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Car Forum / Australian Car Forums / 4x4 Cars (Australian group) / May 2007Dual battery setup on the cheap??
Would this work - put two batteries together with a heavy duty switch ala marine style, I would think that this would work as long as you switched over batteries so that one was for cranking and the other for accessories? Of course there is the human fact and have both batteries going flat?  SignatureThis life is not a rehearsal it is the real thing! > Would this work - put two batteries together with a heavy duty switch > ala marine style, I would think that this would work as long as you > switched over batteries so that one was for cranking and the other for > accessories? Of course there is the human fact and have both batteries > going flat? The problem is keeping them both charged. And you'll likely need a "make before break" switch, as otherwise the temporary loss of a battery could: 1) reset your accessories, and/or 2) lose alternator regulation if the engine's running. -- Dave There are better ways indeed and can be done on the cheap. !st of all is dual batteries in parralell, this offers twice the current output but when getting flat twice the input current to top up (Or a longer time to do it) Second off would be Running a small relay/Solinoid set up that will run the alternator to your aux battery if its under 12.5 volts and if its flat then the starter batter wont be affected and when the cars started the alternator generally biases current to the battery that requires it most. This way will not give your batteries the full like that they deserve but does pretty well. The best way of course is a split charge set up that the alternator will decide which battery needs the most electronically extending the battery life to full capasity. Ensure you either use good SLAB (sealed lead acid batteries or a deep cycle unit other wise a very short life is expected, normal batteries dont like being cycled much under 12-12.5 volts. Hope tha answers your question. (PS Dont ask where you can get the 2nd option, I had mind built for me by a freind.) Would this work - put two batteries together with a heavy duty switch ala marine style, I would think that this would work as long as you switched over batteries so that one was for cranking and the other for accessories? Of course there is the human fact and have both batteries going flat? -- This life is not a rehearsal it is the real thing! Having said all that, after 7 years or so my Solenoid system triggered off the ignition system seems to be doing fine despite being nearly 1000 dollars cheaper than what others have spent on systems in vehicles they no longer own. on my second set of batteries in that time I guess but that's to be expected I think as they are only cheaper batteries anyway and I only have a 45A alternator, that has given in once to mud ingress but been fine otherwise. Would this work - put two batteries together with a heavy duty switch ala marine style, I would think that this would work as long as you switched over batteries so that one was for cranking and the other for accessories? Of course there is the human fact and have both batteries going flat? -- This life is not a rehearsal it is the real thing! Seems the worse that it could do to the computer is reset it I have a Jeep Wrangler and there is stuff all space for batteries under the bonnet. There is a mob selling a dual system for about $325 without the battery so might go that way in the future. Then there is the Jump Start Packs - even Kmart have them in stock, these can be charged by the vehicle or 240 Volt. Lushy Having said all that, after 7 years or so my Solenoid system triggered off the ignition system seems to be doing fine despite being nearly 1000 dollars cheaper than what others have spent on systems in vehicles they no longer own. on my second set of batteries in that time I guess but that's to be expected I think as they are only cheaper batteries anyway and I only have a 45A alternator, that has given in once to mud ingress but been fine otherwise. "Lushy" <david.lush@bigpond.com> wrote in message news:ezuZh.31833$M.30404@news-server.bigpond.net.au... Would this work - put two batteries together with a heavy duty switch ala marine style, I would think that this would work as long as you switched over batteries so that one was for cranking and the other for accessories? Of course there is the human fact and have both batteries going flat? -- This life is not a rehearsal it is the real thing! I am only running a fridge at 7.5 amps. Seems the worse that it could do to the computer is reset it I have a Jeep Wrangler and there is stuff all space for batteries under the bonnet. There is a mob selling a dual system for about $325 without the battery so might go that way in the future. Then there is the Jump Start Packs - even Kmart have them in stock, these can be charged by the vehicle or 240 Volt. Lushy "RainbowWarrior" <emailaddress@tgr.fr> wrote in message news:buDZh.32074$M.6337@news-server.bigpond.net.au... Having said all that, after 7 years or so my Solenoid system triggered off the ignition system seems to be doing fine despite being nearly 1000 dollars cheaper than what others have spent on systems in vehicles they no longer own. on my second set of batteries in that time I guess but that's to be expected I think as they are only cheaper batteries anyway and I only have a 45A alternator, that has given in once to mud ingress but been fine otherwise. "Lushy" <david.lush@bigpond.com> wrote in message news:ezuZh.31833$M.30404@news-server.bigpond.net.au... Would this work - put two batteries together with a heavy duty switch ala marine style, I would think that this would work as long as you switched over batteries so that one was for cranking and the other for accessories? Of course there is the human fact and have both batteries going flat? -- This life is not a rehearsal it is the real thing! Thats not inconsequential for a fridge Lushy !! The solenoid arrangement will be practical, if you dont know anyone to make up a "Smart" for you mebbe you could wire up a horn relay or such to come on with the oil pressure switch and energise the solenoid with that. Doing that makes sure the two batteries arent connected until the motor is running. Or have a switch instead, of course the human factor can be a problem sometimes :-) SignatureCheers .......... Rheilly P I am only running a fridge at 7.5 amps. Lushy "Lushy" <david.lush@bigpond.com> wrote in message news:K8PZh.32376$M.4158@news-server.bigpond.net.au... Seems the worse that it could do to the computer is reset it I have a Jeep Wrangler and there is stuff all space for batteries under the bonnet. There is a mob selling a dual system for about $325 without the battery so might go that way in the future. Then there is the Jump Start Packs - even Kmart have them in stock, these can be charged by the vehicle or 240 Volt. Lushy "RainbowWarrior" <emailaddress@tgr.fr> wrote in message news:buDZh.32074$M.6337@news-server.bigpond.net.au... Having said all that, after 7 years or so my Solenoid system triggered off the ignition system seems to be doing fine despite being nearly 1000 dollars cheaper than what others have spent on systems in vehicles they no longer own. on my second set of batteries in that time I guess but that's to be expected I think as they are only cheaper batteries anyway and I only have a 45A alternator, that has given in once to mud ingress but been fine otherwise. "Lushy" <david.lush@bigpond.com> wrote in message news:ezuZh.31833$M.30404@news-server.bigpond.net.au... Would this work - put two batteries together with a heavy duty switch ala marine style, I would think that this would work as long as you switched over batteries so that one was for cranking and the other for accessories? Of course there is the human fact and have both batteries going flat? -- This life is not a rehearsal it is the real thing! Buy a better fridge. The thermo electric units are waaaaayyy to power hungry. Weacos draw around 3.2 amps cyclic, thermoelectrics dont change thier draw unless at less than desired te,mp and they take fricken for ever getting there. I am only running a fridge at 7.5 amps. Lushy "Lushy" <david.lush@bigpond.com> wrote in message news:K8PZh.32376$M.4158@news-server.bigpond.net.au... Seems the worse that it could do to the computer is reset it I have a Jeep Wrangler and there is stuff all space for batteries under the bonnet. There is a mob selling a dual system for about $325 without the battery so might go that way in the future. Then there is the Jump Start Packs - even Kmart have them in stock, these can be charged by the vehicle or 240 Volt. Lushy "RainbowWarrior" <emailaddress@tgr.fr> wrote in message news:buDZh.32074$M.6337@news-server.bigpond.net.au... Having said all that, after 7 years or so my Solenoid system triggered off the ignition system seems to be doing fine despite being nearly 1000 dollars cheaper than what others have spent on systems in vehicles they no longer own. on my second set of batteries in that time I guess but that's to be expected I think as they are only cheaper batteries anyway and I only have a 45A alternator, that has given in once to mud ingress but been fine otherwise. "Lushy" <david.lush@bigpond.com> wrote in message news:ezuZh.31833$M.30404@news-server.bigpond.net.au... Would this work - put two batteries together with a heavy duty switch ala marine style, I would think that this would work as long as you switched over batteries so that one was for cranking and the other for accessories? Of course there is the human fact and have both batteries going flat? -- This life is not a rehearsal it is the real thing! Yep boot em up for 12 hours on 240v that gets em cold. There are the marine dual battery type switches would they work , leave it on 1 for start up then flick across to 2 when running, say when you are stopped overnight to run the fridge? Buy a better fridge. The thermo electric units are waaaaayyy to power hungry. Weacos draw around 3.2 amps cyclic, thermoelectrics dont change thier draw unless at less than desired te,mp and they take fricken for ever getting there. "Lushy" <david.lush@bigpond.com> wrote in message news:u9PZh.32377$M.5949@news-server.bigpond.net.au... I am only running a fridge at 7.5 amps. Lushy "Lushy" <david.lush@bigpond.com> wrote in message news:K8PZh.32376$M.4158@news-server.bigpond.net.au... Seems the worse that it could do to the computer is reset it I have a Jeep Wrangler and there is stuff all space for batteries under the bonnet. There is a mob selling a dual system for about $325 without the battery so might go that way in the future. Then there is the Jump Start Packs - even Kmart have them in stock, these can be charged by the vehicle or 240 Volt. Lushy "RainbowWarrior" <emailaddress@tgr.fr> wrote in message news:buDZh.32074$M.6337@news-server.bigpond.net.au... Having said all that, after 7 years or so my Solenoid system triggered off the ignition system seems to be doing fine despite being nearly 1000 dollars cheaper than what others have spent on systems in vehicles they no longer own. on my second set of batteries in that time I guess but that's to be expected I think as they are only cheaper batteries anyway and I only have a 45A alternator, that has given in once to mud ingress but been fine otherwise. "Lushy" <david.lush@bigpond.com> wrote in message news:ezuZh.31833$M.30404@news-server.bigpond.net.au... Would this work - put two batteries together with a heavy duty switch ala marine style, I would think that this would work as long as you switched over batteries so that one was for cranking and the other for accessories? Of course there is the human fact and have both batteries going flat? -- This life is not a rehearsal it is the real thing! www.redarc.com.au look for dual battery isolator under "products A-K" I put one on my 4.8 patrol about 1 year ago, real basic, real easy and works real well, brought it off ebay for about $90. I use it charge the aux battery which runs the HF radio and engel fridge and also charges the 2 batterys in the camptrailer while were under way. if you read the tech advice it shows all the various ways to set it up. My main OME battery died the other week, with a flick of a switch my misses brought the aux battery in to start the patrol. A mate of mine who have a very expensive dual battery setup in his patrol is going to scrap it and set his up the same as mine as, it`s very basic but works very well hope this is of help to you Yobbo >www.redarc.com.au look for dual battery isolator under "products A-K" > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > >hope this is of help to you ...... http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=MB3670 Similar selfcontained unit, 70 amp load, -40c to +80c operation. it's pretty tiny, $100 from jaycar. Might be what you're looking for, looks pretty simple to hook up -mark > >www.redarc.com.au look for dual battery isolator under "products A-K" >> [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > -mark Yeap, Ive used that one before but lables different. Same item though. They used to cost $145 and as far as I know none that Ive installed (Done about 7-8 or em) have clapped out yet. Very capable unit and does the job. I installed some in a few Locksmiths vans to run inverters for the tools in the back. From wheninstalled main batteries lasted ages and aux one we changed to deep cycle. Thanks for the link, I dont do that work any more and Id forgotten who did em. Im going to get one for myself now, cheers. Scotty >>> www.redarc.com.au look for dual battery isolator under "products >>> A-K" I put one on my 4.8 patrol about 1 year ago, real basic, real easy [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > > Scotty Me tooooo Lushy www.redarc.com.au look for dual battery isolator under "products A-K" I put one on my 4.8 patrol about 1 year ago, real basic, real easy and works real well, brought it off ebay for about $90. I use it charge the aux battery which runs the HF radio and engel fridge and also charges the 2 batterys in the camptrailer while were under way. if you read the tech advice it shows all the various ways to set it up. My main OME battery died the other week, with a flick of a switch my misses brought the aux battery in to start the patrol. A mate of mine who have a very expensive dual battery setup in his patrol is going to scrap it and set his up the same as mine as, it`s very basic but works very well hope this is of help to you Yobbo > Yep boot em up for 12 hours on 240v that gets em cold. There are the marine dual battery type switches would they work , leave it on 1 for start up then flick across to 2 when running, say when you are stopped overnight to run the fridge? AFAIUI, you just need a solenoid (electronic equivalent) that pulls on when the motor is running. As you have found out, a few hundred dollars installed commercially, or a few $$ DIY. There are plenty of ideas on the web for second battery systems. Try some of the motor home /caravan information pages. Basically, car runs on car battery as normal and does not touch the second battery. Caveat, some people swear that car alternators do not fully charge deep discharge batteries, but it shouldn't be a problem with daily long runs. When motor running, car alternator is called on to charge second battery via solendoid. Usually not a problem, if it is run long enough. I am assuming this will happen, although you might need to bump alternator capacity. Fridge runs solely on second deep discharge battery[1] I would also recommend a low voltage cutout between second battery and fridge so you do not stuff your very expensive deep discharge battery. I am going to assume that you are going to drive the vehicle every day. 7.5Amps x 24 hours is 180AmpHours, which should be 360Amphours, so you don't discharge the battery below 50%. Err, that is four times 100Amphour batteries(Trojan) or three times 120Amphours(Trojan), or five 75Amphour(Bosch) batteries. WOW. You would really need to look at a string of 6 times 2V 360Amphour(?) batteries to do that safely. The guys with experience cauton hevily against paralleling 12V batteries to get large capacity. Are you sure the fridge pulls 7.5Amps? What is it? What are you carrying in it? I'd be getting a new and better fridge. 4 x 100Amphour Trojans @ $200 = $800 3 x 120Amphour Trojans @ $260 = $780 5 x 75Amphour Bosch @ $195 = $975 [2] The smaller Engels are under $1,000. [1] If it has a CCA rating, then it is NOT a deep discharge battery. [2] From Supercheap Auto, but I only buy them when they have a special. One @ $120 and lastest at Easter @ $140. |
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