Thread: Dual batteries?

Great news that the rear power port should now be working, thanks, ill check it tmrw.

I thought id buggered it up and considered pulling the whole thing out to start again.

Yep working after a drive, thanks Tim.

Hi Craig and good to hear.

The LED module is designed to be tucked away when not in use, but there is no specific reason for needing to put it away, so over the next few weeks, if you remember, check the LED before you unlock your RR, you might be a bit surprised how low your batteries get.

If you use your RR on a daily basis, depending on how long you drive for each time you drive, you will notice that the batteries get progressively higher and remain that way.

If you don’t use your RR all that often, the LED is a great way to keep an eye on the state of your batteries with out the need to use a multi meter ( or even having to open your doors ).

Originally Posted by drivesafe

.... you might be a bit surprised how low your batteries get.

....

Umm, Yes,

Fitted the kit and then left the rangie overnight. Return to see the little LED flashing red twice every few seconds with the solid green. Is that about 40% capacity? Low, anyway .

Really must make sure I take it for a long run more often.

Anyhoo, the kit is working just great. Thanks Tim.

Cheers,
Iain

Originally Posted by RangieBit

LED flashing red twice every few seconds with the solid green. Is that about 40% capacity?

Hi Iain and with two Red flashes, your batteries are somewhere between 50 and 70%.

While this is OK it is still a bit low if you have not been running a fridge or the likes.

How often do you drive your RR?

Hi Tim, thanks for the feedback.

The RR only gets driven about every other day. Only about once a week does it get driven long enough to reach normal operating temp. Mind you some days at this time of year even that might take about forty minutes

Most trips are only about ten minutes duration start to stop (Yes, I know not really good for a diesel). So, kinda tricky for the car to get any sort of charge happening. In writing this I'm sort of amazing myself that the main battery is lasting as well as it is!

Am off on a loooong highway trip over the weekend so we'll see what happens then. I'll let you know.

Cheers,
Iain

Hi Tim . Have you used the smaller Optima D35. Any comments

Gary

Hi Gary and the D34 is the battery I have built the kit around.

While the D34 by itself will give you 45 amperes of usable power ( taking the D34 down to 20% SoC ), but with the way the DT90 isolator works, you actually have 90 amperes of usable power available ( taking the cranking battery down to 50% SoC ).

To get the same capacity with any other set up, you would need to have a 110Ah battery, which won’t fit in the compartment.

So the Optima D34 is the way to go in my opinion.