Dual Battery - How ?

stinky · Post by **stinky** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 7:00 pm

I want to wire up a second battery to the Leone so I can run an older fridge without running it flat. What's needed to do this? I've already got a small battery so I just need an isolator and cabling and stuff ?

fredsub · Post by **fredsub** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 10:06 pm

checkout http://forums.overlander.com.au/ for experts on this topic

Wilbur · Post by **Wilbur** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 11:57 am

Many different ways to do it my stinky friend. Electronically controlled such as the new model piranha's (top model is rrp 395). Or you could just use the old solenoid and end up with spagetti wiring (cheaper, but not so neat).

Info here http://www.piranhaoffroad.com.au/produc ... ummary.htm or pm me your address and I can send you a glossy brochure with pricing.

stinky · Post by **stinky** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 12:25 pm

I don't want something worth more than the car :P

I was thinking about some sort of isolator, like a marine switch or a jaycar unit.

Any chance of a PM with rough pricing on some units? If I could get something for around $150-$200 I'd probably go for it, but otherwise I'll go down the cheap and nasty route

bluesteel · Post by **bluesteel** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 12:48 pm

i made the jaycar kit one and wasnt overly impressed

seemed to have a fair bit of resistance through the box and would only charge at about 20 amps max

could have been due to other causes and ill look into them at some stage but for now i just have the 2 batterys run in parallel and just disconect one when i think i will run them flat so i can start it again later

as a result of this tho i have destroyed my deep cycle battery pretty quickly

Wilbur · Post by **Wilbur** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 2:01 pm

Closest thing other than the solenoid type is the DBE100S. 80amp or under, main battery priority charging, 2 year warranty with circuit breaker overload protection, but it doesn't come with cabling.
RRP is $170 on that one, $150 for AUsubaru's

stinky · Post by **stinky** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 2:10 pm

Cool, and you'll throw in the required cabling for an AUSubaru member too? If so I think you've got a deal.

Wilbur · Post by **Wilbur** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 3:39 pm

Geez you drive a hard bargain :P
I can probably sort something out re the cabling for you.
When do you want/need it ?
email me for a quicker response [email protected]

Outback bloke · Post by **Outback bloke** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 7:37 pm

Battery world has got a 70 amp VSR (Voltage sensitive regulator) for around $100. It is just the unit. You need to get the wires yourself.

$175 complete ready to wire in.

They isolate the second battery until the main battery shows 13.4 volts. Subaman and I have got them in our cars and have found that with them wired to the alternator they work better than directly from the main battery.

Repco have them on special at times for around $180.

stinky · Post by **stinky** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 9:06 am

Cool. I assume the unit from Lightning does the same stuff? I'll go with that and support my fellow ausubaru member. If that falls through I'll look at the second option.

Where's the best place in the MY to put it? I'm probably gonna pull out the jack holder on the opposite side to the battery and stick it there ....

rsrlegacy · Post by **rsrlegacy** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 10:14 pm

Having fitted a few, I used to pull out the jack holder etc and make room for a small size battery but with the biggest CCA rating. Connect only the starter pos cable to this one besides the charge wire. Then put a large truck/4wd battery in the old spot. To this hook up everything else. In this way both batteries are used every day, so both charge as well. This way they are kept active and dont die. If the fridge runs the big 1 flat, then all you need to do is put a jumper cable(or make a h/d switch) across to the big battery to liven the ignition etc and away you go. Have done it this way every time and never been stuck, even in the Simpson Desert.

Ben · Post by **Ben** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 10:34 pm

Jaycar now lists this unit

$100 for 1, $90 ea for two, or $80ea for 4.

link to details here - http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.as ... &SUBCATID=

subanator · Post by **subanator** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 1:10 am

stinky wrote: Where's the best place in the MY to put it? I'm probably gonna pull out the jack holder on the opposite side to the battery and stick it there ....

I had a thought about this a while ago after fitting the lift in. Under the front guards forward of the wheel, is a space on each side that would allow for batteries. You would need to make battery carriers and a decent flap of rubber to protect them. Frees up a lot of room in the engine bay too.

stinky · Post by **stinky** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 5:51 pm

I ended up getting the Jaycar unit and wiring it in. Seems to work well!

Total cost ~ $110 plus the battery which I already had.

All I need now is a decent fridge ( the one I have drains a battery in no time ). Looking at the Waeco cf50.

Wilbur · Post by **Wilbur** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 11:27 am

Get the package one stinky.
http://www.waeco.com.au/products.asp?id ... bCatId2=22

fredsub · Post by **fredsub** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 12:09 pm

would that fit in a subaru? would you be able to get at it in the back?

thats what you need to consider.
It bad enough with a 28l engel, its 400mm high.

stinky · Post by **stinky** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 12:40 pm

The backseat is replaced with a plywood false floor so it'll be going just behind the front passenger seat ... should be able to fit there super easy.

That's a pretty good package, will definately look at that. BCF seems to have some pretty good deals on the waeco's so will probably get from there.

Suby Wan Kenobi · Post by **Suby Wan Kenobi** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 9:23 pm

My CF50 just fits in the back seat of my RX only. It fits in the boot but then it wont close (too high), cant say i have tried to mount it in the back seat of the MY wagon. Waeco is a great unit so no matter which one you choose it will be all good, however the alarm on the fridge will go on once battery voltage falls below 10.5V. Cant say i have ever had an issue with having it cut out

stinky · Post by **stinky** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 12:02 pm

Picked up the CF-60 with insulator bag and digital thermometer from BCF for $1200. sweeet!

Wilbur · Post by **Wilbur** » Sat Feb 25, 2006 11:47 am

Sorry to drag up and old topic but I have sourced some 140amp VSR complete kits (all you need is another battery and somewhere to put it). I have put one in my ute and I should be able to get them out to you guys for around $200 if anyone is interested. RRP is $249