2nd battery location??

[JCV]

Hi Guys, I'm pretty new to this amazingly wonderful and wacky world of P38 ownership - and what a ride so far!!

Anyhow, has anyone successfully managed to locate a 2nd battery in a 97 P38?

I'd rather not put it inside the boot area, and I can't put it in the spare wheel space as there is a spare wheel in there - until I find a rear bar that is.

Any solutions that have worked?

(what a great forum by the way - plenty of useful info)

[Keithy P38]

G'day and welcome JCV! You're in for a ride!

As for aux battery locations, those are the two prime spots. If you are handy on the tools you may be able to relocate the airbox and put a battery tray in there.

Mine lives in a battery box in the cargo hold opposite the juke box!

Hope I've been of some help!
Keithy

[p38arover]

Mine is in the spare wheel well where the jack used to be located.

[TheTree]

Mine is in the spare wheel well where the jack used to be located.

I am thinking more and more this is the best spot, some people seem worried about having a battery next to an LPG tank. But if you have gas leaks from your tank, you already have big problems !

I reckon that space could hold a couple of batteries if needed.

Trying to thinking of other stuff which very rarely needs to be accessed and can be stored down there as well. Spare parts perhaps ?

Steve

[Keithy P38]

Yeah it is a very good spot for rarely used spares. We need to make a hatch to "quick access" that spot now!

[p38arover]

Yeah it is a very good spot for rarely used spares. We need to make a hatch to "quick access" that spot now!

Like this?

Trial fitting battery (100Ah sealed AGM).

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachment.php?attachmentid=59648&stc=1&d=1367109893

Final location.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachment.php?attachmentid=59650&stc=1&d=1367109893

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

Done. The Unistrut was to support and hold down the drawer system.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachment.php?attachmentid=59651&stc=1&d=1367109893

[Keithy P38]

We have a winner!

[glenhendry]

I ripped out my sub woofer and put my aux battery in there. Its not like I use it as a doof-doof car for a rapper anyway. And the sound system still sounds great.

Under the bonnet is too hot in my opinion. In Gen 3 and Gen 4, the battery has been moved behind a firewall to avoid battery heat issues.

[JCV]

Thanks for all the input guys. I got all excited about the space where the jack stuff lives, however I've got a normal size spare in there and I don't have the width. I'm thinking a rear bar is becoming a necessity as it will get the spare out and give me a holder for a jerry can as well.

Any suggestions on a rear bar? (or is that something for another thread?)

[olbod]

I havent investigated it yet but earlier today i read that TJM have a swingaway carrier that bolts directly to the chasis ? This is different to their full rear bar replacement thingy.
It was a photo of the carrier fitted whilest still retaining the original rear bumper. I know nothing more about it.

[JCV]

Thanks Olbod, I think I'll contact TJM directly and get the good oil on this option.

Seeing it's not a full bar I guess I won't get a spot for a jerry can, but depending on price it might just give me a solution for my battery location - at least until I get the urge to set off across the Simpson, and then I'll need a trailer to tow the jerry cans anyway! :-)

(I get 15L/100km highway with road tyres and 18L/100km highway with 32" muddies. I've owned my Rangie for about 4 months and already I don't look at the price while filling up)

[olbod]

I went back over my Google steps from this morning and found the pic that drew my attention.
Depending on whether the the can be used on a P38 and the price, two of these might be fitted.

JCV, let us all know what you find out about it.

Ta.

[mtb_gary]

Thanks Olbod, I think I'll contact TJM directly and get the good oil on this option.

Seeing it's not a full bar I guess I won't get a spot for a jerry can, but depending on price it might just give me a solution for my battery location - at least until I get the urge to set off across the Simpson, and then I'll need a trailer to tow the jerry cans anyway! :-)

(I get 15L/100km highway with road tyres and 18L/100km highway with 32" muddies. I've owned my Rangie for about 4 months and already I don't look at the price while filling up)

JCV

The 18L/100km is that from the on board computer? If it is the good news is you're actually getting around 16.2 L/100km as the 265/75/16's are around 10% bigger than your stock tyres.

Gary

[JCV]

JCV

The 18L/100km is that from the on board computer? If it is the good news is you're actually getting around 16.2 L/100km as the 265/75/16's are around 10% bigger than your stock tyres.

Gary

Yes, it was. Why didn't I think of that..! Doh! Yes, that would explain it - I didn't think the tyres should be creating that much extra drag... :)

[mtb_gary]

I went back over my Google steps from this morning and found the pic that drew my attention.
Depending on whether the the can be used on a P38 and the price, two of these might be fitted.

JCV, let us all know what you find out about it.

Ta.

Olbod, where did you find the wheel carrier. I've looked through the TJM site and can't find it?

Gary

[TheTree]

Like this?

Trial fitting battery (100Ah sealed AGM).

Ron,

That is perfect, I am also thinking there is a little space left for as 12v DV charger and a couple of other electronic goodies ;-)

I note you are not concerned with having the battery next to the LPG tank
Regards:wasntme:

Steve

[TheTree]

I ripped out my sub woofer and put my aux battery in there. Its not like I use it as a doof-doof car for a rapper anyway. And the sound system still sounds great.

Hi,

I am thinking of doing the same, then adding a Kenwood KSC-SW01 on top of the side shelves, where the current subwoofer "outlet" is.

BTW as a bit of an audio geek, i just shake my head when i look at the "outlet" for the subwoofer. Subwoofers are about moving air, and we have a pair of 6" woofers, but the air they are pumping is being pushed through a hole the size of a 1950's radio :censored:

Regards
Steve

[p38arover]

Ron,

I note you are not concerned with having the battery next to the LPG tank
Regards:wasntme:

Steve

Don't worry, I thought long and hard about it. My concerns really were about acid fumes corroding the tank (hence the sealed AGM) and the battery coming loose and shorting against the tank (hence the wooden separator).

Regrettably, the battery I bought had a cracked case and would leak acid when under charge. I found this after about a year (with the acid damage). Unfortunately, I couldn't prove the battery was cracked when I bought it.

The LPG tank wasn't damaged by the acid.

[tasi devil]

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/p38a-range-rover/166281-dual-batterries-p38.html

[olbod]

Olbod, where did you find the wheel carrier. I've looked through the TJM site and can't find it?

Gary

As I said, I havent checked it out yet but I think the carrier could probably be adapted to fit any heavy duty tow bar type thingy ?
With the idea presented I think one could easily be constructed to fit any heavy duty tow bar. Rigidij sell most of the bits to make a carrier, even if you have to have it professionaly welded. Most exhaust shops could probably do the pipe beding for you.

[olbod]

PS: to the above.
Then again they say it attaches to the chasis so it shouldnt be too hard to adapt ?

[TheTree]

Like this?

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachment.php?attachmentid=59649&stc=1&d=1367109893



Hi Ron,

I notice your wires coming out and ducking under the carpet and into the subwoofer area.

I was wondering where you picked up the feed from, did you run a wire to the front or did you pick something up a bit closer?

Regards
Steve

[benji]

Steve, I think you'd really only want to run a dedicated charge wire from the main battery. With mine i'm only running a fridge and lights etc, but when you start the car the next morning, and main battery will dump as many amps as it sees fit into the second battery to equalize the voltages.

Got my second battery in just before easter.
Managed to get it into the back, though my spare wheel arch...? has been cut out, and a floor put in with the gas tank mounted in it's spot - now on the outside of the car.
There's a 140A circuit breaker right next to the main battery, with a 2AWG running along the top of the chassis through a waterproof gland into the rear.
The Negative goes from the second battery to the chassis - wasn't quite sure about this, but was assured by an auto elec that it's fine.

[TheTree]

I have seen three options mentioned;

1) Pick up from the BECM, which when i looked closely has 3 different 60A feeds running to it. Although physically convenient, i am a little leery of connecting anything non-standard to the BECM :eek:

2) Run a wire from the battery through the firewall. Using either Ron B's "drill the grommet" method, or another method i saw uses a spare hole which takes the clutch cable on the manuals.

Then the wire can be run behind the trims and through the existing channels pretty easily apparently.

3) Hoges and others method of running it along the chassis and in through the rear floor / spare tyre area.

I think 3 may be the easiest and best, as long as the cable can be kept out of harms way.

I am thinking of using a variation on the circuits here, Second Battery for P38A (http://inteli.com/battery.html)

I am going to use a 100AMP Schottky diode (which has 1/2 the voltage drop of a normal diode) to prevent reverse current flow, and use a relay controlled by the ignition hooked up to a Projecta DC20 charger and a fat AGM battery.

This second battery will essentially be isolated from the vehicle electrics except when the vehicle is running. I am thinking of using a changeover relay, so when the feed from the rangie is not connected, a different charging source could be hooked up, such as solar or a 12V power supply etc

Steve

[Keithy P38]

I've run my feed from the battery, along the chassis (in conjute) up the grommet at the rear and into the rear quarter.

Ive used a Traxide SC80 and a 50amp circuit breaker at either end, with an Anderson plug in the rear attached to the aux battery cables, and a switch run off the earth on the smart charger which is positioned on the dash so I can turn the voltage feed on or off at will.

No discharge issues from me!

It took 6m of battery cable to get there, no trimming whatsoever.

[benji]

I personally feel that's the best way too, in conduit under the car. Sometimes those maxi fuses are running close to full capacity anyway; and 60 amp may not be enough if one of the batteries are dead, and the other is full. Dad's car caught fire after he started the car with a low second battery and a very large new main battery on 50 amp cable.
Just don't feel comfortable with a large cable going through the cabin - even if it is protected by a relay etc.

Regarding the Diode, will you still be able to start off the second battery?

[TheTree]

Regarding the Diode, will you still be able to start off the second battery?

Hey Benji

No i won't and I am planning on using an AGM battery as well, which is not much use as a starting battery.

If I wanted a second battery as a backup start battery, I would go the Hoges way and get them both under the bonnet

Steve

[mtb_gary]

How did Hoges manage to get 2 batteries under the bonnet? :cool:

Gary

[Hoges]

How did Hoges manage to get 2 batteries under the bonnet? :cool:

Gary

:eek::eek::eek::wasntme:

I used the spare compartment space behind the existing battery to house one of Drivesafe's magic Traxide SCR80 gizmos. This in turn charged two deep cell batteries connected (and used) in parallel in a camper trailer...

[mtb_gary]

:eek::eek::eek::wasntme:

I used the spare compartment space behind the existing battery to house one of Drivesafe's magic Traxide SCR80 gizmos. This in turn charged two deep cell batteries connected (and used) in parallel in a camper trailer...

Thanks Hoges, that makes more sense! I have looked in the engine bay time and time again to find a suitable spot for a 2nd battery. Aside from sitting on top of the exhaust area on the passenger side there is no room, I just don't fancy a battery sitting over the top of the exhaust.

Gary

[Robsrod 58]

This is what I did with mine. Hidden behind is 100ah agm. I have since modified it to take solar panel input and Anderson plug for fridge, still totally protected by CB's

Rob


http://www.aulro.com/afvb/p38a-range-rover/155237-dual-battery-charger-install-help.html#post1759110