Cleared Thy Battery Tray

[scomac]

Could not be bothered fighting the crowds today so made some room for the second battery, thanks to Graeme and others who posted. Just need to order the Traxide kit now.

A lot of D3/4 owners seem to fit the Optima D34, has anyone fitted any other brand of battery? Can you get a battery with more Amp Hrs in that size?

Cheers
Scott.

[drivesafe]

Hi Scott, there are a couple of other batteries that fit in the auxiliary battery compartment, but you need to modify either the battery bracket, battery compartment or the battery itself, or a combination of the three.

Whereas, once the D4 compartment is cleared, the Optima D34, drops straight in without the need for any of the above modifications.

While the Optima D34 limits your auxiliary battery capacity to 55Ah ( 44Ah available ) the Optima is a rapid charge battery and with the large alternators in D3s and D4s, this is a huge advantage because you can literally fully charge the battery ( to well over 90% ) in less than an hours drive.

[kenl]

The problem with the optima is the cost, I put in 2 supercharge deep cycles for about $250 total 5 years ago and they are still going. Had I used Optimas the price would have been double or more, I think the supercharge batteries are 5-10 AH less but.. well you know do the maths. My Engle runs full time and I seldom drive for more than an hour a day, and definitely don't drive more than 7 hours a week.

[Tinman]

Hi Scott, I have a Remco 80amp/h deep cycle in my09 D3 just fitted the same one in my sons my15 D4

[WhiteD3]

In my 2007 D3 I had an Amp-tech D48 in the second battery bay with a traxide kit.

[kenl]

That's the same batteries I have, the D48. I thought they were less AH than the Optimas but I just had a look and it says they are 60AH deep cycle.

When I bought them they cost me $125 each and I put one in the Battery tray on the drivers side and one in front of main cranking battery, I used the traxide basic kit, I also used a variable low voltage cut out switch to supply my auxiliary power, I have that set at about 11.6volts.

[Meken]

Are all these non optima batteries fast charge? The point of using the optima in Tim's kit is that it charges faster than the cranking battery and because his isolator stays open after the vehicle is turned off the optima actually charges the cranking battery so you end up with both batteries in a very high soc after a few good trips

[Tinman]

The Remco deep cycle are a AGM Battery (Absorbent glass Mat battery) These batteries have a lower internal resistance to Flooded lead acid which allows them to charge up to five times as quick as the Flooded lead acid.

[jonesy63]

The Remco deep cycle are a AGM Battery (Absorbent glass Mat battery) These batteries have a lower internal resistance to Flooded lead acid which allows them to charge up to five times as quick as the Flooded lead acid.

Just looked at their stats and they say "Max charge rate: 24.0A" - that doesn't seem to match what a D3/D4/RRS can put into them using the Traxide kits.

[drivesafe]

Hi Tinman, wet cell batteries are self current regulating while charging so they are fine if they fit.

However most AGMs have a charge current limitation, as jonesy pointed out, which could make they a problem when charging from a high current alternator like the Discovery 4s.

There are a couple of AGMs, like Odyssey and Optima, that have no charge current limit and are only limited by the temperature while charging.

So the Optima D34, for a number of factors, is the ideal battery.

[Redback]

The Varta LFD75 930 075 should fit, here are the dimensions

Dimensions (mm) - Length: 278

Width: 175

Height: 190

A friend has one of these in his D3, in the spot you have cleared.

[Tinman]

I had a couple of AGM yuasa 100 amp/h in a Volkswagen Trakka campervan for 9 nine years charging off a 150 alternator ,solar and a 14 amp battery charger sold the car with batteries still working. Granted its not the most ideal situation, if charged correctly you can get 12 years out of a AGM battery so you have a compromise which will shorten the life charging with a 150 alternator. Heat is another factor so if you insulate your battery from the engine heat that helps extend their life also. I use a Engel battery management system have for years with not a problem.