Thread: Dual battery setup - 2004 D2 TDI

Thanks Guys,

I have been using a power pack to good effect but it takes up a bit of room in the back which was why I was leaning towards fitting a DB setup. I was also concerned about future assessories over and above the fridge.

I currently run a 100a main battery in the car which powers the car plus charges the caravan via an anderson plug on the run, a set of spotties, two DVD players and a VMS at this point? To add in a winch and some more lights will be a step too far I think.

However, thanks for all the suggestions I can now look at each option and make an informed decision.

cheers

Fatbob,

Hello.

I fitted an ARB tray without much issue along with an Exide endurance battery, Piranha DBE180s+, dedicated fuse box and Baintech dual voltage meter above the drivers mirror where the sunroof switches would be if I had them. The bolted plate for the tray fitted best with the bolts on the outside, facing the engine, and I then made a brace to hold the battery secure. This setup has worked fine for the last 18 months and hope it will continue to do so.

Best regards,

Originally Posted by Fairsky

Fatbob,

Hello.

I fitted an ARB tray without much issue along with an Exide endurance battery, Piranha DBE180s+, dedicated fuse box and Baintech dual voltage meter above the drivers mirror where the sunroof switches would be if I had them. The bolted plate for the tray fitted best with the bolts on the outside, facing the engine, and I then made a brace to hold the battery secure. This setup has worked fine for the last 18 months and hope it will continue to do so.

Best regards,

You have a V8 and there is no turbo adjacent to cook the battery - generally, V8 owners get better battery life from their auxilliary batteries than TD5 owners.

Cheers,

Franz

Originally Posted by Franz

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

Interesting you say that Franz and I remember a lot people having similar issues. However, I used the ARB tray in my D2 with an Optima Yellow Top, with a pretty ordinary heat shield - just a bit of bent tin from an old computer case (it was a temporary fix that never got replaced, even though I have a nice piece of sheet metal I made up still sitting in the garage, ready to fit).

It lasted about 3 years in the D2 before I transfered it to the D3 where I had it for about another 2 years - and I think it was actually still OK when I replaced it.

I wonder if I was just lucky, or if it was the Optima - or maybe I just didn't use mine as hard as some of you guys did!

Cheers,
Jon

Originally Posted by jon3950

Interesting you say that Franz and I remember a lot people having similar issues. However, I used the ARB tray in my D2 with an Optima Yellow Top, with a pretty ordinary heat shield - just a bit of bent tin from an old computer case (it was a temporary fix that never got replaced, even though I have a nice piece of sheet metal I made up still sitting in the garage, ready to fit).

It lasted about 3 years in the D2 before I transfered it to the D3 where I had it for about another 2 years - and I think it was actually still OK when I replaced it.

I wonder if I was just lucky, or if it was the Optima - or maybe I just didn't use mine as hard as some of you guys did!

Cheers,
Jon

Jon,

Maybe luck but then again, I know of other people who have had longer life from batteries in the same position. In fact, Toombie runs and Exide Orbital and had his last much longer.

It should be said though that I over insulated the Orbital with a full heat shield and that's probably what killed it but after so many batteries in that position, I decide to make a change.

If I had your battery life, I would only be on my second battery in the life of my 2 D2's - man, that would be nice. Never did try the Orbital because of it's price (mainly) and the high failure rate I had experienced.

Cheers,

Franz

Originally Posted by jon3950

Interesting you say that Franz and I remember a lot people having similar issues. However, I used the ARB tray in my D2 with an Optima Yellow Top, with a pretty ordinary heat shield - just a bit of bent tin from an old computer case (it was a temporary fix that never got replaced, even though I have a nice piece of sheet metal I made up still sitting in the garage, ready to fit).

It lasted about 3 years in the D2 before I transfered it to the D3 where I had it for about another 2 years - and I think it was actually still OK when I replaced it.

I wonder if I was just lucky, or if it was the Optima - or maybe I just didn't use mine as hard as some of you guys did!

Cheers,
Jon

Mine Yellow top been in there for 2-1/2 years now, no probs to report to date. Interesting comment ref the V8's, agree that obviously they have no turbos, but from my experience the under bonnet temps are significantly higher than the TD5.

I think the Optima may be the key to longevity here rather than any other issue. There are batteries and there is the Optima.

Under the bonnet I had one battery replaced under warranty and when the replacement died also I installed an Optima Blue top - The Blue Top is still under there and going strongly. The issue with an Optima as a 2nd battery, is that due to the spiral technology they will hold 75ah, where a flat plate battery with the same technology but without the spirals will hold 100ah. The advantage there is that the life of the battery is proportional to the % discharge, and so as a 2nd battery the optima may potentially not last as long as an equivilent flat plate battery.

I assume Slunnie your referring to how many times its fully disharged / recharged and because its only 55ah it will last less time due to being run down more often ?

I would be inclined to think the technology in the optima's will probably mean it will last as long as flat plated battery. Truth is batteries regardless of manufacturer / design are always a lottery as there is so many variables in how they are used.