Job 1 - Dual Batteries

[stace70]

Just paid the deposit for a 2010 defender 130DC trayback - due August. This will be set up as a touring/camping type rig. One of the first jobs I will do is to take the Rotronics MH10 battery unit out of our old 4by and put in the deefy. I have read every post about dual batteries in the 90 110 130 defender forum and this has given me heads up for battery tray, size of batteries etc. But a few questions about the install.

(1) The install in the old 4by had the earth leads running from both batteries and the MH10 unit back to the alternator. But is this necessary when the batteries are under the seat? I note some of the builds had the earth going from –ve to –ve (any drama with this set up)???
(2) Was there an easy ignition wire to find (any pics would be great).
(3) Thinking fuse-block in the battery compartment with wiring to rear tray for accessories. Anybody with a 130 put wiring to rear tray? If so where to from the battery box?
Trying to get a feel for the job before I do it. Any help appreciated.

[Glennormous]

Hey mate,
I too have purchased a new 130 which I get in 3 weeks and plan on setting it up as a tourer also.
No.1 on my list dual batteries too.
Interested to know what dual bettery trays you have come across. I have looked at one from Devon4x4 and one from gwynlewis4x4 but thinkng of having one made up by a fabrication mob as some members seem to be able to fit in bigger batteries by removing the jack whch is no dramas as I have a hi-lift.
Do you know the overall dimensions of the battery box?
Will be keeping an eye on this thread.

[Dave128]

Hi Guys,

The battery box is approx 445mm wide x 475mm deep, 220mm tall at the front & 165mm tall at the back with a channel set in the floor 230mm wide and 27mm one side and 23mm deep the other side. This channel is where the factory fit battery sits - in a tray and clamped at the base. The factory battery is 90Ah 120RC 800A wet 350mm long x 175mm wide and 190mm tall. One side of the channel is flat, the other slopes up.

Removing the battery tray leaves four holes in the base (plastic cover under vehicle on battery box). Battery also vented through floor.

The connections to the battery have changed. The -ve terminal will not take any additional wire unless you cut the end off and replace with new connector. -ve runs out of box to chassis and on to gearbox.

+ve terminal has a mega fuse built in which hangs over the side of the battery at the end and will only fit in one of two positions. The position of the battery post to the edge of the battery is important for the fuse hang over the side.

Ignition wire can be picked up under driver seat box.

Easy to fit larger batteries just problematic holding them down.

I have gone the Devon 4x4 tray route - uses same mounting holes, very secure hold down, can take longer batteries if you fold down one lip.

[stace70]

Thanks Dave128....guess I will have to cut -ve lead if running -ve to -ve to earth (is this what you did or did you run the aux battery -ve back to alternator???? Any pics of your setup.

Glennormous.....re:battery trays....it depends upon what setup of batteries you are going for.
If you are looking at keeping the original battery and adding a 10inch battery (such as exide orbital, optima blue/yellow) then go with a piranhaoffroad tray (Defender Battery Tray BTDEFDT - Battery Trays (http://piranhaoffroad.com.au/index.php/default/battery-trays/battery-tray-btdefdt.html)) as in Rugrat's build ....Dullbird appears to have done this but with tiedowns and uses gravity to hold them in.
If two 10 inch batteries then devon 4x4 tray (Devon 4x4 Off Road - Twin battery tray for Defender 07> : D44BATTERYTRAY07 : Off Road Equipment from Devon 4x4 (http://www.devon4x4.com/products_b/p1426c130/0/twin-battery-tray-for-defender-07.html))
If two larger batteries you will need to move them from east/west to nth/sth (as in the setups of Lightweight & Macfamily).
I will only be using the winch periodically and using the aux battery to run socket or Autofridge fridge (normally run on freeze when driving then only need to turn on 2hrs morn & night - about 12amps) and 1 LED light (only runs 0.1 amps) so am leaning towards the devon tray setup.

[Dave128]

I will add some pics when complete. At the moment I have the DEVON4X4 tray with one battery Nth Sth. I am assembling the other parts before fitting two PC1500s or two PC1700s (you can fit longer batteries in tray).

In my Td5 I made a custom tray to fit the channel (using yellow top before fitting odyssey PC1700).

[stace70]

Getting the bits and pieces together for the dual battery install and have a query over wiring....

do you guys only earth the main battery to the auxillary or do you also run it to its existing earth???

what size B&S are you running between main and aux?

For those with a 3rd battery (2nd aux in tray of 130) what size cable between each posts and roughly what lengths....I will be placing battery near headboard.

Cheers in advance

[Lightweight]

I use the 6B&S cable to a 3rd battery in the rear connected via a 50A Anderson plug so i can remove the 3rd battery easily. There is also a 30A breaker near the 3rd battery.

[Radz]

In my Defender recently installed a secondary battery. Ran the -ve of the secondary battery to the same gearbox place as does the -ve of the main battery.

[sniegy]

There is no need to cut the terminal off the original earth lead. If you stick your head under the vehicle & have a look at where the earth exits the battery box it earths directly to the chassis & then to the gearbox, It may be a little bit of a pain, but the factory earth connection onto the battery is always going to be better as it is crimped properly, rather than one made from possibly 2 bolts squashing a cable together:o.

my 2c worth.:D

p.s. just wired a dual battery system in a new 130DC last week, kit was from pirhanna & was very nice, simple kit to fit & precise, good tray using existing battery & 1 yellow top. Controller was a simple device to wire in (+ve to the cig lighter & an earth) & just bolted to the inside of the battery compartment.
Was well designed. I also have no affiliation with this product.

[stace70]

Sniegy,

what size Yellow Top (assuming it was the 10 inch)....if you fold down the lip of one size is it possible to put a larger battery in using this tray???

[sniegy]

Stace,
Not sure of dimensions but it was a D34.
You probably could as long as the negative side goes to the rear of the vehicle.:p Otherwise it could get warm:wasntme:

Cheers.

[stace70]

Found a few places with cheap top shelf batteries (about $100 cheaper than I found elsewhere).

Optima Blue 34m $300.88 delivered to your door http://www.batteriesdirect.com.au/shop/search/510/optima.html

Odyssey 1500's....found these guys in hometown Newcastle for only $440 + freight. ODYSSEY PC1500 AGM BATTERY FRESH STOCK HIGH PERFORMANCE - eBay, Other Cars, Bikes, Boats, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 31-Jul-10 21:01:10 AEST) (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ODYSSEY-PC1500-AGM-BATTERY-FRESH-STOCK-HIGH-PERFORMANCE-/260628659916?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item3caeadbecc)

or $471.75 + freight at batteriesdirect.

Best price I got on the Tekonsha P3 break controller was from this mob http://shop.ebay.com.au/premium_parts4u/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=25......$176 delivered

[sniegy]

Stace,
Ever thougt of using a RedArc remote head brake controller?
I have fitted one of these to Derek's (Dmdigital) Defender & also my D4.
They dont take up much room & is very easy to use.

I got mine from ebay also, delivered around the same price.

Cheers.

[stace70]

Sneigy....your suggestion came about 2 days to late.....purchased the Prodigy P3 already.....had the Prodigy in the last 4by and it went well towing the camper.

[Dave128]

Well the batteries are in. The process was painless:

- remove the existing battery
- remove the battery tray
- install new D44 battery tray (has a slope)
- install new batteries
- clamp down (I added some rubber trim to the edge of the clamp)
- Odyssey's have SAE posts and 3/8" receptor on side. This is how I connected earth between two batteries using receptor on main and post on AUX. In my config the 3/8" receptors on the AUX batter are not used.
- reconnect main battery

I have fitted a traxide dual battery controller on the end of the box closest to feet. I will take some pictures this weekend.

Only minor problem is access to AUX -ve terminal for servicing. So I have ordered a projecta BT925-N1 to bring the -ve connections forward into the open space. I will see how this works when it arrives.

Dave

[stace70]

Dave128,

looks good mate and not too tight.

[VladTepes]

install new D44 battery tray (has a slope)

From where ? has a slope where ? Yours is a Puma yeah ? Is the underseat box same as earlier Deefers ?

[Dave128]

The box under the seat in the puma is the same as the Td5.

The D44 tray is designed with a slight slope - from the side closest to the door down to the side closest to the cubby box. If you fold down the battery tray edge on this side it will fit a battery logner than an Odyssey PC1500, two PC1700's should fit. With the batteries installed you can still get the jack in and out and store the wheel chock there. The jack handle has to come out though.