Factory dual battery setup?

[Banshee]

I've never seen that before but my my you are a lucky sod
That does indeed look factory fitted to me but as said, Rick is right about the batteries dying

 

[SilasStingy]

Hmm.. Maybe I will just keep this setup and install a AUX battery in the back of the car, an AGM battery of some sort :naughty
Just because it's so nicely done with the wiring and all.

 

[Banshee]

Hmm.. Maybe I will just keep this setup and install a AUX battery in the back of the car, an AGM battery of some sort :naughty
Just because it's so nicely done with the wiring and all.

Jealous!!!!! I'm not your friend anymore

 

[don simon]

If I'm correct, there's a washer bottle that goes in the wing for the Terrano, isn't there? And moving the existing washer bottle would release space for an auxiliary battery, wouldn't it?

Sorry for the hijack... :naughty

 

[jims-terrano]

The later shape terrano had the washer bottle in the space where the second battery goes. The earlier ones like my project truck have washer bottle under the rh inner wing so plenty space to stick a battery.

Personally I reckon a pair of good 12v batteries are the best option.

 

[don simon]

The later shape terrano had the washer bottle in the space where the second battery goes. The earlier ones like my project truck have washer bottle under the rh inner wing so plenty space to stick a battery.

Personally I reckon a pair of good 12v batteries are the best option.

That's what I wanted to hear, cheers. There's also a bit of space on the bulkhead if I can find a washer bottle that'll fit.

 

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

looks like washer tank is to left of expansion tank.

on mk3 like this onwards in uk we have large washer tank where
right hand battery is.

on my old mk2, there was room for a battery, was looking at fitting
one but many said insurance premium rose conciderably.

also considered fitting a battery box just to store tools in, cant recall
now where its washer tank was, might have been smaller in wing
with filler in front of air box.

 

[SilasStingy]

What do you guys think, now when I have this setup.. I want an Aux battery so shall I just put one in the back and keep this parallel setup in front? Or fit one stronger battery as start and convert the other one to an aux?

I mean, batteries are heavy and dangerous so maybe less is more here? :nenau

 

[don simon]

What do you guys think, now when I have this setup.. I want an Aux battery so shall I just put one in the back and keep this parallel setup in front? Or fit one stronger battery as start and convert the other one to an aux?

I mean, batteries are heavy and dangerous so maybe less is more here? :nenau

Aside from the functionality, I don't undestand electricity, I'd not be comfortable having a battery in the same space that I sleep for reasons of gas.
Basically if you aren't inviting problems with a single starter battery, I'd keep both starter and leisure battery in the engine bay. The space is already available.
I have also considered fabricating a box to posotion the battery under the front seats.

 

[solarman216]

Think I would fit a heavier battery for starting and just disconnect the pos lead from the second battery, insulate it and secure it, then you have the second battery to do what you want with, split charge and wiring to TV or whatever you want, all without destroying the factory wiring, and knowing that if you run battery low (cos you watch too much TV) that you can still start in the morning, Rick

 

[SilasStingy]

Think I would fit a heavier battery for starting and just disconnect the pos lead from the second battery, insulate it and secure it, then you have the second battery to do what you want with, split charge and wiring to TV or whatever you want, all without destroying the factory wiring, and knowing that if you run battery low (cos you watch too much TV) that you can still start in the morning, Rick

That's probably what I will do, it's for sure the most easiest way and I wont limit any boot space!

 

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

wher two are in parallel. they need to be same capacity and age, ideally bought
and fitted at the same time.

some of my friends have dual and triple leisure batteries in their caravans set up
in parallel to have maximum punch for running invertors. Fine but there are issues
of weight and having heavy duty cables between them.

what do you want to use an aux battery for? a winch or entertainment.

if truck is built that way for your climate, are you sure one battery will do the job?

 

[solarman216]

something I learnt in my early days of living off grid, I went the cheaper way of getting 24 v at 1000 Ah by series paralleling many 12 v so called leisure batteries, whilst charging one day one 12v lump went down, stopping the charging did nothing the other batteries were still pouring power into the shorted one, acid was bubbling everywhere, I had to cut through one of the heavy links to that battery to stop the carnage, well pissed off, those batteries only lasted just 2 years, and cost nearly as much as the full 2 v cell traction batteries I am still using now 6 weeks from ten years old and still got 5 years left, point being any battery linked in parallel should have an isolator switch for emergency disconnection, do not see one on Silasstingy's motor, Rick

 

[rustic]

something I learnt in my early days of living off grid, I went the cheaper way of getting 24 v at 1000 Ah by series paralleling many 12 v so called leisure batteries, whilst charging one day one 12v lump went down, stopping the charging did nothing the other batteries were still pouring power into the shorted one, acid was bubbling everywhere, I had to cut through one of the heavy links to that battery to stop the carnage, well pissed off, those batteries only lasted just 2 years, and cost nearly as much as the full 2 v cell traction batteries I am still using now 6 weeks from ten years old and still got 5 years left, point being any battery linked in parallel should have an isolator switch for emergency disconnection, do not see one on Silasstingy's motor, Rick

I agree, never leave two or more batteries in parallel for any length of time.
On boats they tend to have three Domestic batteries on hire craft, all at different stages of neglect, and they are always having problems, but then again they are in use for months on end.
On our boat we have two 100Ah batteries with seperate battery isolators, both batteries were bought from the same batch on the same day, they are only both on when we are cruising, so charging. At night... if I remember, I switch one off just in case, and I have wired in digital ammeters and voltmeters that shows what is going on with each battery.
I can see if one battery is discharging into the other, but so far all is well, not even a milliamp flows between them.

Actually cutting that cable with all that current flowing through it could have ignited the explosive gasses... wow, you were lucky.:nenau
Rustic

 

[solarman216]

Actually cutting that cable with all that current flowing through it could have ignited the explosive gasses... wow, you were lucky.:nenau
Rustic

you are of course correct, but as it had been going on for an hour or so I think most of the acid had been boiled out, as for the gas the shed is well ventilated, and when confronted with a situation like that you tend to think with your boots, so yes it was lucky, but then luck must be on my side, seems to have been all of my life, Rick

 

[SilasStingy]

what do you want to use an aux battery for? a winch or entertainment.

if truck is built that way for your climate, are you sure one battery will do the job?

Want to use it for extra lights, interior lights, rear work lights, stereo and maybe a fridge plus anything else that might come to my mind!

Should not be a problem if I just put a good battery instead, few cars have parallel batteries up here, don't really see the point of it..

 

[rustic]

Want to use it for extra lights, interior lights, rear work lights, stereo and maybe a fridge plus anything else that might come to my mind!

Should not be a problem if I just put a good battery instead, few cars have parallel batteries up here, don't really see the point of it..

I fitted a second battery to my Mav, it sits there most of the time, just being charged, but if it is very cold, or I leave it outside overnight, then on occasions... in the past 20 years lol, it has struggled to start when the battery is getting old, I have a momentary switch in the cab that pulls in an old fashioned Austin or Triumph, free standing starter solenoid that links the batteries together with 25mm2 cable.:thumb2