Disco II Series II Td5 ES Duel Battery System

[Stewie]

Has anyone fitted a duel battery system under the bonnet of a Disco II Td5 ES. I'm told it is impossible due to the rear air conditioning compressor unit and pipes etc around the space near the turbo where the second battery would normally sit?

Hasanyone had any success in moving stuff around?

[Slunnie]

This is a setup I saw on the internet a few years ago.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/09/1036.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/09/1037.jpg

[Stewie]

Thanks Slunnie.
I'm trying to set myself up in the best way possible for now and for in the future. I was thinking of replacing the car battery with a 120 AH Deep Cycle/High Crank Thumper Redback with a low voltage isolator so I could run the 40 ltr Engel fridge and laptop from the car battery on small trips without having to take a spare battery and then also set myself up with either another 120 AH Deep Cycle/High Crank in a battery box or a custom built Thumper unit for longer camping trips away.

Your thoughts?

[wardy1]

I have my 2nd battery on the passenger side under the bonnet. I put a sheet of aluminium between the battery and turbo. Mine is a cranking battery because it is used primarily to run the winch (deep cycles don't like winches). I have also used one of Drivesafes SC80 controllers so I can use both the batteries in the car as well as the deep cycle in the camper to run my waeco etc.
I really should do some pics because............ yeah yeah yeah :)

[inside]

Have you thought about a portable dual battery such as,
THUMPER AGM DEEP CYCLE DUAL BATTERY JUMPSTARTER EVAKOOL - eBay, Parts, Accessories, Caravans, Motorhomes, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 24-Dec-08 21:52:58 AEDST) (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/THUMPER-AGM-DEEP-CYCLE-DUAL-BATTERY-JUMPSTARTER-EVAKOOL_W0QQitemZ280294514524QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCa ravan_Parts_Accessories?hash=item280294514524&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318)
Of course it depends on what you are using your dual battery setup for but may just solve your space issue.

[Stewie]

I have my 2nd battery on the passenger side under the bonnet. I put a sheet of aluminium between the battery and turbo. Mine is a cranking battery because it is used primarily to run the winch (deep cycles don't like winches). I have also used one of Drivesafes SC80 controllers so I can use both the batteries in the car as well as the deep cycle in the camper to run my waeco etc.
I really should do some pics because............ yeah yeah yeah :)

I dont't seem to have much room under the bonnet as I have the ABS unit in that corner.

[Slunnie]

I hav2nd battery in one of the bins in the boot, though it sounds like you've got a 7 seater. The other spot that I've heard of is in the SLS compressor bracket off the passnegers side chassis between the wheels.... but I suspect that if you have a 7 seater then you will also have SLS... so that bracket will also be full.

[Stewie]

I hav2nd battery in one of the bins in the boot, though it sounds like you've got a 7 seater. The other spot that I've heard of is in the SLS compressor bracket off the passnegers side chassis between the wheels.... but I suspect that if you have a 7 seater then you will also have SLS... so that bracket will also be full.

Thanks Slunnie, Yes I have the 7 seater with SLS. I thought of the those spaces but they are full of stuff. I do take out my 3rd row when I go away to give me extra room so I may build something for that space. I also thought about tryig to squeeze two batteries in the normal battery tray? Don't know what will fit though so need to do some reasearch.

What do you think about this idea I’ve come up with.

Replace the car battery with a 120 AH Deep Cycle/High Crank Thumper Redback (Home of 12 Volt - Camping Caravan Motorhome 4WD and Boat Accessories (http://www.homeof12volt.com/?page=shop/flypage&product_id=200&category_id=e4648aaad7227d92ffb8e1c9d44736c8&offset=0)) coupled with a National Luna Monitor / Low voltage isolator NL Controller Dual Suit NLBSCI - Dolium Pty Ltd (http://www.dolium.com.au/view/page/120/item/NLBMDAS.html) and a Solenoid Isolator NL Split Charge Isolator - Dolium Pty Ltd (http://www.dolium.com.au/view/page/120/item/NLBSCI.html) or a Duel Mate DUALMATE Dual battery management system. (http://www.acecom.com.au/dualmate.htm) so I could run the 40 ltr Engel fridge and laptop from the car battery on small trips without having to take a spare battery. The isolator will hopefully always cut off the main battery if the volts drop to a level which is preset so that I always have enough left to start the Disco. Then also set myself up with either another 120 AH Deep Cycle/High Crank in a battery box with sockets on the top (Hella, Cigarette, Engel, Anderson. LED Display) or a 105AH Thumper unit like Phil’s for longer camping trips away.


Your thoughts?

[wardy1]

Mate I suggest you send a PM to Drivesafe who is the owner of Traxide.... he is the guru of electrics and he is always more than generous with his advice. I bought the whole kit for my set up from him and it was just amazing, right from high quality cable to connectors etc and really easy to follow circuit diagrams.

[sniegy]

Has anyone fitted a duel battery system under the bonnet of a Disco II Td5 ES. I'm told it is impossible due to the rear air conditioning compressor unit and pipes etc around the space near the turbo where the second battery would normally sit?

Hasanyone had any success in moving stuff around?
Hi Stewie,
Yes i have had success, I have done about 6 or 7 of these fits so far.
I have used the ARB cradle & fitted it into this position.
You just have to be careful & slightly(gently) bend the pipes for the tray to fit in.
You will also need to remove the alarm horn so it can be relocated onto the battery tray.
No need to make sharp bends just slightly "push" away for it to fit.
Cheers

[Stewie]

Mate I suggest you send a PM to Drivesafe who is the owner of Traxide.... he is the guru of electrics and he is always more than generous with his advice. I bought the whole kit for my set up from him and it was just amazing, right from high quality cable to connectors etc and really easy to follow circuit diagrams.

Thanks Wardy, I'll look into it. I think right now, as time is running out before we head off for Christmas out bush, I'll go for a 120 AH in a battery box annd then sort it all out proper when I get back in time for my next trip away. It seems to never end :)

[Stewie]

Hi Stewie,
Yes i have had success, I have done about 6 or 7 of these fits so far.
I have used the ARB cradle & fitted it into this position.
You just have to be careful & slightly(gently) bend the pipes for the tray to fit in.
You will also need to remove the alarm horn so it can be relocated onto the battery tray.
No need to make sharp bends just slightly "push" away for it to fit.
Cheers

Thanks Sniegy,

Every one I have spoken to has sugested that I can only fit a very small battery tray in the space next to the turbo and maybe a 30Ah Deep Cycle battery (?) Not enough for wnat I'm tryingto achieve. If you have done better than this then I'd be very interestd to see how you have done it and what size battery you have fitted. Do yoou have any pics? I was thinking of trying to move the cranking battery to this position and then using the space it freed up for the deep cycle as there seems to be plent of room up the drivers side nesr the fuse box.

[stig0000]

oh and remember,, DONT MIX BATTERY'S,, i have found out the hard way with my winch, i had duel battery's for my winch and they charged on the same line with a controler in the middle, i had the normal battery an had a deapcycel for the winch,, the deapcycel was a peace of s&#!t,

it went flat so fast, an wouldn't charge back up, an i was told at the battery shop that this was the best way to run my set up,, an me thinking well he dose set ups in cars so he must no what his doing, (he didn't)

so i threw the DC away an got another normal 1000cca battery, an it has worked fine ever sicnce

[sniegy]

Hi again Stewie,
I had fitted the Exide ED4 batery which from memory is a 55 or 60 AH battery. Would last a good 2-3 days away on the Murray/High country
or even across the Simpson.
I dont have pic's unfortunately as these werent my vehicles, either friends or customers. The ED4 will just bolt in as this is the std battery ARB used to fit their kit. (what they would supply anyway)
If u do fit a normal lead-acid battery be careful & remember to check water levels on a weekly basis as the battery controller (my TD5 was only a 5 seater & had the ARB system) will cook battery's quick, also the location is not the best as the turbo sits very close to the battery. As some of the guys have said, make an aluminium heat shield up to dissipate the heat away from the battey & the battery will last a little longer.
Hope this helps.

[Stewie]

Thanks everyone for your knowledge and advice on a duel battery system for my Disco II Td5 ES. I have finally made a choice to go with a 120 AH Deep Cycle/High Crank Thumper Redback under the bonet (which replacees my original battery) .... and a Thumper 75 AH in the rear where the 7th seat fit ( I have taken the 7th seat out for this trip)

So now I could run the 40 ltr Engel fridge and laptop from the car battery on small trips without having to take a spare battery. And then thorw in the 75 AH Thumpeer for longer trips or when we need to leave the fridge at the camp site.

All I need to do now is fit a isolator and monitor and I'm all set.

All of the equipment (and vasts amounts of knowledge) was supplied by the team at Home of 12 volt in Adelaide. They really know their stuff when it comes to 12v applications and with them being literally around the corner from me it's handy to pop in for a chat and get some sound advice. A big thank you to Gary, Ashliegh and Mathew for their patcience, knowledge and advice. They also managed to squeeze me in today to have it all fitted ready for our trip to Loxton over Christmas and New Year. At least now I'll have plenty of cold beer and the missus will have plenty of cold champange :)

[langley4362]

This is x very d thread but hopefully someone is till there.
I need to move the battery from beside the turbo - too hot and the 60aH battery is too small to run the fridge for more than two days.
Has anyone done a battery install in the rear wheel arch (opposite side to fuel filter)?
I could also use the suspension compressor tray as I am on springs - but was not sure if I would need to instal the battery on its side.
Pics would be great.

[jonesfam]

My D2a has the second battery behind the drivers side rear wheel arch tucked inside the lower quarter panel.
This is the way I bought the car. It has a metal protection plate behind the rear wheel to deflect stones.
The battery looks like a N70 size or similar, I haven't had time to get under there & have a real good look yet.

If you can wait until sometime on the week-end I may get a chance to climb under & take a pic or 2 of this set up.
As I said I bought the car with this installed.
Also I will look through the paperwork that came with the car & see if there are any details.

Jonesfam

[onebob]

My D2a has the second battery behind the drivers side rear wheel arch tucked inside the lower quarter panel.
This is the way I bought the car. It has a metal protection plate behind the rear wheel to deflect stones.
The battery looks like a N70 size or similar, I haven't had time to get under there & have a real good look yet.

If you can wait until sometime on the week-end I may get a chance to climb under & take a pic or 2 of this set up.
As I said I bought the car with this installed.
Also I will look through the paperwork that came with the car & see if there are any details.

Jonesfam

I’ve heard of cooking gas bottles being mounted behind the wheel arch too... i will follow this thread with renewed interest [emoji6]

[PhilipA]

I was told by the battery shop in Brisbane where I bought an Optima Blue top that he had fitted a few flat AGMs under the drivers seat of D2s.
Maybe another option.
Regards Philip A

[Piddler]

Hi again Stewie,
I had fitted the Exide ED4 batery which from memory is a 55 or 60 AH battery. Would last a good 2-3 days away on the Murray/High country
or even across the Simpson.
I dont have pic's unfortunately as these werent my vehicles, either friends or customers. The ED4 will just bolt in as this is the std battery ARB used to fit their kit. (what they would supply anyway)
If u do fit a normal lead-acid battery be careful & remember to check water levels on a weekly basis as the battery controller (my TD5 was only a 5 seater & had the ARB system) will cook battery's quick, also the location is not the best as the turbo sits very close to the battery. As some of the guys have said, make an aluminium heat shield up to dissipate the heat away from the battey & the battery will last a little longer.
Hope this helps.

Did exactly the same, Piranha tray and Redarc Isolator.
Worked well.
Cheers

[dranoweb]

I challenge you to a duel!
In the mean time I'll go back to setting up my own dual battery system...