Thread: Crap "dual" battery system

have a look at drivesafe's website www.traxide.com.au ..

either an sc40 or an sc80 depending on your needs..

i use one and it has been great....

some prefer the big switch approach, but i am too forgetful for that to work reliably for me...

I have this one installed in the Defender and it is great. The only thing I would not do again is install a deep cycle battery as the second battery as they take too long to recharge once run down. On the other side they take longer to run down.

The Piranha DBE 150S MKII Electronic Isolator


The Piranha DBE 150S MKII Electronic Isolator is our new generation of isolator expanding on the DBE 100S and DBE 150S. It has all the positive features of both predecessors and includes even more reliable circuitry and mountings. It also has a LED display to indicate when the auxiliary battery is charging. The major benefits being: 1.5 Year Warranty 2.LED Indicator 3.Military Spec. ABS Plastic 4.The installation kit includes cable, earth strap, heat shrink and terminals 5.DBE 150S MKII is suitable for all vehicles 6.Voltage Sensing Isolators -optimises alternator output to dissimilar batteries 7.Electronic current limiting. 8.Spike protection 9.Starts on main battery only 10.Australian built 11.3/5 year warranty 12.Well Priced The improved housing is now military grade and the warranty on the DBE 150S MKII has been increased to 5 years unlimited kilometres.



Contact Piranha for more information on the Electronic Battery Isolator

Hi Joel
From an affordability point of view, you could mount a relay in the positive to positive lead (probably need to use a relay mounting block) and wire it to the ignition circuit. Then run most of your power hungry accessories off the second battery.
When the ignition's on (engine running) the second battery charges, when the ignition's off (engine off) the second battery (and accessories) will not pull the primary battery down.
And if your primary battery does run low (lights left on or something silly) the ignition activated relay will effectivly jump start the primary battery from the second one
Total cost about $80.00 (relay, relay base and possible a second fuse box to run the accessories through)

Cheers

Jason

I have a DualMate system. I fitted it 12 months ago and it's great. All automatic with digital voltage display for both batteries (which others don't have) and visual and audible alarms when something goes wrong. They can be bought direct from the manufacturer in WA and he posts anywhere in Aust. I think they retail for $299 and are well worth it.
You can download the manual from his website to have a good look at the features and installation:

http://www.acecom.com.au/dualmate.htm

Hi Joel, before you do anything, what do you intend to mostly use your auxiliary battery for.

This can make deciding on the type of controller a lot simpler.

Cheers.

Originally Posted by Chenz

I have this one installed in the Defender and it is great. The only thing I would not do again is install a deep cycle battery as the second battery as they take too long to recharge once run down. On the other side they take longer to run down.

The Piranha DBE 150S MKII Electronic Isolator


The Piranha DBE 150S MKII Electronic Isolator is our new generation of isolator expanding on the DBE 100S and DBE 150S. It has all the positive features of both predecessors and includes even more reliable circuitry and mountings. It also has a LED display to indicate when the auxiliary battery is charging. The major benefits being: 1.5 Year Warranty 2.LED Indicator 3.Military Spec. ABS Plastic 4.The installation kit includes cable, earth strap, heat shrink and terminals 5.DBE 150S MKII is suitable for all vehicles 6.Voltage Sensing Isolators -optimises alternator output to dissimilar batteries 7.Electronic current limiting. 8.Spike protection 9.Starts on main battery only 10.Australian built 11.3/5 year warranty 12.Well Priced The improved housing is now military grade and the warranty on the DBE 150S MKII has been increased to 5 years unlimited kilometres.



Contact Piranha for more information on the Electronic Battery Isolator

I just bought one of those.....mine looks different though. The main components box is a grey colour....no bling label on it.
Has anyone ever fried one of these DBE 150S units because of too higher temperature under the bonnet?

I have been using a constantly rated solenoid and relay for the past 7 years on my Discovery. I found it to be reliable in use apart from having to occsasionally replace the components as they got older.
I also heard through a couple of forums that solenoids can create spikes which could end up damaging my ECU...hence I went all out and bought the Piranah unit.
I have not yet installed it and was hoping for some feed back regarding the under bonnet temperatures etc.

Regards.

S.

Spike protection is not done to protect your precious ECU, it’s done to protect the device that it is in and every device you buy for automotive electrical use has spike protection built-in, even your humble relays used for your headlights has spike suppression built-in.

This type of advertising is just done to make you think the item is doing you a big favour when in actual fact, the protection has to be there to protect the device that is advertising it.

Your ECU is already self protected with similar spike protection BUT the biggest spike producer on any vehicle is your starter motor solenoid and it doesn't have spike protection yet your ECU still works fine.

Be careful of some of the hype you read and this is not aimed specificity at any one brand because a hell of a lot of brands make similar claims and the point is, if they didn’t put the spike suppression in, the only device that would be damaged is their own.

Cheers

I've had an ARB one and it's worked well for quite a few years - reasonably priced as well, for ARB...

Nathan