Thread: Dual battery setup - 2004 D2 TDI

There are lots of options for battery locations;

• Under bonnet in rear corner (ARB tray or similar) unless you have rear air con.
• 2 batteries under bonnet in place of factory battery tray and jack holder (Aedofab tray from USA).
• In rear cargo box in boot area.
• In SLS compressor box if you have an empty one on your LHS chassis rail.

You should be able to find threads with all of the above options through a search.

I have setup my D2 with 2 x Optima batteries in the front location and will be placing a 3rd in the rear corner of the engine bay after I re-route the air con lines that are in the way.

Thanks Chris
There is no rear aircon so I'll look at the tray going in the engine bay for starters but I'll check out the other locations and info in the forum as you suggested.
Cheers
Rob

Hi bob.

Check out my dual battery thread from not long ago.

I have an '03 D2. I managed to complete it and im a total, utter novice with anything technical.

Hardest part was getting the ARB tray to fit! You could get ARB to fit it for you, if you dont plan to modify it. I modified it to fit an optima yellow top.

here is the link to my thread:

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/discovery-...ery-setup.html

When looking for controllers, look up Drivesafe on this site.

Tim makes & sells the Traxide units. They will do as good, if not better job than the others on the market, and the service support is second to none.

Originally Posted by FatBob

I'd like to install a dual battery setup in my Disco and would like to know if anyone has any advice on where the 2nd battery should be located (under driver seat?) and other than an ARB installation would you recommend any other?

Cheers

I have run 2 D2's with an ARB dual battery setup under the bonnet over a period of 10 years and have now decided to scrap the system due to heat issues that kill the secondary batteries. On average, a battery would last no longer than 18 months and with lead acid batteries I have experienced some firewall insulation damage due to spillage.

Thinking that a sealed AGM battery would last longer, I purchased and Exide Orbital, gave it plenty of heat shielding and it died within 18 months as well.

I have now mounted the new AGM battery in the RHR bin and am hoping for at least 4 years of battery life.

I would not recommend the LH passenger firewall as a auxilliary battery mounting site.

Cheers,

Franz

after reading all the posts on here about the farting around required to fit a decent aux batt in the engine bay I went with a sealed AGM 100ah in the RHR bin also, no heat/spill issues and close to all the things you need to power, easy to replace or remove should you need the space again or power away from vehicle, easy to connect solar direct for the longer stays, easy to connect that fantastic work light setup featured elsewhere on aulro.

go the rear i say

cheers

Another thought is to get the best single battery you can find and fit and then if you are going to need more for a rough spot then carry a portable battery "thumper" style that is on trickle charge to run your fridge or to have as a spare starting battery etc. Now I have fitted a winch I think that is what I will do.

Originally Posted by John W

Another thought is to get the best single battery you can find and fit and then if you are going to need more for a rough spot then carry a portable battery "thumper" style that is on trickle charge to run your fridge or to have as a spare starting battery etc. Now I have fitted a winch I think that is what I will do.

My thoughts too - especially given I already have a large starter battery. Onlypossible issue is charging the second one whilst away from "home".