second battery.

[zippy656]

hi guys, so whats needed to fit another battery, apart from a battery..

i worked that bit out myself

and whee can i get the parts

 

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

suppose guess what sort of battery, i traction (starter) or leisure (caravan).

I have been toying with a caravan type, as an alternative to carrying one
on boot for use on extended non hook-up holidays where going out in car
would recharge battery and then connect using pin4 live of 12 s to save
support van's own battery.

reckon basic split charge cuircuit would suffice, a battery box, like towsure
sell would fit in space in engine bay and bolt down using existing holes in
inner wing. pin 4 would then be taken from 2nd battery leaving original
battery to support normal starting duties only. 2nd batterry could also be
used by car's ccessories ie fridge in boot cb/ham stuff etc.

 

[jims-terrano]

I too have been toying with this idea but for far too long. I was thinking along the lines of a leasure battery as well until I spoke to Trex at Christmas meet, he mentioned a Deep Cycle Marine battery. This type has almost and I say almost the best of both. It will give the juice to start or jump start and also able to cope with running low like a leasure battery, it's a compromise but I think it's the way to go for me.
Giggsy has actually made my idea of fabricating a second battery tray behind the NS headlamp, he also connected a relay to the back of the alternator so that it doesn't switch until the engine is running. You can and I've seen relays connected to the ignition but you run the risk of draining one or both batteries. Basically you run a wire from the positive of your main battery with a fuse and then through the relay and on to your new batteries positive. Run a wire from the negative of the new battery to the car body and that is pretty much it but ensure you use a fuse and also fasten the new battery down properly or it wont be safe and will fail an MOT. My idea next is to run the 12s feeds directly from this second battery with a relay in line for the fridge supply if used with a caravan but I want to use one or two different things at the back of the truck so I wont bore you with those details.

One question I would like to know if this is classed as a mod that the insurance company want to know about?


Jim T

 

[Terranosaurus]

Not sure if its classed as modification or not hardly relevant on mine where i have a modified policy.

I'm putting second battery in in the week or so. I've a battery tray in mind - will let you know if it works.

As jim says I'm using marine batterys, same cranking power as a normal car battey but the ability to run em flat without damaging them. I'm using Numax CXV ones but other brands are availaible but check the muontings as the other ones I've found require a strap over the top not a base clamp.

These Numax batteries are becoming one of the ones to have in winch challenge etc due to their high capacity. Optima batteries seem to be loosing favour due to their high cost and lower (less than half) capacity, they will produce higher currents but if you really need that you can fit 2 marine batteries for the price of an optima, get more current and even more capacity.

These marine batteries also mean you don't need 2 different ones in the engine bay so you can swap them cyclicly to keep them both in use.

As for split cgarge yes you can run a relay off the back of some alternators - but not sure wether ours is one of them. A mate of mine is sorting me a proper split charge, hope to have them on the market in the near future. That will then be followed by a proper battery management set up which is going to be very clever having seen the specs. Caravan split charge systems a bit puny and would fry if used with a winch or other high output secondary.

On the subject of alternators, depending wha you are doing a higher output alternator may be more appropriatte than a second battery - or as well of course like I'm doing.

 

[zippy656]

i just thought they were wired in parralel to the other battrey. guess i was wrong then
will see how you get on then

 

[Terranosaurus]

i just thought they were wired in parralel to the other battrey. guess i was wrong then
will see how you get on then

They can be - it depends what they are there for. If for running accessories off when engine is stopped then a split charge is used to prevent draining the primary battery. Also if just left in parallel you really should us a matched pair of batteries, same type, brand and age etc otherwise there is a risk of one drining through the other, if used with a split charge this is not an issue.

Why do you think you need one zippy.

 

[jims-terrano]

Hi Zippy, you can run them both in parallel but you run the risk of running your main battery flat and not being able to start. What are you wanting the second battery for Zipps?

Jim T

 

[zippy656]

i saw a pic with one at both side. nothing in mind at all really.

 

[Terranosaurus]

i saw a pic with one at both side. nothing in mind at all really.

Some mistrals have them as standard

 

[zippy656]

Ah yep, was a minstral i was looking at on ebay. while ago.

 

[terranokid]

I have two batteries fitted on mine I have a 90ah deep cycle gel battery fitted on the other side under the bonnet with a 70amp voltage controlled split charge relay.

 

[zippy656]

what do you use it for

 

[terranokid]

I run my fridge and a inverter off of it.
when i go out for the day or camping

 

[Sniffer]

I use one of these personally http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?i...ges?q=smartcom+relay&um=1&hl=en&safe=off&sa=N for the leisure battery in the back of my truck, it feeds this

which is mounted behind the rear seats powering roof lights, reverse lights and other chargers that I want to use whilst camping/laning without risking the main battery
Sniffer