Thread: DB Isolators?

Originally Posted by mrs

A lot of new vehicles do not put out a constant 14 plus volts if they don't think they need it so unless you can step it up then batteries such as AGM will not reach full charge. I have had this issue in my TD5 disco

All later vehicles come with AGMs so there goes that theory

I run a relatively 'dumb' Blue sea systems ACR (compared to the DC DC things with all their extra circuitry), benefit of this one is its current handling capability over a lot of the other options out there.
Like tim's unit, mine has the ability to combine or isolate bateries on command, useful to self jump start, or combine multiple batteries for high amp draw operations (winching etc).
It's a giant can of worms, be warned, but for the average punter like myself (basic camping, no fridge, no caravan etc), a basic system will more likely than not pull you up.

My first isolator was a manual switch aka idiot switch as your bound to forget to either isolated or de-isolate.

I than moved to a traxide......

Fitting a basic redarc to my new rig.

Having the two batteries connected to give more capacity hasn't isn't a big priority as one I like to leave the starter out of the equation and secondly I have never not parked up long enough without moving where my solar doesn't keep up.

Originally Posted by ThorneGator

Thanks for this Slunnie,

One thing that has me wondering though..... if they are so similar, why aren't the Jaycar DBI's mentioned on here more often? Is there something legitimately wrong with something that cheap?

I have used the jaycar unit. Had problems with the USB outlets draining my house battery down to 5v. Put the Jaycar unit between the house battery and the USB outlets to protect the battery. The jaycar unit kept staying closed - not always but 1 in 5 times it would let the battery drain.

Originally Posted by Tombie

All later vehicles come with AGMs so there goes that theory

Some new vehicles come with AGM batteries with an alternator setup for them, definitely not all new cars. Particularly with a lot of the Jap stuff they are having problems with putting out enough voltage to get an AGM past about 85%. This the trouble I was having with my Disco 2. Sometimes the alternator was only giving out mid to high 12s and so my AGM wasn't charging fully. This was with a new alternator so I look it back and had it replaced - same story. Now I have say 12.5 - 13v on battery 1 and 13.9 - 14.5 whilst driving. Looking at the specs for approx 100Ah AGM for float it has 13.6 to 13.8v or cycling 14.6 - 14.8v

Our Discovery 2 puts out 14.7 at start up, dropping to 13.8 after about 20 minutes and on a very long run about 13.4

This is with the new alternator and the original which failed about 2 years ago.