max batt size for dual battery setup in a 300tdi defender?

[cameron]

Hi team,
The aux battery in my dual battery set up on my 300tdi defender seems to be pretty much cactus.

Two reasons here:
1. the low voltage cutout we madre up from a kit was set too low and;
2. I ran too much current through it (the low voltage cutout) - turns out to have only been rated to 5 amps - and so it sort of melted some of the wiring.

I have bought a ready made one now which should give me better service for the car and the original one is getting refurbed by a mate and I will bung it into my camper trailer.

At the end of the day the aux batt seems to have been drained too much too often and for too long a period of time.

Anyway if I am going to replace the aux battery then I want to get one with the biggest capacity for auxillary use that I can squeeze into the under seat box.

What I have now is:
The starter batt is a Yuasa Overlander NS7OZ RC115 and the clapped out aux is currently an Eagle NS5OP 11 plate RC85 (with a battery hold down on the base that is exactly suited to this battery)

I got the setup I have from a mobile accessory fitter guy when I first bought the truck and it worked fine and he insisted that it was the biggest that you could go for with a defender but now of course I know more and want more.

What can you recommend please?

I will be shifting most of the other wiring and stuff over to the drivers side seat box (no computer under there as it is a 300tdi) as that is where the compressor etc is now mounted.

At the moment the starter battery is an optima (from memory) which has been doing great. The current layout in there is the starter battery is running lengthways and the aux battery in its own holder is running acrossways.

Thus I am probably also looking for a new battery holder as well which will get it all in there and make the most of what space there is.

Ideas please guys?

Thanks in advance,
Cameron

[Reads90]

This is what i have in my 300TDi 90. Same battery compartment as 110.
I had the optima already but got ARB to put the other battery with a split charge system

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2006/02/74.jpg

[hiline]

cameron send drivesafe a PM

he will give you all the info your after https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

[DEFENDERZOOK]

<span style="color:blue">if you have space under the drivers seat.....why not fit a third battery....?</span>

[weeds]

i remember seeing pics on here of three optima's under the pass seat, twop deep cycle and a start

[Reads90]

Originally posted by weeds
i remember seeing pics on here of three optima's under the pass seat, twop deep cycle and a start

Yeah we used to do that in the uk

[cameron]

[quote=DEFENDERZOOK]<span style="color:blue">if you have space under the drivers seat.....why not fit a third battery....?</span>

Hey Tony,
Can't do that cause under the drivers seat I have:
1. a few of the bits from the mobile phone handsfree unit;
2. a bushranger max air compressor plumbed into a pressure tank under the vehicle bolted to the chasis rail under the drivers seat;
3. a sureflo pressure pump currently being hooked up to the new helton heat exchanger under the bonnet for the shower.

So only really enough room to run a nice big cable and shift some of the spaghetti and fuses across to clear out a bit of room for a new, bigger aux battery.

Can anyone recomend a battery cradle too that will do the job well and hold both batts down in the best configuration?

Also I was after (and I will pm drivesafe thanks inc) amp hours and most importantly physical dimensions.

Cheers,
Cameron

[matbor]

Most battery manufactures have there specs listed on there websites, for example check out the specs of the Supercharge batteries here :
http://www.supercharge.com.au/products_specs_deep.htm

Matt.

[cameron]

Hi Matt,
Thanks for that - I have been reading with interest on the forum over the last month or so the good info about the SuperCharge batteries (and the forum discount!) and was thinking one might be the go. Bit of a drive to get out there to get one though and I don't yet know which battery would be the biggest and best for the job.

As for the specs I will pull it all out and measure everything up etc if I have to but was kinda hoping that some kind soul who already knew all there is to know about it might save me the trouble of trying to work it all out - I am looking for an already proved, successful selection hopefully https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

It isn't exactly an even dimensioned box under there sloping down at the back and with some bits deeper and wider than others. I don't want to go chopping up the top edges of the battery box in order to shoehorn something in and then have to make up a new lid.

Also the rain stopped long enough for me to go out and check what my current batteries are and I have edited the previous post to make it correct.

Details are:
The starter batt I have under there at the moment is a Yuasa Overlander NS7OZ RC115 (still going very well) and the clapped out aux is currently an Eagle NS5OP 11 plate RC85 (with a battery hold down on the base that is exactly suited to this battery so unlikely to be much use for a bigger sized battery unless it is as wide as the Eagle is long!)

Thanks guys,
Cameron

[weeds]

one of my aux batteroes is 120amp/h, i will measure up and get the brand make tonight

[cameron]

Thanks Weeds,
That will be very cool.

Cheers,
Cameron

[cameron]

Thanks Weeds,
That will be very cool.

Cheers,
Cameron

[dullbird]

we put two optima yellow tops on our 200tdi

as they can be completely flatterned up to 300 times

and cope very well with shock as they are gel filled.............

we had no problem cranking the car over when we went off roading in france at -17c

it was just the fuel pump that froze up :wink:

but apparently these batterys are also very good in the australian heat

dullbird

[weeds]

ok, good thing you asked the question as i have not check my deep cycles since i installed the water tank (nearly six month ago), why you ask, due to a lack of planning i now have to remove the rear seat to check the batteries as they no long fold forward with the water tank in place, an hour later i have both deep cycle out and discovered one to have not a drop of water in it, damn looks like i'm up for a new one

when i purchased the rig the previous owner had the following two batteries fitted under the passenger seat, bloody tight fit getting them in and out

start yussa 300x170x???
us battery deep cycle 330x170x220 120Ah (nothing written on the case, previous owner indicated 120Ah

i have relocated the deep cycle to the rear and added a second and have the following at the moment

us battery 120Ah??? stuffed
exide 85Ah 340x170x210 15 plate i think

must read a few of the post a bit better now to decide which battery i will purchase, although will more than likely grab another exide

[modman]

opposite lock have a duel battery tray to fit under seat in a defender.
not sure what brand it is
op preston (victoria) had one on the shelf last time i was in there.
david

[cameron]

thanks dullbird, weeds and modman - all postings were a great help.

I had better make a few more enquiries, measure a few things up and get onto it next week while I am still on nappy changing duties/holidays!

Cheers,
Cameron