Auxiliary Battery

[Paultan]

Have been doing quite a bit of research on auxiliary batteries, and am probably just as confused .

I do know the stuff that Tim from Traxide sells is good (upgraded my headlights with his kit). So am leaning towards that. BUT .... I have a hardtop Survey FFR the alternator is still in place, just unplugged. I have put my compressor in the box behind the drivers seat. The question is should I attempt to use that system, ie hook up the alternator to 2 batteries in the box on the passenger side??

Otherwise I was looking at a yellow top Optima to sit alongside my starting battery under the passenger side.

Since I'm from NZ we don't tend to camp as much as you Aussie fellas, or at least I don't. So at this stage all I am looking at hooking up would be a fridge, and my trusty 12v kettle for a cuppa. Camping may follow in the future who knows!

Any help you can give would be great.

Paul

[BadCo.]

The Army stuff is a different voltage so it might be more of a pain using it. Plus you can save some weight by getting rid of that generator.

I was actually looking at this today and I was thinking of attaching a solar panel to the safari roof and using a traxide kit to control everything.

Looking forward to other peoples ideas...

[Blknight.aus]

The FFR kit is 24V.

if your fridge and kettle can run 24V leave it in wire it back up and run off of it as the 24v stuff tends to be a little more efficient than the 12v stuff. and the combo 12/24v stuff is more effecient on 24v than 12v.

If you're going to turf the 24v stuff please get it touch I know a couple of people are looking for the alternator and some of the wiring gear.

traxides gear will let you relatively painlessly convert the single starter battery and both your aux batteries to a single alternator plus solar multiple 12v battery setup and will come out cheaper than trying to rig a replacement or additional alternator. Although there are those that will try to tell you that the 35A alternator is not up to the task.

Ive got a little experience making use of most of the perentie varients for "camping" in one way or another as well as most of the info needed to maintain them. The first thing to work out is what voltage all of your camping/4wd gear can handle and then rebuild the system to work with that.

[camel58]

Make sure the 24v alternator is working before you decide what system you want to use . It took me three alternators before I got one to work . I am about to leave on a big trip and now it has packed it in.

[Dervish]

You don't need the 24V system for what you want to do, and your trusty kettle probably wouldn't run on 24V anyway. Lose the 24V alternator and three of the FFR batteries, then just use a conventional dual battery isolator.

If I wanted to use the 24V system, I'd turf the 12V alternator and starter, get a 24V starter, gauges and bulbs and run 24V everywhere. That's how JRA should have done it when they made them, having two separate electrical systems in the one vehicle is nuts.

[BadCo.]

...That's how JRA should have done it when they made them, having two separate electrical systems in the one vehicle is nuts.

And I am glad they didn't!

[Dop]

G/day, I too have a FFR 1989 Perentie, I have been looking at what to do with the extra batteries and what I thought is the generator that charges them. Firstly is it a generator or an alternator? I like what I have heard here about fitting a compressor and/or tool box in the pockets, whilst maintaining a two battery set up. If this is to be done, can this be run off the standard alternator fitted? I admit I have read this thread and am still none the wiser, scared of destroying what I touch. I plan to do most of my own mechanical work, and I am a motor trimmer/upholsterer, but electrics, especially auto electrics scare the hell out of me. I have a lot to learn, and I have already learnt heaps by joining this forum. Any help or advise would be much appreciated.
Grant

[Phil B]

I have removed the 24v alternator and 2 batteries from my FFR
I now have 2x12v batteries (1 start and 1 for everything else) joined by a dual battery switch. Both batteries are in one of the side hatches, the other side hatch is now a slide out tool box.
The box under the passenger seat has been sealed up and now houses all the extra fuse boxes and dual battery switch plus some spares, 1st aid kit etc.

[Dop]

Thank you Phil, what you have done sounds like the right thing to do. I have just found out that a workmate of mine is an auto electrician. I will get his advice on doing just that. Can't thank you enough, I will try anything, after I come to some understanding of it.
Cheers Grant

[Blknight.aus]

G/day, I too have a FFR 1989 Perentie, I have been looking at what to do with the extra batteries and what I thought is the generator that charges them. Firstly is it a generator or an alternator? I like what I have heard here about fitting a compressor and/or tool box in the pockets, whilst maintaining a two battery set up. If this is to be done, can this be run off the standard alternator fitted? I admit I have read this thread and am still none the wiser, scared of destroying what I touch. I plan to do most of my own mechanical work, and I am a motor trimmer/upholsterer, but electrics, especially auto electrics scare the hell out of me. I have a lot to learn, and I have already learnt heaps by joining this forum. Any help or advise would be much appreciated.
Grant

The 24V system is an alternator but its a very clever piece of kit and can do a lot of things if you know how and have the modules that bolt into it.

if you want to run a 12V only system thats easy enough to do, just pull out most of the 24V stuff (some of it like the cabling you can reuse to run 12v stuff) plug in one of Drivesafes traxide units and run it like any other 12v dual battery system.