Thread: Dual battery installation

I took some pics as I was doing it and will post them tomorrow.

Slight delay in the photos as I need to change the battery terminals tomorrow on the main battery. Will post photos once I have resolved my current issue.

I finally got the battery tray in and the batteries installed (sort of) and have decided I don't like it.

I ended up changing the standard battery terminals as after the many times taking them on and off I couldn't get them to tighten up properly. The new terminals mean the batteries are sitting right on the top of the height limit.

So as a starting point I'm going to get rid of the original battery and put something smaller in. I've ordered 2 Devon 4x4 trays. 1 for each car to save on postage costs. I wasn't planning on doing the 90 yet but I already have an isolator installed so once I have a battery I just need a outlet plug and both cars will be set for power.

On the plus side I have taken off the Mega fuse and installed a new fuse holder for this. I eventually tracked them down at Jaycar as they also sell those fuses.

Hopefully next week I will be installing either drawers in the back or if my Rijidij wheel carriers arrive 2 wheel carriers.

Can anyone who has installed the Traxide ABG-25 in the back of a wagon advise where and how they installed it so it can be seen?

Just an update and word of warning for other buyers.

I ordered my trays from Devon4x4 on the 18th January. On the 19th I received an email stating they did not ship to PO Boxes and to provide an alternative address which I did. As they still had not turned up I checked the order status today and it was still showing as Awaiting Dispatch.

I rang them only to find out they are waiting for some to be made and they will advise me when they have a date. They have just emailed me to advise it will be at least another 2 weeks before they can ship them.

Not happy considering they have already charged my credit credit card for the trays and postage.

Hi,
I'm considering doing similar to allow for installing a winch. However in researching batteries I think the Yellow Top Optima will have the right characteristics for my use, I find they do not recommend connecting them in parallel with any other type of battery or a similar battery of a different age.

Optimabatteries.com

I'm already running a Traxide SC80 from my original LR starter battery to an Anderson Plug supplying power to a Full River deep cycle battery in the slide-on camper, so theoretically that is already incorrect according to Optima.

I had considered using a dc-dc charger for the Optima (winch) battery, but up go the costs.
From what I'm reading, the winch and starting battery should be in parallel for winching, and wired via a heavy duty battery switch for the task.

Any thoughts on 'best practice' for this dilemma??

cheers

Hi austar and I think you will find that the Optima recommendation is about getting people to buy more Optima batteries.

I have been supplying DBS kits for the D3s when they first came on the market and I would take a guess and say that of the more than 4,000 kits I have supplied for D3s and D4s, world wide, 99% of them are running different types of cranking batteries and an Optima D34 Yellowtop.

Of all these and numerous other setups with dissimilar batteries paralleled with Optima batteries, I have never had a single report of any problems caused by paralleling any types of different batteries in any of my DBS.

Mind you, my own Optima Yellowtop failed just yesterday and I am some what annoyed, as it was only 10 years old.

Hello forumites,

I am planning to install two auxiliary batteries and one 2000w pure sine inverter in my 2013 Defender Puma 110.
The two batteries are AGM deep cycle 170Ah Kickass slimline and the inverter a redarc.
I will also have a solar charging set-up.
Does anyone know if the factory-fitted alternator will be sufficient to do the job?

Thanks for responses in advance.

Brian