Battery failure #2 grrr

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Originally Posted by l00kin4

Thanks for that. It's interesting as there are 2 streams of thought here:

1. switch isolator off to stop the small draw from it; and
2. isolate auxiliary battery to charge starter battery only.

So dumb question from me, perhaps for Tim - when the Traxide isolator is switched off (by disconnecting earth wire) are the two batteries connected or isolated?

David

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Hi David, if an SC80 is more than 2 years old, then you can add a switch into the green earth wire coming from the SC80 and then you can turn the SC80 off when you are not using your vehicle. This switch is only going to carry less than 0.3 amps, so a small switch is ideal.

With the older SC80, as austastar posted, if the LED is flashing, the SC80 is already off. But with the older SC80, if the batteries are in good nick and are fully charged when you last used your vehicle, the Older SC80s can remain on for a month or more.

With the new SC80s, because of changing driving habits and vehicle usage, the SC80 now automatically turns off 72 hours after the motor is turned off.

The SC80-BM ( only used in some of my Land Rover kits ), the DT90 and the USI-160, all have a switch on the In-Cab module ( which is supplied with these isolators ) that allows the owner to set these isolators to STORAGE mode, which effectively turns the isolator off shortly after the motor is turned off.

With the older SC80s and the switch in the earth wire, if you do not turn the switch on, the isolator remains off.

With the new isolators, if you intentionally or accidentally leave the switch on the In-Cab module, in the STORAGE mode, every time you run your motor, the isolator will turn on automatically, to charge the auxiliary battery, and the isolators will turn off when ever the motor is not running.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by drivesafe

Hi David, if an SC80 is more than 2 years old, then you can add a switch into the green earth wire coming from the SC80 and then you can turn the SC80 off when you are not using your vehicle. This switch is only going to carry less than 0.3 amps, so a small switch is ideal.

With the older SC80, as austastar posted, if the LED is flashing, the SC80 is already off. But with the older SC80, if the batteries are in good nick and are fully charged when you last used your vehicle, the Older SC80s can remain on for a month or more.

With the new SC80s, because of changing driving habits and vehicle usage, the SC80 now automatically turns off 72 hours after the motor is turned off.

The SC80-BM ( only used in some of my Land Rover kits ), the DT90 and the USI-160, all have a switch on the In-Cab module ( which is supplied with these isolators ) that allows the owner to set these isolators to STORAGE mode, which effectively turns the isolator off shortly after the motor is turned off.

With the older SC80s and the switch in the earth wire, if you do not turn the switch on, the isolator remains off.

With the new isolators, if you intentionally or accidentally leave the switch on the In-Cab module, in the STORAGE mode, every time you run your motor, the isolator will turn on automatically, to charge the auxiliary battery, and the isolators will turn off when ever the motor is not running.

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Thanks Tim,
I upgraded my original SC-80 to a DT-90 but I didn't install the in-cab module. Seems like I should do that or just add a switch to the isolator.
David

Hi again David, a number of my customers do not want to run the 4 wire loom into the cab for the In-Cab module, so they connect the In-Cab module to the 4 wire loom and the place the In-Cab module in a water tight plastic bag and leave the In-Cab module in the engine bay.

Youncould try this with your setup!

Tim, whilst on the subject of the older sc80 (4 years roughly), whats i mean when its making a loud buzzing noise?

Hi Vern and if your SC80 is making a buzzing noice, then there is most likely something wrong with it.

The most common cause of this sort of problem is water damage ( covered by warranty ), but it can also be caused by a loss connection somewhere in your setup, usually an earth connection.

Give me a call to sort it out.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by drivesafe

Hi Vern and if your SC80 is making a buzzing noice, then there is most likely something wrong with it.

The most common cause of this sort of problem is water damage ( covered by warranty ), but it can also be caused by a loss connection somewhere in your setup, usually an earth connection.

Give me a call to sort it out.

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Will do tim. It was in our amarok, which has never been offroad since we put it in, all connections were good etc...it has only done it a couple of times, but i have since removed it as we sold the car. Will give you a call one day, as i was wondering if i could get it checked over then install it in our new patrol

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vern

Will do tim. It was in our amarok, which has never been offroad since we put it in, all connections were good etc...it has only done it a couple of times, but i have since removed it as we sold the car. Will give you a call one day, as i was wondering if i could get it checked over then install it in our new patrol

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Hi again Vern, and as it should NEVER do that, send it back to my for a fix.

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Originally Posted by l00kin4

Thanks Tim,
I upgraded my original SC-80 to a DT-90 but I didn't install the in-cab module. Seems like I should do that or just add a switch to the isolator.
David

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Hi David,
I installed my in-cab module on the right of the steering column next to the light binnacle. I drilled a very small hole behind the steering column (push steering wheel all the way down) and with the light binnacle popped out, fed the wire through and used the supplied Velcro to mount the module. Pushing the switch towards the LED (up in my case) puts the isolator into storage mode which works well for me.
Cheers
Deanhttps://www.aulro.com/mobile-gallery...efddd53d9f.jpghttps://www.aulro.com/mobile-gallery...3c8735eb49.jpghttps://www.aulro.com/mobile-gallery...95a4a3f067.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by l00kin4

Thanks Tim,
I upgraded my original SC-80 to a DT-90 but I didn't install the in-cab module. Seems like I should do that or just add a switch to the isolator.
David

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Hi David,
I discussed with Tim recently that being able to put the Traxide isolator into storage mode is also useful for isolating the batteries to check their health with a battery tester. I recently purchased a Foxwell BT705 tester, not cheap at $178.50 but it works on the cranking and Optima yellow top D34 batteries. I’ve read that some of the cheaper testers don’t work on Optima D34 batteries. The Foxwell BT705 tests battery health and detects faults of the starting/cranking and charging/alternator system (without and with load, load being high beams and air con blowers).
Cheers
Dean