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Gidget, I was talking with an auto electrician this morning and he provided a few words of warning about isolation systems and the electronic wizardry on modern diesels such as the Disco 2. Avoid solenoid driven systems even if they claim to have spike arrester capabilities. Apparently major spikes are only reduced, not eliminated, and can still cause terminal damage to electronic management units. He said that the only safe system is an electronic isolator such as the Rotronics I mentioned. However, this is a very expensive unit at around $800. I have just discovered that Piranha have one, the just-released Piranha DBE 180S, which does the same plus some for under $300. This particular unit is not yet on their site, but here it is anyway for you to research a little further: http://www.piranhaoffroad.com.au/default.htm
The gist of what this bloke had to say was to be suspicious of the cheaper isolation systems where auto computers are concerned and to carefully check out all claims made about non-electronic systems.
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Hi MylesC, forget battery isolator, I have heard that story about solenoids so many times and it is nothing more than a total load of BOLLOCKS.
There are heaps of solenoids all over your vehicle including the biggest solenoid associated with any and every vehicle on the road today.
How do you think your vehicle starts, by you turning a key switch which then energises one mother of a solenoid, which is use to get the starter motor going.
Every time you start the motor a solenoid energises to get the fuel pump going.
Every time you turn your headlights on at least 2 solenoids are energised and you switch between low and high beam, more solenoids and if you have driving lights, well the number goes up even further.
Before you even get into your vehicle your hit the button on your remote and solenoids activate to unlock your doors.
The auto electrician should go back to school and learn a tad bit about modern electronics in vehicles.
They have been putting computers in cars, in Australia since the mid 1970s when the first Aust. vehicle to have an electronic ignition in it as standard were the Valliants.
With all the problems that solenoids are causing NOT, how may vehicles have you heard of that the problem in a computer was caused by a relay being operated. More likely water or a loose wire.
Many 4WDs have driving lights installed and if fitted correctly are controlled by after market relays. Now consider that when someone switches from high beam to low a string of relays de-energise all at once and this is when the biggest spike is likely to occur. I can’t remember any vehicle that I’ve owned, coming to a screaming halt because I dimmed my lights.
As I said total BOLLOCKS.
The one time you might have a problem is when you jumper start another vehicle and that has nothing to do with solenoids.
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By the way, why would anybody in thire right mind pay $300 for something that you can get from a reputable company like Redarc for about a third of the price.
PLEASE.
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Here is one recent solution that has just come up on AussieDiscoveryII and Pride&Toy.
http://www.prideandtoy.com/modules.php?nam...viewtopic&t=165
