Charging your Foil Drive battery away from home is a great option for road trips, remote locations and long days at the beach. However, there are a few important considerations to ensure you don't damage your vehicle, charger or battery.

This article explains the recommended equipment and best practices for safely charging your Foil Drive battery from a car, caravan or portable power station.

Charging from a Vehicle Battery

If you're charging directly from a standard lead-acid or AGM vehicle battery, be aware that charging a Foil Drive battery places a significant load on your vehicle's electrical system. This means there's a real risk of flattening your vehicle battery and being unable to start your car.

Our Recommendation

If you regularly charge from your vehicle, we strongly recommend installing a dedicated secondary battery.

A deep-cycle battery is preferred over a standard starting battery, as it is designed to provide sustained power over long periods rather than the high current bursts required for engine starting.

Can I Charge from a 12V Cigarette Socket?

No.

Most standard 12V accessory (cigarette lighter) sockets are designed to supply less than 100 watts continuously. 

Foil Drive chargers typically draw approximately 160 watts or more, which exceeds the safe operating capacity of most vehicle accessory sockets.

Always connect your inverter directly to an appropriately sized battery using suitable wiring.

Choosing the Right Inverter

When charging from a vehicle, you'll need a suitable DC-to-AC inverter.

Important: Always use a Pure Sine Wave inverter.

Modified or clipped sine wave inverters often produce poor-quality power that may reduce charging performance and can potentially damage sensitive electronics.

We recommend purchasing a quality inverter from a reputable manufacturer rather than inexpensive no-name alternatives.

Recommended Portable Power Stations

Portable power stations are an excellent alternative to charging from your vehicle battery.

Recommended options include:

• The AC180 Portable Power Station, which can recharge approximately two Max Power batteries.
• The AC200L Portable Power Station, which can recharge approximately four Max Power batteries.

These units provide clean, stable power and are well suited to charging Foil Drive batteries while travelling.

Charging Safety

When charging from a vehicle or portable power station:

• Charge in a well-ventilated area.
• Keep the charger out of direct sunlight whenever possible.
• Never cover the charger while it's operating.
• Ensure there is adequate airflow around both the charger and battery.

Warning: Vehicles parked in the sun can become extremely hot. We do not recommend charging batteries inside a closed vehicle, as excessive heat may cause the charger or battery to overheat.

Best Practice

For the safest and most reliable charging experience:

• Use a quality Pure Sine Wave inverter or portable power station.
• Avoid charging from a standard 12V accessory socket.
• Consider a dedicated deep-cycle battery if charging regularly from your vehicle.
• Keep chargers and batteries cool and well-ventilated during charging.
• Never leave charging equipment unattended inside a hot, closed vehicle.

Following these recommendations will help maximise charging performance while protecting both your Foil Drive equipment and your vehicle's electrical system.