D4 Battery Photos

Excuse my ignorance - but would there really be much difference in temperature between in front of the existing battery and tucked away in the spare battery box? Are we talking 20 degrees difference? 10? 5? I understand the whole issue is that "exposed" under the bonnet the battery isnt supposed to last as long - I wouldnt have thought a bit of black LR plastic (spare battery box) would have made that much of a difference......?. Could I even be so bold as to wonder if the heat is retained inside the spare battery box - versus air running over the one exposed in the bay...the latter might be better?

I'm just a lowly old bean counter so I really should shut up....!! :p

I guess eventually someone will end up putting a thermometer in each spot and telling us ..... ;)

Thanks for the replies. I'm not planning on using a winch, I'd just like something for a fridge. I figured the aux tray would be best but either way I need to find someone to help me to the modifications. Once I've got the place for the battery sorted out I plan to fit drivesafes disco 3 kit.

Thanks

Peter

Peter,
Graeme posted how to do it at following link.
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/...tery-tray.html
I followed his instructions and cleared the battery box out before fitting an Optima 35 and Traxide SC80 in this compartment.
Clearing the battery box is really quite simple. You unplug the two components that need moving and plug them back in when they have been relocated. Plenty of length in the looms.
Don't see how warranty could be denied unless this has contributed to premature failure. These items were not located inside the battery box on the D3.
I used all the parts mentioned by Graeme plus the transfer case cover mounting bracket to mount the glow plug ecu and the Traxide circuit breaker box. Used an angle grinder to modify the brackets to hold these components. No new bits required. All genuine Land Rover.
If you are not confident to do this yourself I suggest you print off Greame's post and take it to an auto electrician.
cheers,
Sean

Hi Sean, Thanks for that, I'd seen the post and that was the main reason for asking the question. I had a look at the bits under the bonnet and wasnt really confident I could do it myself. Sorry I should say do it properly myself. Anyway I like your idea, and I think if anyone doesn’t know of an auto electrician in Melbourne who knows Discos, I’ll just take the photos to someone local and try my luck. What really annoys me is when you ring Land Rover, they just play dumb and say it can’t be done!

Peter

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Stornoway SA

Excuse my ignorance - but would there really be much difference in temperature between in front of the existing battery and tucked away in the spare battery box? Are we talking 20 degrees difference? 10? 5? I understand the whole issue is that "exposed" under the bonnet the battery isnt supposed to last as long - I wouldnt have thought a bit of black LR plastic (spare battery box) would have made that much of a difference......?. Could I even be so bold as to wonder if the heat is retained inside the spare battery box - versus air running over the one exposed in the bay...the latter might be better?

I'm just a lowly old bean counter so I really should shut up....!! :p

I guess eventually someone will end up putting a thermometer in each spot and telling us ..... ;)

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I happen to agree, and my second battery is located in front of the main, on the lh side of the engine bay. I have used a kit provided by Traxide, and so far everything is working fine. I came to the decision to use this location, as I didn't want to rip modules out of their new location. I also have installed and successfully used dual Battery setups on Patrols, where the second battery is located a hand span from the turbo. I have no doubt the life of the battery is reduced, but I was averaging 3-4 years out of a wet cell. I can live with that.

On only a warmish day, my AGM mounted in front of the main battery got too hot for me to hold my hand on the side of it and thus I thought that the battery would not last very long, given the reports of AGMs not liking engine-bay heat. A flooded wet cell may last longer and be cheaper to replace too.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Graeme

On only a warmish day, my AGM mounted in front of the main battery got too hot for me to hold my hand on the side of it

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Interesting, and that’s what I have suspected would be the case, based on what happens to the second battery in a D2 when it is mounted on the firewall.

This is an untested opinion, if your using an Optima AGM I think you will get a better life span BUT, you are still going to shorten it’s normal expected life span and the gain is an expensive one and graeme, your idea of the standard flooded wet cell is probably the cheapest option.

I am about to fit an Optima in this location to see just how hot it gets.

I suspected the heat came from the top area of the radiator as I had a shield to prevent radiated heat from the engine itself. I wasn't prepared to test if the heat affected the battery's life.

Hi Graeme, did you by any chance test to see how hot your cranking battery was, at the same time?

No I didn't check the cranking battery, so no comparison was done.

IIRC the engine ecu is located in the same box. Does its fan draw air from outside the engine bay?