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BRETT72
X-TRAIL HOLIC
Date Registered: 10-2005
Location: Orange. NSW.
TOTAL POSTS: 1999
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Re: Dual Batteries
Funny that you mention this topic.
I have just contacted my nephew on the weekend, who works at the ARB Townsville shop about this fitment. He is going to make some further enquiries for me, but the power is in the numbers/enquiries.
Of note, I am also an active member of the Victorian Pajero 4wd club and we were instrumental in getting ARB to develop the ARB rear diff lock for the Paj.
I am also in the process of designing a set of rear drawers and was going to build the second battery into this set-up. However due to it being inside the cabin, I was going to go the 'red' Ultima as it is a dry cell and less dangerous when inside the cabin.
I will keep you all informed about the ARB second battery tray.
Another consideration is the Piranha battery monitor. In the past I have used one on a Subaru Forrester, by running it off the battery and then to a fused 4 outlet. This monitor comes preset at 10.4v and once the battery drops below this, it shuts off the output/drain. This still enables you to start the car in the morning. I ran with this set-up to the Corner Country over 10 days with no problems running a 40litre Engel and 12v light. I also used to run the Engel over summer at the beach with no problems at all.
Will keep you posted.
I have just checked on the net and there are two companies doing this mod.
http://www.justcoms.com/battery.html
includes a picture, but the air intake has to be removed to fit it in.
http://www.bta4wd.com/category59_1.htm
includes the Piranha part number, but no pictures.
Regards,
Last edited by BRETT72, 6/Dec/2005, 6:22 pm
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6/Dec/2005, 6:03 pm
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jalalski
Date Registered: 02-2004
Location: SUTHERLAND, SYDNEY
TOTAL POSTS: 29100
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Re: Dual Batteries
Hi Guys,
I have been offered to try a dual battery system set-up free of charge.
I know very little about dual battery systems, except the fact that it will come in very handy when camping to run the fridge and other accessories.
What I am wondering about is the ability of our existing alternator to charge two batteries instead of one?
Would the dual battery set-up require a bigger alternator or will cause the existing any long term damage for working overtime charing 2 batteries?
Also, can the second battery be taken-out when not in use? I presume this would add extra weight in the engine bay I could do without in my day to day city driving.
Last edited by jalalski, 3/Jun/2006, 11:23 pm
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3/Jun/2006, 11:22 pm
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BRETT72
X-TRAIL HOLIC
Date Registered: 10-2005
Location: Orange. NSW.
TOTAL POSTS: 1999
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Re: Dual Batteries
Jalal to answer you questions, GO FOR IT.
But, be careful with the main control unit, make sure it is a reputable brand as some dont work and some rely on a marine type switch, which means that you will have to manually switch the batteries over when you stop. If you remember.
ARB, Piranha, Opp Lock are the best at the moment, with Opp Lock being the pick.
Briefly, the way the ideal dual battery control unit works is the following:
- Start car: unit checks voltage of each battery and will charge starter battery first.
- Whilst driving: unit will equally charge both batteries.
- Car turned off: unit will shut power to main starter battery, leaving aux. battery to do all the work.
Just remember that there is no point running a dual battery set-up, if your accesories are wired into the main starter battery. A simple aux. fuse box in the engine bay will surfice, run through your aux. battery. The aux. battery will normally be a deep cycle or marine type, but if $$$ are not an issue, go the Optima yellow and red. They are smaller than the current x-trail battery and excellent units. They cost about $200 for the yellow starter and $250 for the red aux. but are worth it.
As for the alternator; the x-trail runs an alternator rated at 110Amp. My old Paj had a 90Amp alternator and it ran a triple battery set-up without issues. (1 main starter battery and 2 aux. batteries wired in parallel.) As for weight, you would not notice any different with these two types in. If you go the other main brand marine or deep cycle battery, which weigh about 15kg each, you may notice it.
Now to the issue of removing the aux. battery. Yes you can do it, but just let the installers know first. They should be able to use a quick release clip/attachment on the aux. battery for this purpose. Also have them add a clip or device to keep the aux. batteruy wires out of harms way. The control unit with notice that there is no load or current being measured at the aux. battery and just charge the main battery. But in this instance, if your accesories are wired into the aux. battery, they will no longer work. To get around this, with the earlier aux. fuse box I mentioned, run this to the aux. battery via a set of cables with a solid battery connector, which you will then be able to transfer across to the main battery when the aux. battery is sitting in the garage.
Depending on which forum you read or which expert you speak with, but there is some debate about what acc. get run of which battery. I have always liked the idea of leaving the main battery for starting purposes only and then run EVERY other 12v accesory off the aux. battery. The aux. battery (if fitted permanently), needs to have some power drain (use) otherwise it will sulphur up and be useless.
If you need any info or assistance, let me know. Hope this give you an idea, but as long if it was a reputable brand, I would jump at it. 
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4/Jun/2006, 8:07 am
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jalalski
Date Registered: 02-2004
Location: SUTHERLAND, SYDNEY
TOTAL POSTS: 29100
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Re: Dual Batteries
Thanks Brett for answering my question and more
I will ask about the brand but I have a feeling it is one of the major brands (either ARB or Pirahna)
Will confirm that next week.
It'll cost me something and that is the battery itself, but the rest is free as I said.
I can see myself shopping for a fridge soon after LOL
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4/Jun/2006, 8:22 am
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basshead
X-TRAIL HOLIC
Date Registered: 02-2004
Location: Panania, Sydney
TOTAL POSTS: 2852
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Re: Dual Batteries
I ran dual batteries in my Pulsar (for the stereo) but I never used any battery isolator equipment/circuits.
After researching it, I decided to run the same brand and model battery front and rear, with them both permanently connected (I had two 120A circuit breakers - one at both ends of the big "zero gauge" cable between each battery's positive terminals). My research revealed that the same brand and model battery is required so they both have the same internal resistance, so they both discharge and recharge equally. If you use two different size batteries then one is always going to never fully recharge... I don't know for sure if using a battery isolator circuit (ie: the abovementioned examples in Brett's posts) would eliminate the need to use two identical batteries. Their circuitry may compensate for the different internal resistances of each battery.
I will mention that in the space of 3 or 4 years, 2 brand name batteries which were guaranteed for 5 years, with a life expectancy of up to 8 years, failed. I don't know if this is due to not using a battery isolator circuit, or if it was because they got such a workout at various car shows & at the drive-in cinema, or if I was just unlucky enough to continually get dodgy batteries. The failure resulted in the terminal voltage dropping to 10v or less as soon as any load was placed onto the just-charged battery (even a load as small as one of those fluro work lights). The charge cycle was unusual in that instead of accepting 40A continuous from the bench charger, then gradually dropping after a few hours, it would only accept about 20A for the first 5 minutes, then drop down to a few amps after that.
I do have one good battery which I removed from my Pulsar before I sold it, over two years ago, which still seems to be ok (sitting in the garage). I was going to keep it for dual battery setup in the X-Trail whenever I got around to it (this time with a proper battery isolating circuit, of course).
--- Rich. X-013(c)
'04 S2 ST Auto. Nudge_roofracks_tow_tints_Lightforce_GME_YokoGeoA/T-S_TBS_bashplate_50mm-spacer-lift
Click here to see >300MB of photos and videos All For His Glory. |
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4/Jun/2006, 1:11 pm
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