Dual battery system

[Deleted account DD]

Current capacity and general robustness.

Ta :thumb2

You paint a very negative picture of leisure derived ones :nenau

My caravan / vehicle relay is 100 amp peak 80 amp continuous. Very deliberately fitted so I can tap into it for power at the back end of the vehicle for cool boxes etc.

I'll cough to it though my problem at the mo on the T2 (easily fixed) is the wiring is not up to 80 continuous, on the old car it was but on this I inherited the previous install

I wont ever be fitting a winch so thats not an issue for me.

2 x 100watt spotlights are 20 amp fused via a relay off the main battery.

My 600watt inverter draws 60amp max so thats also well within scope.

This is the 3rd car this split kit has been on and not a hint of a problem.

Soooo.............it seems to come down to cost.

I reckon something like this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=160351381075 is good value for money for non winching apps & caravan electrics (like this but maybe not this one )

or even if like yours truly youve got a shed full of bits something like this one http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Heavy-Duty-Re...s_SM?hash=item2555afe706&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

or this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/200A-12V-Spli...g_ET?hash=item3ef719ed85&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Mind you for the leccy leeches out there http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/300-AMP-12V-24-VOLTS-SPLIT-CHARGE-BATTERY-POWER-RELAY_W0QQitemZ230360697026QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Cars_Parts_Vehicles_Terminals_Cabling_ET?hash=item35a29148c2&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12|66%3A2|39%3A1|72%3A1689|293%3A2|294%3A50

Is your product similar to these/come with anything different (serious question)

The last couple are ones I considered upgrading to if I fit a real beefy battery to support the caravan + accessories.

Loads to think about before I start drilling holes and committing screws and wires here and there :augie

 

[Terranosaurus]

Ta :thumb2

You paint a very negative picture of leisure derived ones :nenau

My caravan / vehicle relay is 100 amp peak 80 amp continuous. Very deliberately fitted so I can tap into it for power at the back end of the vehicle for cool boxes etc.

Is your product similar to these/come with anything different

Fair enough you have a decent capacity one but all the ones I've seen in caravan places (including the one I have on my van for the auxilaries in the back (light, inverter for laptop an dprinter etc) are all pretty weedy.

The thing that will be different with the up coming device is it will be a truelly intelligent electronically controlled voltage sensing split charge system, not just a relay - which is all the above items you linked to are.

Charging of the 2nd battery will not start till the primary battery has reached about 90% charge (not sure what thresh hold is going to be will leave that to techies) - unless of course you engage the optional override in which case the 2nd battery will start charging as soon as you switch it in.

 

[Deleted account DD]

Ahaaaa now you're starting to answer the question I asked.
So essentialy its an intelligent high capacity "relay". Not just a relay.
That makes it better value.

 

[iceman]

i'm learning as i go along and this thread and daved links and seeing what is in the kit it looks similair to wiring up spots except a higher Amp Relay or i'm way off base lol .

i plan to have 4 spots on top and i hate shopping so i sometimes watch a few films(yea few films as she shops and meets so many friends and natters lol) what i have been doing is turning the engine on every so often and when the wifey comes back eventually i hold my breath turning the key as i fear the battery is dead, my question is will it use the second battery and no need to turn the engine on and off or i'm a wrong again.

 

[Terranosaurus]

Yes if you have a split charge and wire everything up to the second battery that you want to use when the engine is not runing you can use everything safe in the knowledge that the car will start when you need to.

The more basic split charge systems just link the too batteries when the engine is running, the better voltage sensetive ones wait until there is a good charge in the primary battery before starting to charge the secondary as well.

 

[iceman]

thx Terranosaurus i came back to edit my post as i clicked on ondra t2 link http://www.projecta.com.au/cataloguepages/asset_id/12/noheaders/1 and it answered all but you were to quick lol..

 

[iceman]

Terranosaurus atm i need to have something running while the item your testing gets released so while looking i seen 2 Way, 20 Amp Intelligent Split Charging Module

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-WAY-AUTOMOTIVE-SPLIT-CHARGE-RELAY-6-24V-20A_W0QQitemZ110419073445QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item19b57d59a5&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

or is this still a temporary better solution

Heavy Duty Relay 12v 180 /100Amp Ideal for split charge

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=160351381254

and simple solution

12V 70 Amp, Split Charge Kit to Charge a 2nd Battery

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160351381075&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

a question i like to know is there a way to put a overide switch just incase the main battery goes flat so i can draw straight away from the spare battery or is it a case of jump leads connecting them.

 

[dinky]

Had strap round battery on old t2 and passed test twice with no comments.

 

[jims-terrano]

Just a note of caution to you all thinking of fitting a second battery. I just renewed my insurance, I merely enquired about this and got shot down in flames by NFU. You need a certificate to say it has been professionally fitted.

Also if you use a simply relay I think you run the risk of having a flat second battery, when you start up and drive around for a short distance is the main battery going to discharge into the second. I am now thinking you need a voltage sensing gadget like this one to be sure of this not happening. I've seen the cheaper ones not switch correctly and still cause discharge problems.

Jim T

 

[Terranosaurus]

Terranosaurus atm i need to have something running while the item your testing gets released so while looking i seen 2 Way, 20 Amp Intelligent Split Charging Module

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-WAY-AUTOMOTIVE-SPLIT-CHARGE-RELAY-6-24V-20A_W0QQitemZ110419073445QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item19b57d59a5&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

or is this still a temporary better solution

Heavy Duty Relay 12v 180 /100Amp Ideal for split charge

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=160351381254

and simple solution

12V 70 Amp, Split Charge Kit to Charge a 2nd Battery

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160351381075&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

a question i like to know is there a way to put a overide switch just incase the main battery goes flat so i can draw straight away from the spare battery or is it a case of jump leads connecting them.

Anyone of those will do the job.

Jump starting from the secondary battery should never be necessary but were it to be then with the bigger split charges you could give a boost to a partially drained battery but with all of them you risk burning them or the wiring out really as starter motors draw really big currents. Jumping a properly flat battery that way would definitely be a no no. To do it with the asic relays is easy enough but with the intelligent one at the top of your links I don't know if it is possible.

If you look at the pictures of mine the cables are way over specced for the relay. Ultimately the plan is to put one of the red key cut out switches in in parrallel to the relay so I can self jump start from a flat battery.

I have a secondary battery in my works van and if I leave the lights on in the back over the weekend etc the battery ends up so flat it blows the 30amp fuse in the split charge circuit sometimes when it starts to charge.

 

[Deleted account DD]

JimT , you've hit bang on onto something I've been looking at for the last few days as my insurance is due for renewal.
I have found a massive difference between different companies in both attitude and cost for modified vehicle insurance.
I'll start separate thread once I,m back on the comp as typing a nightmare on the phone!
But..........in the meantime any recommended brokers and companies out there from those who have nodded their trucks ??
Cheers.

 

[Paul]

JimT , you've hit bang on onto something I've been looking at for the last few days as my insurance is due for renewal.
I have found a massive difference between different companies in both attitude and cost for modified vehicle insurance.
I'll start separate thread once I,m back on the comp as typing a nightmare on the phone!
But..........in the meantime any recommended brokers and companies out there from those who have nodded their trucks ??
Cheers.

With Morethan, upto now they have been ok with what I have done.

 

[dinky]

Chris Knott Ins

 

[Deleted account DD]

Chris Knott Ins

Any contact details?

 

[jims-terrano]

I'm going to try aidrian Flux next year, just didnt have the time this year.

Back to thread

I'm going to have a word with a mechanic that does my servicing to see if he can provide me with anything. I'm pretty sure if the battery is secure, the wiring is correctly terminated and most importantly fused in the correct places then some garages will inspect it and give you some kind of document at a small fee of course.

Jim T