Deep Cycle Battery for Discovery S2

[Franz]

I have a standard ARB dual battery setup witha 55AH deep cycle battery and have discovered it's limitations when remaining in one spot for a few days.:( :(

Has anyone successfully fitted a larger capacity deep cycle in the ARB battery tray that is located on the PS side bulkhead? What battery was used?

I would really like to find a better solution to my current setup.

Thanks in advance.:)

Cheers,

Franz

[weeds]

solar panel???, i have 200amp/h's of aux batteries plus a solar panel, although i do run two fridges and a couple of lights

[waynep]

solar panel???, i have 200amp/h's of aux batteries plus a solar panel, although i do run two fridges and a couple of lights

That's a good idea. Something charging the batteries while you are camping would help.

More suggestions ;

1. install one of Drivesafe's sc40 controllers. These let you use some capacity from the main battery ( in parallel with the aux battery ) until it senses the main battery is getting too low to start the vehicle. It then isolates the main battery. This gives a bit more "virtual" capcity on your fridge etc.

2. i haven't had much luck with dedicated deep cycle batteries in vehicles. I don't think the plate construction is up to moving about a lot. They are probably intended more for stationary applications. For an aux battery, I now use the Champion/Exide Extreme battery which has both a CCA ( cranking ) rating and Amp hour rating- and for some reason the AH rating on these seems higher than an equivalent size dedicated deep cycle. Can be used for jump starting if needed too. and not overpriced.

[MT]

I will have a look at mine tomorrow, originally had one from ARB, then when that died (pretty early), bought one that is a pearler.

The problem with the ARB dual battery fit in the SII is the proximity to the turbo etc. It gets bloody hot which can tend to boil the battery a lot. Make sure that you pay attention to the fluid in the battery.

Will get back to you with the brand of the good one,

regards,

Mark

[ladas]

I will have a look at mine tomorrow, originally had one from ARB, then when that died (pretty early), bought one that is a pearler.

The problem with the ARB dual battery fit in the SII is the proximity to the turbo etc. It gets bloody hot which can tend to boil the battery a lot. Make sure that you pay attention to the fluid in the battery.



regards,

Mark

A good, even home built double skin (with a gap) heat sheild would help this

[Franz]

A good, even home built double skin (with a gap) heat sheild would help this
Yes, I have bought some heat shield material from Clarke Rubber and this has helped to keep the battery a little cooler. It's just a foam material with foil backing but temp tests have revealed that it does work.

Since installing the heat shield the battery has lasted a little longer so far but I suspect it's living on borrowed time. My main problem (besides life) is still the capacity though.

Cheers,

[Franz]

solar panel???, i have 200amp/h's of aux batteries plus a solar panel, although i do run two fridges and a couple of lights
Thanks Kelvin. Cost is the prohibitive factor here - I can't justify the cost versus usage for a solar panel and space is also a major issue for me. If I can't find a suitable battery solution I may have to reconsider this option though.

Cheers,

[LoadedDisco]

solar panel???, i have 200amp/h's of aux batteries plus a solar panel, although i do run two fridges and a couple of lights


I have never heard of solar battery’s.

You are right though Weeds if you have a roof rack fit solar panels.
I have seen yours take a battering (Little branches) they are hardy and do the job.

[Redback]

I'd say not much bigger than what you have Franz, i put a Fullriver AGM 60AH in mine, maintainence free batteries are a bit larger than lead acid types but lead acid type batteries in the D2 seem to boil and you get acid evrywhere as i did.

I searched for ages to find the biggest battery i could fit inder the bonnet in my D2 and the Fullriver was it, so unless you move the tray or toss it and have the side by side setup and move the ECU, 60AH is probaby it.

A solar panel will help for the extended stays.

Baz.

[pilbaradisco]

Hi Franz,
I put a AGM 104AH battery in the original battery position for the fridge and fitted a smaller cranking battery in the ARB(Perth W.A.) battery tray. I joined the two heavy +ve cables from the oringinal +ve batt clamp in a 95mmSq butt crimp and used 50mmSq cable to run around the the ARB tray.
I have a Concorde Sun-xtender 104ah AGM for the second batt and a Red top Optima for the cranking batt. Both batteries even survived the 45 min dunking when I drowned my first D2 back in 2005.

http://www.gallery.d2au.com/main.php?g2_itemId=666

Glen.

Note:- I think the ARB Perth battery tray has a better heat sheild then the Eastern state types.

[Redback]

Hi Franz,
I put a AGM 104AH battery in the original battery position for the fridge and fitted a smaller cranking battery in the ARB(Perth W.A.) battery tray. I joined the two heavy +ve cables from the oringinal +ve batt clamp in a 95mmSq butt crimp and used 50mmSq cable to run around the the ARB tray.
I have a Concorde Sun-xtender 104ah AGM for the second batt and a Red top Optima for the cranking batt. Both batteries even survived the 45 min dunking when I drowned my first D2 back in 2005.

http://www.gallery.d2au.com/main.php?g2_itemId=666

Glen.

Note:- I think the ARB Perth battery tray has a better heat sheild then the Eastern state types.

I thought about doing this too but changed my mind, and made my own tray and heat shield, i've modified it again and added another shield to be extra sure.

A good idea that you have and probably better suited to you guys that camp with the car only, and a little easier than moving the ECU to fit the second battery beside the factory one.

Baz.

[drivesafe]

Not wishing to detract from the topic but because of the on going problems with heat associated to the firewall mounted battery, where space permits, I would recommend fitting the second battery in the cargo area in the rear of the D2.

The problem with the firewall mounted battery is not just the radiated heat coming off the engine but that this battery is going to be much hotter that the front battery and the hotter any battery is, the lower the charge voltage should be to avoid damaging the battery.

As there is no adjustment to the charging voltage level, I think that the problems with this battery location is a combination of high temperatures and too high a charging voltage.

Putting the battery in the rear of the D2 resolves the problems

[pilbaradisco]

drivesafe,
Whats it like under the bonnet of the TD6 RR for duel battery space? Got any pic's?

Glen.

[Utemad]

Hi Franz,
I put a AGM 104AH battery in the original battery position for the fridge and fitted a smaller cranking battery in the ARB(Perth W.A.) battery tray.

This is what I was going to suggest. In my Rodeo I swapped the start battery and 2nd battery around. The Rodeo has only room for a small 2nd battery but can take an N70 size in the main tray. The Rodeo has a large main tray to suit the diesel but since I had the petrol I only needed a small start battery.

[drivesafe]

Hi Glen, no need for pictures as there is no possible way of mounting a second battery under the bonnet of a Mark III RR.

Thankfully, Land Rover had the wisdom to pre-fit mounts for a second, altho small, battery in a side compartment, under the floor in the rear.

Cheers.

[aaron.miller]

Has anyone mounted the 2nd battery in the space where the fuel filler hose is, is ds rear quater panel?? There seems to be heaps of room there, unless you go a long range tank??

Aaron