extra battery / alternator

hi there i have just bought my first landrover and am on a steep learning curve!!!...but such a lot of fun!
i would like to have multiple points to run different electrical items for camping etc.
whats the best way to go for a simple effective conversion?
should i use split battery setup if so how do i achieve this...my mate has an old landrover dash with usual cigarette etc but i would also like usb ?
the other way was to get something like this:

Car 2000W PEAK 1000W 12v to houshold 230v mains power inverter converter + USB | eBay

or

Car Inverter DC 12V to AC 230V Power Adapter 150W Watt Automative CONVERTER | eBay

my problem is i don't have the knowledge to know how much i would drain the battery so thought if i had a twin battery system would always have backup?

I've heard of people using two alternators and 'split' charge but am unsure how these systems work so any help and explanations would be awesome and save me embarrassing myself by having a dead landrover in the middle of a field lol cheers guys!

If all you want is a USB charger, the easiest option is a cheap lighter to USB adapter. I think I got mine from a branch of Maplins. Works perfectly well for phone and iPad.


For other things, I've fitted an inverter behind the driver's seat. For the kinds of loads you're likely to draw in the car the standard charging system and battery is likely to be perfectly happy. Twin batteries and alternators are useful if you do a lot of winching, especially if you go in for competitions and have to beat the clock, tackling one obstacle after another so the batteries need to be recharged quickly, but small appliances don't need this. If you have things that need to be run continuously like a fridge then a second battery and split charging system is useful so you don't drain your juice away if parked for a while. But you can do quite a bit with a standard system.

T max do a reasonable split charge kit that's quite cheap and very easy to install. Your second (auxiliary) battery should be a deep cycle, which can be expensive but once installed you can run everything off that. This is basically what I have with an inverter hard wired in amongst other things.

Don't bother with two alternators.

I went the second alternator way.
To me I didn't want to compromise starting the engine. So normal alternator runs standard electrics and starting.
Second alternator and my home made fuse box runs all my extras. Spot light front rear, winch, cb,rear cab light etc etc etc. if this ever goes flat I can always start it and get myself home.
Some pictures.

That's great info and I think initially I will go second battery / inverter but probably end up going down second alternator route just for total piece of mind...I want fridge etc ;-)
Thanks chaps ;-)

It all depends what your running, power can easily get out of hand when we do shows where there is camping we have 4kw genny (day) 1kw silent genny (night), 4 x 400w flood lights, 12v led floods for inside the caravan awning, 10way plug post for the girls hair equipment and a 10way usb charger for all the phones

The main thing I have learnt is I would rather run the 1kw genny than the vehicle if I want power, secondly change all lights to led as any batteries in use last much longer