Thread: 2nd battery under pax seat - Defender ?

I have a Trojan 225 for my fridge/accessories and a Oddessy PC2150 as my starter. They are both pretty big and there is not a lot of room. I cut a hole in the floor from the chassie to the outside and almost all the way front to back. I made up a new base plate to mount both batteries that is a lot lower to allow for the extra height. The base plate is mounted to the chassie. The batteries are 90deg to the std 1 battery layout.

granno -pics ?

Originally Posted by Allan

If I get a chance over the weekend I will take photoes of the Pumas set up as done by ARB Midland,its tight but a very tidy setup

Allan

Sorry I forgot to post the photo's, my other half just joged my memory.

Allan

Hi Allan,
I was interested to see that ARB have fitted a standard lead acid battery - not a sealed type. I was under the impression that a battery located in the passenger compartment (which I am assuming the Defender battery compartment set up is) or confined space it had to be a sealed battery of some type. I know there is a breather tube in the Defender box but the standard battery is a sealed type.

I had a Hilux with a canopy and as there was no space in the engine bay for a second battery the fitment was in the tray. As it was considered "sealed space" it had to be a sealed battery and could not be a normal lead acid as found under the bonnet. I was told this was a legal requirement. While the tray and canpoy leaked dust badly and would not be considered sealed in my opinion, all I spoke to here in Victoria insisted it had to be a sealed battery with the added cost. Have you got any thoughts on this or been told differently for the Defender installation?

Originally Posted by 4wheeler

Hi Allan,
I was interested to see that ARB have fitted a standard lead acid battery - not a sealed type. I was under the impression that a battery located in the passenger compartment (which I am assuming the Defender battery compartment set up is) or confined space it had to be a sealed battery of some type. I know there is a breather tube in the Defender box but the standard battery is a sealed type.

I had a Hilux with a canopy and as there was no space in the engine bay for a second battery the fitment was in the tray. As it was considered "sealed space" it had to be a sealed battery and could not be a normal lead acid as found under the bonnet. I was told this was a legal requirement. While the tray and canpoy leaked dust badly and would not be considered sealed in my opinion, all I spoke to here in Victoria insisted it had to be a sealed battery with the added cost. Have you got any thoughts on this or been told differently for the Defender installation?

No I've not been told off any legal requirement here in W.A. My other halfs 90 also has standard lead acid type battery. I think next time I will go dry but thus far have had no fumes in cab on either vehicle. I do know Victoria and W.A laws re vehicle modifications differ.

Allan

Was looking at the Defender workshop MY07 manual today. It describes the OEM battery as a semi-sealed vented battery. So it seems even the OEM battery is not fully sealed so it might not be an issue fitting the standard style battery in the battery box. Certainly would make it cheaper to intall a dual battery set up if this is the case. Looking at the battery, there is a vent tube which exits the battery box at the bottom to the atmosphere.

When I had my seat box out I got to work with the angle grinder & basically cut the bum out of it. I then welded up a deeper box that went straight down from all sides. Re-inforced the base with angle steel turned side on.
Plenty of room now

Looking from below up to the passenger door.


These batteries sit deep enough to have a plastic bin for maps etc to sit on top

Doesn;t that hit things when you go 4wd'ing ?!