Dual Battery with the Ctek D250 S Dual

After reading and doing research for some time, I found that there is so many way to do it, most of the DIYs are not really worth the effort. Its better if you get a proper designed isolator by qualifies people, and designed for its intended function. In any case, it is a one off investment that you may use for a long time.

While at it, I though I might just as well get the top of the range everything in Ctek D250S Dual. Cost about $500, against basic isolators in the range of $50-300. Solar was on the drawing board, so might as well as this unit has in-built Solar support. 6 step charging, isolator, MPPT controller, plug and play...

This chankul probably has much thought put into it and the design must have been purpose built.

As much as most people might brush off this equipment as a raw construction tool, there are definitely a few things to look out for.

This tool weigh in at 1.9kg (yes only 1.9kg everything in), so its totally light and it is also very compact to bring around, the length is just short of 1m, the blade width is 5 inch and about 8 inch deep.

 Lets go through the good stuff:

This is not a full chankul, those heavy ones, which you dont really need. Its also not the toy you dig sand castle with or hang outside your rig for show, the handle is long enough for you to get good moment force on your target. The blade if you look closely, is made from 3 plates angled and welded together, instead of 1 flat piece, this increase the rigidity tremendously while saving on weight, excellent design. The stick handle is also not just a broom stick, look at the curve at the end of the handle, it improves grip and control. The metal blade is said to be made from metal that tractor/construction truck uses, that we will need to test. The blade is also fastened to the pole quite solidly although I can't really see how it is anchored, a common problem with poorly designed chankuls are that the blade will come loose and fall back or fly out. That remains to be tested again.

 For the bad, the blade can't be removed from the stick like other chankuls. Some of the toys have foldable blades, the constructions can take out the blade for compact storage, so that is one flexibility we don't have here. Well, you take some, you give some. The other first problem I face is that as the blade is 3 piece welded together, it cannot stand on its blade with the pole standing vertical, it will fall to the floor. It is arguable how a chankul should be stored when not in use, some say standing, some say lying with blade into the ground, end of the day it depend on who uses it, a clown don't need a chankul to hurt himself or others, he can do it with a spoon. This 'inability to stand' means that it will fall to te ground every time you use it, if you want to dig a few times, stop, look, see, or rest and dig again, you either hold it or you drop it and pick it up again.

Again, what is a review without a proper offroad testing... this thing will be in the next trip to be tested....