free battery recharging

dri_2

I brought 2 battery rechargers and batteries fom 99p shop.The chargers use the same power as a sat nav so can be plugged into cigarette lighter via a sat nav cable(same plug connection).I`m a lorry/van driver and use a 4way plug in cigarette lighter; so in a single day I can recharge 4x 850mah batteries,bluetooth headset,mobile phone and run satnav.The charger can be used to charge any size rechargeable,but charges at a rate of 150mamps,so a battery approx 2000mah would take approx 20 hours(3 working days).The precise times can be found on line.I also use my batteries to power a lamp in my galley kitchen rather than use the 200watt halogen lights=free lighting!!!!!

DREA_2

Does your employer know you spend time swapping and changing your personal stuff

fwor

To be pedantic, it's not free at all. If you take power out of your vehicle battery to charge other batteries, that energy has to be replace.

The alternator does this, and in doing so creates an additional load on the engine while it's running. Hence you (or your employer) pay for it in higher petrol or diesel use.

victor2

I agree with fwor.
You are transferring the cost of your lighting to somebody else. However, you are using lower power lighting, so less energy. Therefore, if you paid the cost of the lighting and charging yourself, it would still save you money. Of course, if considering that option, you could just install some mains powered LED lighting in place of the 200W halogen bulbs.

chrisw

I always charge my phone at work for this very reason.

dri_2

I plug everything in at the start of a shift and hardly touch it until the end,and recharging said items do not create a bigger drain on the alternator because it is constanly running all the time the engine is on (it wont speed up or down)-so it is a constant power source all the time the engine runs and will still demand the same amount of fuel;I checked on line.

Hammyman

fwor wrote: »

To be pedantic, it's not free at all. If you take power out of your vehicle battery to charge other batteries, that energy has to be replace.

The alternator does this, and in doing so creates an additional load on the engine while it's running. Hence you (or your employer) pay for it in higher petrol or diesel use.

IT IS A LORRY. IT HAS A GREAT BIG STONKING 11LITRE OR 14 LITRE DIESEL ENGINE WITH OVER 2000NM OF TORQUE ON TAP FROM JUST OVER TICKOVER.
Just how much extra fuel do you think the load on the alternator will put on the engine? Hell, I couldn't tell the difference between running empty and having a 4 tonne load on both in performance and fuel economy. If a 4 tonne load makes no noticeable difference what do you think an extra 150 milliampere load on the alternator will do? Hell, a gust of headwind wind uses more fuel than you would in an entire month charging his batteries.

flashg67

Hammyman wrote: »

IT IS A LORRY. IT HAS A GREAT BIG STONKING 11LITRE OR 14 LITRE DIESEL ENGINE WITH OVER 2000NM OF TORQUE ON TAP FROM JUST OVER TICKOVER.
Just how much extra fuel do you think the load on the alternator will put on the engine? Hell, I couldn't tell the difference between running empty and having a 4 tonne load on both in performance and fuel economy. If a 4 tonne load makes no noticeable difference what do you think an extra 150 milliampere load on the alternator will do? Hell, a gust of headwind wind uses more fuel than you would in an entire month charging his batteries.

OP says lorry/van driver though?

Ooops, oh sorry Hammy, capital letters and bold must mean you're right (doffs cap, retreats)

fwor

Hammyman wrote: »

Just how much extra fuel do you think the load on the alternator will put on the engine?

Just because you type in capitals doesn't make you right.

IT IS NOT FREE. There will be a cost, though that cost may be small compared to other costs (involved in running a van/truck).

dri_2

Its free 2 me guys and considering that I havent had a proper wage rise in years and our overtime rates have been slashed this nominal expense is easily affordable 2 my employer who is literally making thosands of pounds a year from my hard work!!!!!!

dri_2

dri wrote: »

Its free 2 me guys and considering that I havent had a proper wage rise in years and our overtime rates have been slashed this nominal expense is easily affordable 2 my employer who is literally making thosands of pounds a year from my hard work!!!!!!

Also,its like Hammyman said,running a 150ma charger off a lorry engine is gonna be as noticeable as a Knat`s fart in a Hurricane.