A second starter battery

**chaybra** · 20th June 2016, 07:51 AM

so after a week, as you all know, the L322 is usually a little tired to start due to battery drain.

I already have 2 deep cycle batteries in the rear (one in the normal and one in the spare wheel well) controlled by a split system isolator for running the fridge etc.
I wanted a second start battery and there is little room up front for one....let alone the one i wanted to put in there...yes...a truck battery.

So, i ran a big ol cable down the LH side following the brake and compressor lines the whole way and added a new hole in the wheel well to pass it thru and wacked a HD solenoid on it.

The solenoid (will be when i finish it) will be triggered on vehicle wake up and shut off on sleep. this is because there is no actual auxiliary 12v power in the rear and i have a wired in volt meter in the rear that wakes up when i unlock and sleeps 5mins after locking (pretty good isolator control) so ill use that.

install was pretty simple. and i still have enough space for the second deep cycle and for the second compressor when im done with that.

**jsp** · 24th June 2016, 08:03 AM

to be honest mines been jump started at least 3 times by putting a jump pack on the big feed in the rear parcel space and leaving it connected for a few minutes until the battery voltage comes up a bit and then starting, as at my last house the car got parked in a way making it hard to get to the battery area up front.

I highly recommend the traxide L322 isolator kit.

**Graeme** · 24th June 2016, 08:32 AM

I'm in the process of fitting an external switch under the rear bumper to operate a small relay to allow both batteries to be connected in case the main was to go so flat that the vehicle can't be unlocked. Once inside, a normally tripped resetable 200A circuit breaker can be closed to provide starting current.

**rar110** · 24th June 2016, 05:59 PM

Funny you posting this. After the alternator failure 6 mths ago I've kept a truck battery in the back (it was a spare) and a proper heavy duty set of custom made jumper leads that happen to reach the cranking battery. Yesterday after a drive the kids wanted to see the rest of their movie on the rear DVD players. I gave them 1/2 hr. The cig lighter sockets only work with the key on. This morning not enough to crank over. The spare battery had us going immediately.

**Pedro_The_Swift** · 24th June 2016, 06:08 PM

Hmm, just as a guide,, my 12V TV in the van draws 3A playing a DVD,,

**rar110** · 24th June 2016, 06:23 PM

Originally Posted by Pedro_The_Swift

Hmm, just as a guide,, my 12V TV in the van draws 3A playing a DVD,,

I certainly was surprised.

**chaybra** · 28th June 2016, 04:24 PM

Ok, got a good test over the weekend. had a little trip into the snow and camped the night. using all lights (only LED) and a good 20 mins on the park heater to make it nice and warm on a -4 degree morning after packing up camp. Still cranked over at a million RPM, fantastically happy!

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