My dual battery installation

[birdie Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close birdie]

Hi guys

Good thread so far keep up the good work.
Just installed my dual batterys today and having trouble finding a start signal to hook up to the smart soleniod to kick in the second battery when starting. Can anyone help please , starting to get a little lost !!

Birdie

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

My understanding is that you hook the override cable to a momentary pushbutton switch in the cab, that way if the main battery is flat you can hold the button in whilst starting the car to effectively jump start the car from the Aux battery.

If you hook that wire to the start, every time you start you join the 2 batteries together, if the Aux battery is low, from use (which is why you installed it) it will take charge from the main, so not only will you have the drain of starting the car but also charging the aux, maybe even to the point of not able to start.

The smart relays are designed that they monitor the Main battery voltage, and once it reaches about 13.5v it will connect the 2 batteries together. The only way the voltage can reach that high is if the engine is running and the main battery is fairly well charged.

Matt

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

Hi guys

Good thread so far keep up the good work.
Just installed my dual batterys today and having trouble finding a start signal to hook up to the smart soleniod to kick in the second battery when starting. Can anyone help please , starting to get a little lost !!

Birdie

Hi Birdie,
You need to run two 2mm2 wires into the cabin and fit the momentary push button switch normally supplied with the Redarc Relay, if not you can get a 10Amp push button from Auto-Pro, Supercheap Auto , REPCO, Dick Smith.

One wire is connected to the spade terminal on the blue wire of the Redarc Relay, the other wire is connected to the +Ve side of the Aux Battery or Aux Battery Terminal connection on the Redarc Relay.

To operate you push the button and turn the ignition key to Start it works well.

I also fitted an LED indicator Lamp for indication when the Aux Battery is charging (Relay Contacts Made). You use a current limiting resistor in series with the +Ve to the LED of about 1.2K Ohms the other side of the LED is connected to a vehicle earth point.

Hope this helps a little, I have to run now will post a couple of pics later to help you.

[birdie Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close birdie]

Thanks fella's
I will get back onto it today and sort it out, on the underside of the soleniod there are three spade connectors one for earth one for start signal one for start lamp, what i did was put a toggle switch in from the +ve of the aux battery to the start signal terminal on the soleniod (does the same as a push button in the cab ) but was just toying with the idea of having both manual and auto options of soleniod engagment.

Birdie

[Hutch Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hutch]

Got my dual battery done today, rewired rear socket plus extra socket for the waeco and deep cycle battery, all up $800 bucks, it is great having friends who know people that look after you. A nice neet job as well and the solinoed isolates the the standard/ starting battery when the car is on acc. not sure if this is normal.

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

Colour-coded battery tray :shock: :shock:

Yikes but damn good install.

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

Bought a second socket, and made a dual rear socket setup. Bit fidely as I 2 pack glued the plate 1st then hole-sawed the sockets. No doubt will mix up paint and spray it to look schimko.

[Hutch Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hutch]

Got my dual battery done today, rewired rear socket plus extra socket for the waeco and deep cycle battery, all up $800 bucks, it is great having friends who know people that look after you. A nice neat job as well and the solenoid isolates the the standard/ starting battery when the car is on acc. not sure if this is normal.

Jeezz,

$800 for a mate ? You sure he likes ya Hutco ??

Great to hear it all works and you're happy :lol: :lol:

Cheers,

It is a mates father in laws business, i understand he needs to make some money, better than 1000-1100 at TJM and ARB.

[Guest Close Guest]

Dual Battery systems

Hi All,


Has anyone had any good or bad experiences with RedArc or Pirannah dual battery systems. From some research it appears that these two are probably the best on the market??


Thanks

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

Hi Dorf,
My Redarc is working well

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

Re: Dual Battery systems

Has anyone had any good or bad experiences with RedArc or Pirannah dual battery systems. From some research it appears that these two are probably the best on the market??

I have the Piranha tray and has been there for the past 6mths with no complaints. I've checked several times since for any signs of guard damage and none to date. Many mates have the Redarcs for years. I went the Surepower as it's suited my needs better.
Good luck on your install, plenty of write ups and pics here on PP assuming your going to DIY?

[Zapper Member Find all posts View Profile Close Zapper]

I have began my Dual Battery install today and just fitted the Piranha tray and battery. Can't believe they have a 30-min install for the tray because mine took a lot longer but the end result looks great. The power steering reservoir was APITA :x had alot of trouble with the power steering pipes, ended up disconnecting the smaller one and going under the aircond pipe. That fixed my trouble of getting reservoir level again, it now looks like it belongs there.Couldn't get the clamp on the aircon pipe as per instructions ,ended utalising the bracket under the air intake and it works a treat.
I also ended up putting some rubber under the tray and inside the tray for the battery to sit on, got alittle concern with the damage reported by dual baterries so decided to add some rubber . The battery I have selected is n70 extreme and I ended up going for a Redarc. I have left the rest of the install for another day and as soon as I learn how to post pics I will show the finish product.


Zapper

[dhr29 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dhr29]

So does the Redarc isolator work OK with a D4D engine?
Someone on this site said you need to use a smart charger with these engines because of their charging system.

[leachy_9 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close leachy_9]

So does the Redarc isolator work OK with a D4D engine?
Someone on this site said you need to use a smart charger with these engines because of their charging system.

How long is a piece of string?
A Redarc (or any voltage sensing solenoid system) on the D4D charging system will only achieve approximately 80% max. battery charge and will take longer to recharge than a system using some form of voltage boost. While this is not ideal and will reduce overall battery life, it may still be sufficient for your needs. It really depends on what load you have on the aux. battery, how many hours you will be driving each day and how many days you will be travelling.

Leachy.

[dhr29 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dhr29]

Thanks Leachy I only plan to run a fridge for a few days so it sounds like the Redarc should be fine for my needs.
If it's not I'll need a longer piece of string.