Thread: Upgrading the stop start battery

Ok,, first off let me get my head around stop/start uses its own battery... after that the size of your replacement is dependent on LOTS of issues,,
My first thought would be to put a battery ( or two) in the Van,,
is the fridge in the car or van?
the car batt would run an "in car" fridge overnight,,

so many questions....

The end goal is to run a fridge and other small accessories off the second battery, the stop start system uses it own battery which is located in the rear RH panel in the boot.
From what i have read the vehicle already has a system in place that disconnects the (AUX) battery when it detects that the voltage drops below a certain point, this inhibits the stop start function From working and doesn't allow the AUX battery to drain the main battery, I want to know if i can just change the small AUX battery out to an optima deep cycle battery and keep the stop start system and also use it to run my accessories, I believe that RRS have a 70AH battery installed in the same spot on cold climate models ? if what i think is correct the car will already have a second battery charge system in place ?

cheers

Originally Posted by Pedro_The_Swift

Ok,, first off let me get my head around stop/start uses its own battery...

The stop/start battery is not actually used for starting - it is used for maintaining power to sensitive systems while the main battery does the starting.

I think Bakes may be onto something... I will have to re-read the ws manual.
Others, without the stop/start battery, have put a separate battery on the other side of the luggage compartment.

Or, Bakes, how about you try it out for us and let us know how it goes

Interestingly when I was researching putting my aux battery in my 2016 SDV6 HSE, I couldn't find the stop-start battery behind the RHS cargo panel.

The little tray which I've seen reported to hold that battery had some other kit there:
2016-SDV6-HSE-RHS-Cargo.jpg

So, if there is a stop-start battery I don't know where it is!

I did put a 120AH aux battery behind the LHS panel. There's a couple of posts detailing how I did it.

Craig

Very interesting. Great photo .
Regards
Barry

Originally Posted by WizudOfOz

So, if there is a stop-start battery I don't know where it is!

I might actually lash out some $ on Topix and get some updated WSM information. The only WSM I have at the moment is from late 2013 early 2014, (which appears to be all you can get on ebay) and it looks like there were some significant electrical differences into 2015 and 2016.

Does the vehicle's stop-start system actually do the same functions as a dual battery system? I had always assumed they would be quite different. Wouldn't running a fridge off the stop-start battery system still flatten the starting battery?

I've just last week had a battery problem, and this may shed some light on the start/stop functionality.
I've had my 14 and a half Rangie for a few months now, and the Start/Stop has never been active. I just presumed the previous owner had the dealer disable it.
Well, last week we loaded the back seat up with a weeks worth of holiday crap, hitched up the trusty Jayco Swan Outback and loaded up the Border Collies in their harnesses in the back.
Hit the Start button, one crank, and then nothing. Nada. Zip. Zero.
Not happy Jan.
Anyway, NRMA got me started as they didn't have the appropriate battery in stock, and we got to Moruya without turning the engine off.
Another call to NRMA to get them to come out and fit a new battery, and they turn up with the wrong battery, and can't get the right one for a number of days. Even less happy...
Sourced a correct battery from the local Bursons outlet at an eye watering price, and the local NRMA guy fitted it for me for free.
So, back on the road and finally happy.
Two days later on the next decent run lo and behold the Start/Stop turns itself back on! Caught me out at a set of lights in the pouring rain!
So, the up-shoot is that the "system" monitoring the main battery (which is used for the starting circuit) disables the Start/Stop if the battery capacity falls below a certain level.
My old battery was down to a 300A capacity rather than the 800A needed.
There is no auxilliary battery that we could find, so that's a furphy.
Lesson here is not to rely on Road Service to save your butt if your battery fails, and if your Start/Stop ceases to function get your battery checked. It's a bitch to get to under all the guff in the boot.