Dual Battery in V6 Prado

[Drew Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Drew]

Hi all,

Can anyone help me with details on how you went about moving the power steering reservior when installing a second battery.

Also, I note that the metal work below where the battery tray is to go isn't entirely flat, do you need to brace the outside of the tray where is doesn't sit flat?

Looking at Embi's intallation, it appears the power steering reservior is in a different location on the Turbo Diesel models.

Thanks in advance,

Drew.

[embi Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close embi]

Yeah it must be...I didn't have to move anything at all

[Drew Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Drew]

Thanks for the replies,

That would be great if you could do some photos Piggy. I've got some photos of my electric brake controller installation to post when I get time.

The kits on eBay seem a bit expensive for what they include.

I've just noticed this on eBay:



It appear Derek is including an aluminium block to go under the battery:



When I get a chance I will have a closer look under the bonnet and see what is needed, it looks easier than I had originally imagined.

Has anyone else bothered with fuses on their dual battery systems? I can see merit when high current (6 and 8 B&S) cable is used, if there was an accident there could easily be a fire.

Cheers all,

Drew.

[Guest Close Guest]

Hi Drew,

I also thought it prudent to install a fuse between my batteries on my dual system.
I measured the current when the system is engaged with the aux battery discharged to about 11v, current drawn was 15 amps, the voltage quickly rose at which point the charging current reduced to 5 amps.
I installed a 5AG size 20amp fuse which would intermittantly "let go".
It didn't blow in dramatic fashion.
Sometimes the initial charge current must have been over 20amps.
After time passed & I was confident 100% in the operation of the system I upgraded the fuse to 60 amps.
It has been fine ever since & I'm sure in the event of an "incident" it will blow easily before a fire developes.

Simon.

[embi Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close embi]

That is the exact same bracket I used...got it at super cheap for $15.

It just bolted straight on..

[Drew Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Drew]

It just bolted straight on..

In the V6 there is a raised section that it appears to easily bolt down to - but there is a ledge on the outside where it falls away - I figured I'd need some sort of mounting block in there to take the weight under the battery tray.

Embi - is it different in the diesel? Before you installed the battery tray was it totally flat?

If I get a chance I'll take a photo of what I mean tomorrow.

Drew. (at work)

[embi Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close embi]

It wasnt totally flat from what i remember but nothing that I needed to adjust.

Just found this online.

The Prado's engine bay is well laid out, with a pre-drilled space for a second battery box

[embi Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close embi]

I may try and spend some time on the weekend and pull the 2nd battery out and take some pics. I need to do it to clean some wiring up anyway.

[lc120_man Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close lc120_man]

Personally I wouldn't bother with Supercheap thingy and get
proper sturdy 3-4mm steel batterry tray from piranha. That's what
I got on mine, comes with the braket for the other thing as well.

[embi Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close embi]

Yeah but at $150 a pop....no thanks....I'm by no means a tight arse but I'm not paying someone that much for a piece of folded metal.

The one I got isn't going to bend in a hurry

[chester Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close chester]

The diesel has the pre drilled holes as in some other coutries duel batts are a dealer fit option for the diesel vehicle

[steveo Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close steveo]

Battery Trays

When I was researching the second battery setup for my Prado, I was shown 2 Prados where the battery tray pulled through the bolts by an autoelec. The Piranha tray, yes the $150.00 one, has six mounting points, I am sure you could lift the front end with it, however there is significant force from inertia so the 6 point tray for me.

[steveo Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close steveo]

Battery Tray

The original battery tray has many spot wled (counted 12) and 2 bolts