and more

Christmas is coming….  So check out the ‘white range’ on our website.

Baintech’s battery trays are exclusively tailored for select 4WDs.  They’re essentially ‘off the rack’ which means you can install them yourself simply and quickly.  In fact, if items need to be moved for installation – which can happen in today’s complex 4WDs – we even provide new brackets for those items so the installation has no impact on the original operation of your treasured 4WD.

Baintech’s battery trays are tough, durable and long-lasting, too.  They are Australian made – designed to survive off-road adventuring anywhere in our country’s wide-ranging terrain; they’re strong  enough keep your battery in place no matter how rough and ready your driving is; and they’re zinc plated – so they’ll resist corrosion even in the wettest, saltiest environments.

Baintech battery trays are custom made for these select 4WDs:

• Toyota Hilux D4D
• Toyota Prado 120 series (petrol or diesel)
• Mazda BT50
• Ford Ranger
• Nissan Patrol GU 4.2L / 3L diesel

If you want a heavy duty battery tray that you can install quickly, Baintech’s ‘off the rack’ battery trays are the way to go...so you can get back to your good times sooner!

The newest trend in ciga sockets is the fresh, unobtrusive look of white. Designed to blend in against white coloured walls and panels in caravans, RVs, camper trailers and boats, white sockets are the newest ‘hot’ item for recreational vehicles.

Bainbridge Technologies is keeping up with the times by adding an all-new ‘white range’ of ciga sockets to what is already the largest range of sockets in Australia.

Your wife or girlfriend will love our new ‘white range’ sockets because they add a touch of class and style to your recreational vehicle. Manufacturers love the ’Baintech white range‘sockets because they enhance the sophistication of their vehicles which makes wives and girlfriends want to buy them!

The Baintech white range includes:

• Flush mount single: Powers one appliance.
• Flush mount double: Powers up to 2 appliances.
• Surface mount cool white LED: Lights up foot wells, stairways and other dark spots with LED lights in place of the ciga socket. Easily mounted, with low power consumption and high light output, this unique accessory provides protection from the dangers of stumbling around in your vehicle in the dark.

Get switched on to the most modern ciga sockets in the market today, Baintech’s new ‘white range’. Check out the largest range of sockets in Australia, including our fresh, new ‘white range’, at www.baintech.com.au/sockets.

The excitement and anticipation of taking off for a weekend away is instantly snuffed out when you realise your battery is dead; your pleasure dies quickly when your battery conks out in the middle of an adventure; and your budget is blown when you have to shell out for a new battery...again!

To keep the good times going, you need a battery charger with gusto!  You need a charger that’s reliable, versatile, water resistant to endure tough weather conditions and pumped with power – without breaking the bank. You need the CTEK MXS5 from Bainbridge Technologies.

With all the bells and whistles of a professional grade charger, the MXS5 is an affordable, technologically advanced 5amp charger that can be shared amongst all your leisure vehicles with batteries up to 110AH – like 4WDs, trailer boats, small caravans, jet skis and motorbikes.

The MXS5 features a 5 year warranty, CTEK’s signature 8-step charging cycle and a convenient LED display that shows the exact state of charge.  Just plug in your MXS5 (using either the included alligator clamps or ring terminals), set it and forget it.   With a cold weather mode, an AGM mode and a reconditioning mode powerful enough to recover even deeply discharged and sulphated batteries, you can depend on your MXS5 to get the good times going and keep them going by maintaining your batteries in optimal condition.

Find out more about the charger with gusto!  Ask Peter Blume, Bainbridge Technologies’ resident “Total Power Systems Expert”, all your charger questions here.

Get the inside scoop on how to save time and money with a CTEK MXS5 by watching the YouTube video

How to determine your power budget

No matter how you choose to get away from it all – in your small caravan, with your fully fitted-out RV, on your luxurious boat or at your remote property – you probably still like to enjoy some comforts of home.  Large screen TVs, washing machines, microwaves, fridges and freezers, computers, stereo equipment and other creature comforts can make the good times even better!

If your getaways have serious power requirements, though, you need to put some serious thought into how to keep the good times going when you’re away from mains or shore power.  Generators alone aren’t ideal, especially in the evenings when you – and your neighbours – want to relax in the stillness of nature or even peacefully watch a TV show without disturbance! The key to reliably and comfortably powering your good times is the right battery inverter/charger.

But wait! Before you rush out to buy one, take the time to create a power budget.  Don’t risk making the common mistake of blowing your good times with an inverter/charger that doesn’t have the oomph you really need.   Here’s how to create a power budget that will keep the good times going:

Step One: Think

Think hard about what appliances you’re going to run to fully enjoy your “home-away-from-home”.   Do you want to watch TV in the evenings?  Throw frequent loads in the washing machine?  Cook family meals in the oven or a microwave?   Realistically assess what appliances will keep your good times going. Don’t forget to include devices you might want or need in the future - like a sleep apnoea machine to help you get the sleep you need.  Plan early to avoid power pitfalls later on!

Step Two: Assess

How much power are your appliances going to draw?  How long are they going to run for? Is the assurance of uninterrupted power an important factor?  Are your appliances going to need bursts of high energy or long periods of steady power? How much power will your batteries need to store?  Do you have the right number of batteries?  Do you even have space for all the batteries you need? Remember: no matter which inverter/charger you choose, it will only be as good as your batteries!

Step Three: Select

Available in a variety of output sizes from 800VA to 5000VA, and in  12, 24 and 48VDC, Victron Phoenix MultiPlus and Victron Quattro all-in-one, sophisticated sinewave inverter/battery charger/ power transfer switches can meet virtually any Caravan, RV, boat, UPS or off grid power need. They can even be paralleled together for practically unlimited power!  All you need to do is select the right model for your needs.

Why should you select a Phoenix MultiPlus or Victron Quattro?

sensitive: They’re able to sense if good quality 230AC power is available.  When it is, they switch to using it to power your appliances and to simultaneously charge and maintain your batteries.

smart: They automatically switch to inverter mode if mains power is interrupted - and back again when the power is restored - so quickly that vulnerable appliances like computers and TVs don’t even flicker!

powerful: They can add potent bursts of energy to insufficient mains or generator power when air conditioners, washing machines, electric stovetops and more need a boost.

Which Victron model should you select?

Be sure you create your power budget first.  This crucial step will ensure you choose the right Victron model for your needs.  Some common scenarios are:

small caravan/RV: The Victron Phoenix Multiplus (12-1600-70) is popular for powering a small microwave, a TV, a DVD player and a few electronics.

large RV/motorhome/Winnebago: The Victron Phoenix Multiplus 3000 will efficiently power a setup that includes a washing machine, stereo equipment, a full-size microwave and a large TV.

large boat: The Victron Quattro 5000 supports the highest remote power needs, including stoves, air conditioners, dishwashers and complex entertainment systems.

The full range of Victron Phoenix Multiplus and Victron Quattro models are offered through Bainbridge Technologies.  Their resident “Total Power Systems Expert”, Peter Blume, is available to help you not only plan and develop your power budget – free of commitment and free of charge! -  but also to help you select the inverter/charger that’s just right for powering your good times.  Email Peter directly from the Bainbridge website.

Check out Bainbridge’s step-by-step “How to create a power budget” youTube video to gain more insight into assessing your specific power needs for now and the future, too:

Go ahead, bring your electric powered household comforts along on your adventures. Pack your electric air pump and battery chargers for your mobile phone and digital camera.  Throw in your power drill, and bring along some auxiliary lights.

The Baintech 1,000 watt modified inverter provides a small, safe, robust and affordable way to convert 12 volt DC power into 240 volt power that closely mimics AC power. It’s perfect for simple power appliances that don’t need pure sine wave power.

Substantially discounted to only $139 (inc GST) from $350 (inc GST), the Baintech 1,000 watt modified inverter is compactly designed to bring camping, caravanning and 4WDing.  With a variety of safety features including overload, thermal and polarity protection as well as a low battery alarm, you can confidently run your simple power appliances wherever you are.

Need help deciding if you need a modified inverter or a pure sine inverter?   Interested in pure sine inverter solutions, too?  Check out our article on Inverter basics. You can also email your technical questions to Peter Blume, our resident power expert.

These days, when you take off into the great outdoors you still want to stay connected 21st century style. You want to share your good times instantly - emailing photos, posting Facebook updates, uploading videos to YouTube and more - so your digital camera, your video camera and even your laptop come along on your adventures, too.

How can you be sure your sensitive, expensive ‘sharing’ equipment will be protected from power surges, short circuits, overheating and overload when you’re away from mains power? You need a reliable source of pure sine wave power.

Bainbridge Technologies’ SiNERGEX PureSine 150, 300 and 700 inverters use the latest microprocessor power to give you AC power as pure as mains power - even in the toughest outdoor environments. And SiNERGEX inverters are so affordable, you don’t even have to worry about price!

SiNERGEX PureSine inverters are the worry-free solution for affordably powering and protecting your 21st century ‘sharing’ equipment from your car, small boat, 4WD or caravan.

Need help deciding if you need a modified inverter or a pure sine inverter? Want to watch a video that explains more about SiNERGEX PureSine inverters? Interested in modified inverter solutions, too? Check out our article on Inverter basics. You can also email your technical questions to Peter Blume, our resident power expert.

PRESS RELEASE

Bainbridge Technologies recently returned from the world’s leading trade fair for the automotive industry, Automechanika Frankfurt, with CTEK’s coveted “New Technology” award.  The award is presented to only one company every 2 years, recognising the recipient as a global leader in new technology. 

“We’ve worked hard to become Australia’s ‘Total Power Systems Experts’”, says Michael Tyrrell, Managing Director.  “Winning this impressive international award has made us even more committed to bringing our customers the highest levels of technology and technological know-how to power their good times!”

The award acknowledges Bainbridge’s commitment to ‘keeping the good times going’ for their customers with technologically advanced remote power products, individually designed power solutions for specific power needs, the highest levels of specialist knowledge and a demonstrated commitment to sharing their knowledge through educational articles, in-store demonstrations, youtube videos, online advice from Peter Hume and Justin Welsh – their resident Total Power Systems Experts – and more!

About Bainbridge Technologies

Bainbridge Technologies is your “Total Power Systems Expert”, delivering quality AC and DC power solutions for boats, motor homes, caravans, 4WDs, motorcycles, cars, trucks, emergency vehicles, commercial environments and other remote applications. Their wide range of quality battery chargers, inverters, inverter/chargers, power sockets, accessories and more give you the power to run all your electronic tools, appliances and equipment while you’re away from mains utility power. Whatever your mobile or remote AC and DC power needs are, Bainbridge Technologies has the right solutions. 

For media enquiries call Maria Anderson on 07 3821 3939.

Justin Welsh's story

Modern day camping means getting away from it all - but still having it all. Computers, TVs, mobile phones, lights, fridges, microwaves, even hair dryers come along on contemporary camping trips.

Until recently, I camped in a constant state of power stress.  I wondered if our power would last until we could connect to mains again; I never knew when my batteries might die; I was anxious about power surges damaging my computer; even figuring out how to plug all our appliances in was a worry.

Finally, I discovered an end-to-end power solution that gives me peace of mind.  Successfully implemented in Complete Campsite camper trailers (the winners of CamperTrailer Magazine’s Offroad Camper of the Year 2009), the products are all supplied by Bainbridge Technologies, and they’re easy to DIY install.

Here’s how I eliminate my contemporary camping power stress:

This 12V 20A DC to DC charger automatically charges and conditions my batteries while I drive, so they’re always in great shape and ready to go when I stop to camp.

This 8-step charger automatically conditions, charges and monitors.  When I get where I’m going, I plug in to mains or generator power and get charged up quickly. The foolproof monitoring lets me forget about my batteries and never risk overcharging.

I’m confident of smooth, consistent, worry-free power for appliances like my TV and laptop.  Power surges are a thing of the past, and my sensitive electronic equipment is protected.

I plug up to 6 appliances into this one neat, tidy, fuse block.  If any of the appliances have power problems, it’s easy to figure out which circuit is playing up. 

All the vital statistics of my battery are monitored, and I have total power peace of mind.  No more wondering if I have to charge today or if I can afford to wait until tomorrow.  No more blackouts just when I need power the most!

Watch our Youtube on the end-to-end camper trailer power solution.  Ask Peter Blume, our “resident power systems expert", a technical question.  

In the water or on the road, the last thing you need is a dead battery.  Whether it’s your start battery, your house bank or your accessory battery that dies, the consequences can be dire.  If your start battery dies when you’re far from land or civilisation, the consequences can even be deadly.

That’s why you need the Sinergex PureCharge battery charger – a heavy duty 3 stage battery charger designed to increase the performance and life of your batteries.  Like other truly automatic 3 stage chargers, the Sinergex PureCharge delivers charges in bulk, absorption and float stages.  Unlike other chargers, though, the PureCharge features 3 isolated outputs to charge up to 3 batteries at one time; it can charge almost any type of battery including Lead Acid, AGM, Sealed, maintenance free and GEL; and it can charge even big batteries with a charging output of up to 40 AMPS.

The Sinergex PureCharge is a powerful, multifunctional battery charger that will keep your batteries in better condition for longer – so you won’t be caught dead.

Find out more about how the PureCharge works and how it can give your batteries a longer life by checking out our Youtube video.  If you have any questions about it, just ask Peter Blume.

Don’t cut short your adventures

It’s not always convenient to connect to mains power when you’re off adventuring on the road or on the water.  But the last thing you want to worry about is running out of battery power.  So how can you keep your batteries not only charged, but also in optimum condition, without mains power?

condition your leisure batteries using your alternator power, solar power, or both.  So you can save your time for adventuring instead of being tied to mains power; and you can save money on battery replacements by keeping your batteries in great condition.

The new CTEK D250S Dual is simple and affordable

Any leisure vehicle with a dual battery system will benefit from the convenience and cost-savings of the CTEK D250S Dual.  With 2 DC inputs – one for alternator power and one for solar power – you can charge your batteries while you’re on the move or when you’re ready to stay put for awhile.

The simplicity of the CTEK D250S Dual is what makes it affordable, too:  it doesn’t need heavy gauge wiring; it can be easily DIY installed; it doesn’t require a solar regulator; and it doesn’t need a VSR.

Keep your adventures going with the CTEK D250S Dual

The CTEK D250S Dual gives you the freedom and flexibility to keep your batteries charged and in optimum condition without having to connect to mains power.  Will it work for your battery set-up?  Watch our Youtube on what the CTEK D250S Dual does and why. You can also ask questions directly to our “resident power systems expert”, Peter Blume.

Email us about your best or worst “dead battery” story in 50 words or less, and you could win a FREE CTEK D250S Dual.  The competition closes on 30 September 2010.

Adventurers in today’s world have serious toys to take on the road: computers, mobile phones, GPSs, lights, even fridges.  The problem is, not all vehicles have the right plugs for your appliances and toys.

Baintech introduces an easy and inexpensive solution: the Plugger 3.  This combo pack of 3 plugs – Engel, Merit and Ciga – lets you “plug and play” any appliance or toy into any socket of any car, 4WD, RV or boat. Now Engel fridges can plug into Merit sockets; Waco fridges can connect into Engel sockets; and any other combination of appliance and socket is possible, too.

The best thing about the Plugger 3 is it connects all your plugs with an Engel connector, which is the most secure and robust, least likely to fall out, connector.  You just cut the existing connector off your 12 v appliance or toy and connect the wires to the back of the new Plugger 3 Engel connector.  Then if you want to plug into a Merit socket or a Ciga socket, just screw on the matching Plugger 3 connection, plug in your appliance or toy, and away you go!

At only $35, the Baintech’s Plugger 3 gives you affordable versatility to take any appliance or toy on any adventure in any vehicle.

Baintech also offers a full range of sockets to suit these plugs so you can match to fit!

When you have serious power needs for your “home-away-from-home”, you need power you can rely on – whether you’re on the road, on the water or in a remote location.   It takes a lot of power, and heavy duty chargers and inverters, to ensure fridges, computers, televisions, hairdryers, ovens, even washing machines, run smoothly all the time - wherever you are.

The Victron Phoenix MultiPlus from Bainbridge Technologies gives you a serious power boost and can even automatically switch between generators and mains – with no interruption to your power. It’s a sophisticated sinewave inverter, battery charger and power transfer switch all in one compact unit.  It’s perfect for big boats, serious caravans and remote houses off the power grid.

Now you can get power you never thought possible for your boat, RV or remote home:

· Get uninterrupted power: Don’t lose data on your computer or come home to rotting food in an unpowered fridge.  If your marina or mains power is interrupted, your Victron MultiPlus will automatically switch to inverter mode – and back again when the power is restored - so quickly your appliances won’t even flicker.

· Boost your power: Add the power you need to marina, mains or generator power to keep all your appliances running all the time – even during periods of high demand.  Get a power boost so you can use a smaller, lighter generator – that means a lower upfront cost, less fuel consumption and less pollution.

· Maximise the life of your batteries with minimal space: With limited space in your home-away-from-home, the Victron Multiplus is the perfect, compact all-in-one solution to automatically monitor and charge your batteries, keeping them in optimum condition and saving you money on replacements.

· Get virtually unlimited power: Get as much power as you need by connecting multiple Victron Multipluses in parallel.

If you’re serious about reliable, uninterrupted power wherever you are, ask Peter Blume, Bainbridge Technologies’ in-house “Total Power Systems Expert”, about the Victron Phoenix MultiPlus for your boat, RV or remote site.

The CTEK D250S simply and affordably charges, maintains and conditions your leisure batteries whilst you’re on the move, to:

• increase your batteries’ performance
• extend your batteries’ lifespan
• save you time
• save you money on battery replacements

What’s so ‘smart’ about the CTEK D250S?

Using either your alternator or solar energy, the D250S:

• turns itself on when it senses your engine running
• reads the condition of your battery and starts the right stage of its 6-stage cycle to charge, condition or maintain it
• switches itself off when your engine stops

The D250S is completely separate from your starter battery, so your starter battery’s performance and operation aren’t affected. It also speeds up charging time so you don’t need to let your engine idle.

What makes CTEK D250S so affordable?

Some onboard charging systems use heavy gauge wiring and need specialists to install them, making the total system cost expensive. With simple, straightforward installation and cabling requirements, you can install the D250S yourself – cheaply.

Are you interested in saving time and money on your leisure batteries this summer?

Call us on 1300 224 683 or click here to find out more about this smart charger!

• convenient: affordable, simple and small
• flexible: available in 1amp, 3.5 amps and 6 amps to charge GEL, AGM, MF and Lead Acid batteries
• intelligent: can sense a battery’s voltage and automatically power up a depleted battery or supply a permanent maintenance charge
• safe: anti-sparking connectors, over-heating temperature sensors, fuse-less short circuit protection, reverse polarity protection
• tough: IP65 weatherproof and made of ultra tough ABS plastic

Call us on 1300 224 683 or click here to find out more about these robust, compact chargers.

OUTDOOR adventurers attending the this year’s “2009 Victorian Caravan Show” from May 6 to 11 will find the best range of DC power sockets when they visit Bainbridge Technologies at the Battery World stand.

Bainbridge Technologies’ General Manager Andrew Smith said with school holidays happening again in June/July many families would be travelling to the great outdoors and would want to make sure they had the right accessories to power necessary devices such as lights or a fridge.

BAINBRIDGE TECHNOLOGIES is set to supercharge the product offering at this year’s Australian Automotive Aftermarket Expo showcasing a range of new and improved products under its exclusive BAINTECH brand.

A relative newcomer to the auto aftermarket scene, Bainbridge Technologies General Manager Andrew Smith said the range featured a combination of parts and accessories suitable for a wide variety of vehicles.