Dual Battery choice

[kxboss]

following with intersest

[mudslinger]

Yeah i. Interested as well.. ☺

[Snooozy]

Check my build thread part way down this page
I have since reduced the breakers to 40A from 100A
There is a wiring diagram somewhere on the forum, just cannot remember where

[Bazzer87]

Hi all

Looking at a new deep cycle AGM battery and have found a few on the net. Wondering if you have any experiences with brands or recommendations.

Amp-Tech
120ah
12 months warranty
31.40kg
$250
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/121588202882 ... EBIDX%3AIT

Kickass
120ah
26 months warranty
30.50kg
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/251855410449 ... EBIDX%3AIT
$270.95

Power Sonic
120ah
12 months warranty
31.40kg
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/121586487704 ... EBIDX%3AIT
$279

Super Cheap Audio
Power Agm
130ah
24 months warranty
33.50kg
$279
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/281460099625 ... EBIDX%3AIT


All AGM batteries, any other deals out there worth looking at?

Cheers

[1 Nathan]

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.vi ... 1700269816 this is the one I got in 2010 works good no dramas

[Bazzer87]

thanks Nathan, it looks good, my only hesitation was it only has a 12 months warranty.

I read somewhere that "apparently" the Power Agm batteries come from the same factory as Optima..

I read a couple good reviews for them also so based on the fact it's got a 24 month warranty I'm going to go for the Power AGM from Super Cheap Audio, $279 delivered.

I'll let you know in 5 years if it was a good choice or not

[Overbank]

G'day fellas,

What's the best dual batt setup so I can easily fit/remove the aux batt so I can leave it at camp with the fridge whilst in out in the ute? I want to keep the tub clear if I can do want to mount it maybe underneath or in the cab somewhere, just needs to be reasonably easy to put in and out.

Any ideas? Pictures would be even better!

Cheers

[bigjobs]

Stick it in a battery box.

I pretty much copied what Quinny did:

http://www.newtriton.net/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=14147&p=345146&hilit=quinny+build+thread#p345146

A splendid idea indeed.

[jahendo72]

hav been reading and searching for a while still dont understand starting/cranking from the aux battery. Do all isolator/charges allow this or just certain brands . Can a ctek be set up to start car from aux?

[Cowboy Dave]

Not all brands allow it. I don't think the ctek does it. Maybe think about how often you've needed a jump start. If it's not a rare event maybe you need the function. If it's never happened maybe it's a luxury you can do without?

[AnOldFart]

hav been reading and searching for a while still dont understand starting/cranking from the aux battery. Do all isolator/charges allow this or just certain brands . Can a ctek be set up to start car from aux?

Have an eyeball of my post on this topic, 5th from bottom on this page
viewtopic.php?f=21&t=18012&p=466038#p466038

[Snooozy]

i Wired my aux batt with a changeover switch to disconnect the cteck & back feed to the main batt.

Have only used it once when the main batt was too far down to start.

details in my build thread >>>Here<<<

[kxboss]

I have two 12 inch batteries under the bonnet of the MN, bloody tight fit but can be done, 12 yuasa starting battery, 12 century battery deep cycle wet as AGM don't like the heat.

I have a battery monitor a plug in one at the cigarette lighter and it normally shows 14.3 or.4 charging, so shoulf be plenty of power to charge the second battery.
yet to wire anything to the second battery, but will be running fridge off it soon , just lazy in winter.

I have an evakool 60n ly from super cheap and standard ten inch start battery lasted for four days running at - 8 on days that were 20-27 deg.

Bloody good fridge will freeze a rum and coke in 15 minutes.

[jahendo72]

i Wired my aux batt with a changeover switch to disconnect the cteck & back feed to the main batt.

Have only used it once when the main batt was too far down to start.

details in my build thread >>>Here<<<

Thanx mate that is the go what size circuit breakers did you use for the system

[Snooozy]

I originally had 100a, but decided that was too high as I rekon the cable would fry first

reduced them to 40a.

not designed to start the car, just boost the main if required.

[Daz100]

I have two 12 inch batteries under the bonnet of the MN, bloody tight fit but can be done, 12 yuasa starting battery, 12 century battery deep cycle wet as AGM don't like the heat.

I have a battery monitor a plug in one at the cigarette lighter and it normally shows 14.3 or.4 charging, so shoulf be plenty of power to charge the second battery.
yet to wire anything to the second battery, but will be running fridge off it soon , just lazy in winter.

I have an evakool 60n ly from super cheap and standard ten inch start battery lasted for four days running at - 8 on days that were 20-27 deg.

Bloody good fridge will freeze a rum and coke in 15 minutes.

G'day kxboss, any chance of a photo, also, custom tray for batteries?
Anything other info in regards to the install would be great
Cheers daz

[Smellypaddler]

I don't know a lot about dual battery systems but have come across a free supply of deep cell dual batteries recently removed from a corporate fleet supply. Hardly used and the grand cost of nothing.

So now I'm after suggestions of what to do with them. I have a canopy and was thinking of putting 2,3 or 4 into the tub under the canopy and having them set up for a fridge and other 12v accessories, inverter, led lights etc.

Does anyone have some suggestions on a purpose made system I could DIY myself or other suggestions on how to wire these in that I could take to an auto sparky.

[Aquagen0]

Just wondering if anyone has an idea how to run accessories off a dual battery vsr. I'm guessing if I install a buzz bar in the engine bay with fuses attached to the vsr, power from the 2nd battery in the tub will flow back to the vsr and out to the accessories.... And if I remove the dual battery in tub, I will have power to the accessories until the vsr opens? Is this correct?

[biggibbo]

Nope. The VSR sends power to the 2nd battery from the first battery once the first battery reaches a certain voltage under charge from the alternator (about 13..4) When the voltage drops below charging rate, the VSR cuts the link to the second battery to protect the starting battery from draining.

Accessories are wired to the secondary battery to protect the starting battery.
If you remove the second battery and wire accessories to the second battery output terminal on the VSR they will only get power when the alternator is sending charge. If wiring to the starter side of the VSR to get power all the time, you might as well wire direct to the main battery.

[biggibbo]

I don't know a lot about dual battery systems but have come across a free supply of deep cell dual batteries recently removed from a corporate fleet supply. Hardly used and the grand cost of nothing.

So now I'm after suggestions of what to do with them. I have a canopy and was thinking of putting 2,3 or 4 into the tub under the canopy and having them set up for a fridge and other 12v accessories, inverter, led lights etc.

Does anyone have some suggestions on a purpose made system I could DIY myself or other suggestions on how to wire these in that I could take to an auto sparky.

No suggestions, except that if you put 4 battery's in the tub, you are adding over 120kg of weight in batteries alone. You might need to find a HD alternator to pump enough current to keep them charged.

[Aquagen0]

Nope. The VSR sends power to the 2nd battery from the first battery once the first battery reaches a certain voltage under charge from the alternator (about 13..4) When the voltage drops below charging rate, the VSR cuts the link to the second battery to protect the starting battery from draining.

Accessories are wired to the secondary battery to protect the starting battery.
If you remove the second battery and wire accessories to the second battery output terminal on the VSR they will only get power when the alternator is sending charge. If wiring to the starter side of the VSR to get power all the time, you might as well wire direct to the main battery.

There should be power at the output side of the vsr while the start battery is above 12.8v ish. And there should be power at the output side of the vsr while the 2bd battery is plugged in as I'm assuming power flows in both directions. My aim is to have rear lights running off vsr for reversing, but also getting power from dual battery for camping.

[Aquagen0]

And I don't always have my 2nd battery fitted

[Cowboy Dave]

If it's just rear lights you're better off running them from the main battery rather than stuffing around with the VSR.

[Aquagen0]

Rear lights / camp lights. They draw 2.5amp each. That's why I want the 2nd battery feeding power when I'm camped. But still getting power in town for reversing. The vsr and dual battery are already fitted and working fine

[Cowboy Dave]

Yeah but you can probably set them up on a switch so they take power from either battery depending on which you prefer rather than using the VSR. Anyway look it's a matter for you but to me you're over-complicating it. Something I've been guilty of before and I usually end up back with the simpler solution I should have used in the first place.