REDARC DUAL BATTERY SYSTEM

[mobey422 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close mobey422]

G'DAY EVERYONE,
I AM A NEWBIE TO THIS SITE & THE OWNER OF A NEW 150 SERIES GX. I HAVE BEEN READING ALL OF THE INFORMATION/ARTICLES I CAN FIND IN REGARDS TO DUAL BATTERY SYSTEMS BUT AS I HAVE LITTLE TO NO UNDERSTANDING OF ELECTRICAL JARGON I AM FINDING MYSELF GETTING VERY CONFUSED. THE MAIN THINGS I WILL BE RUNNING FROM THE CAR WILL BE A COMPRESSOR, SOME CAMP LIGHTS, & A FRIDGE. (MAYBE A WINCH IN THE FUTURE). IF I WILL BE AT THE ONE SPOT FOR 1 WEEK OR SO AT A TIME RUNNING THE FRIDGE & LIGHTS WHAT TYPE/SIZE AUX BATTERY WOULD BE BEST & AS FOR THE BATTERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM/ISOLATOR I HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THE REDARC WEBSITE AND CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHICH UNIT WILL BE THE BEST & MOST COST EFFECTIVE FOR WHAT I WANT TO DO. IF ANYONE CAN GIVE ME SOME HELP WITH THIS IN THE FORM OF 'DUAL BATTERY SYSTEMS FOR DUMMIES' IT WOULD BE FANTASTIC. I JUST WANT TO GET SOMETHING SORTED SO I CAN GO & DO ENJOY MYSELF.

THANKS
MOBEY

[LeighW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LeighW]

Re: REDARC DUAL BATTERY SYSTEM

Hi mobey422,

Depedends greatly on the type of batteries you want, and your current draw.

For example a typical fridege freezer will flatten a 80A battery in around 2 - 3 days.

If you wish to run a fridge for a week then you will need to suppliment the batteries with
solar panels etc or run the vehicle for extended periods to recharge the batteries.

If you are going to use similar types of batteries ie flooded wet cells for aux and main
then a simple isolator will do though I would recommend raising the alternator voltage
output as discussed in other threads to decrease the charge time.

If your going to use a different type of battery for the aux and its charging proporties differ
greatly from the main then a DC-DC charger may be the way to go.

I myself use a standard cranking battery for the main and a marine battery for the aux with
a Rotronics isolator and a voltage booster on the alternator. I find this setup works very well
with the Rotronics system minimising aux recharge times.

There are also several other isolators on the market that are far easier to install and will work very
well also, all depends on your needs.

Cheers

LeighW

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

Re: REDARC DUAL BATTERY SYSTEM

Hi mobey and Leigh, solenoid type isolators when used in conjunction with an alternator, will charge any combination of batteries.

The batteries do not have to be similar because an alternator is a constant voltage type charger, and therefore each battery is individually charge according to each battery’s own requirements and the state of charge of any one battery is unaffected by the state of charge of any other battery connected to the alternator.

Contrary to all the advertising hype being circulated, there is no other charging system that can compete with an alternator, particularly if there is two or more batteries to be charged and by using a good old fashion solenoid type isolator just helps an alternator do exactly what it’s designed to do, and does well.

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

Re: REDARC DUAL BATTERY SYSTEM

i have the Redarc SBI12 Isolator, and i've used a Federal Wet Cell Deep Cycle as my Aux Battery under the bonnet.

had it out over the long weekend with the fridge running it, no problems at all.

most people i've spoken with run a inch when the car is running and directly off the main battery - not the auxiliary

depending on where you are - go to a 4wd place, or a battery shop like battery world and you should get decent advice.

if you're only doing overnight stops, generally ANY combination you choose will suit you.

running items off batteries for a week without charging them in any way gets a little more complicated. As Leigh mention, you will probably need to consider an alternate method of charging like solar. - for me - i chose to run 6V batteries in parallel and more of them. this works for me - i don't need to recharge while away. however, i do this from the camper trailer so it's not suitable for an in car setup. if it's just you and the car - solar might be the option.

don't read too much before making a decision as it sound it might confuse you and upset you more.

dan

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

Re: REDARC DUAL BATTERY SYSTEM

depending on where you are - go to a 4wd place, or a battery shop like battery world and you should get decent advice.

Hi Silvo, the only problem here is that very few battery outlets have anything more than salesman and as such, they are good for nothing more then have enough knowledge to be able to replacing one cranking battery with another one that fits.

This is one of the hardest areas to get legitimate info about and there are plenty of people with ulterior motives that are only too happy to supply grossly misleading info as a means of lining their own pockets.

[trackers Member Find all posts View Profile Close trackers]

Re: REDARC DUAL BATTERY SYSTEM

We just picked up our new gxl and had the redarc system fitted. We run a 105amp deep cycle as the aux battery, as we did in the old patrol. Our fridfe etc runs off the aux. No problems have been had over the past 5 years. You will be governed as to what size battery you can fit in the new gxl. The 105 amp was the latgeast we could fit.
Cheers
Gunar

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

Re: REDARC DUAL BATTERY SYSTEM

hey Gunar, did you swap the starter battery position over to where the aux battery would normally go, i mean just swap over the wiring between them, if not how did ya fit an 105ah battery in the aux battery position

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

Re: REDARC DUAL BATTERY SYSTEM

depending on where you are - go to a 4wd place, or a battery shop like battery world and you should get decent advice.

Hi Silvo, the only problem here is that very few battery outlets have anything more than salesman and as such, they are good for nothing more then have enough knowledge to be able to replacing one cranking battery with another one that fits.

This is one of the hardest areas to get legitimate info about and there are plenty of people with ulterior motives that are only too happy to supply grossly misleading info as a means of lining their own pockets.

Drivesafe - every time i've spoken with a battery outlet they recommend a deep cycle battery as the auxillary and a solenoid style isolator to separate them. i'm not certain how this is different from what you're recommended, but you're in the business so you would know.

Mobey
if you spend approx $100 on a solenoid setup (without the cables)
and then find the biggest battery that will fit under the bonnet. (i would recommend a wet cell)

when talking about the battery they should tell you about heat under there, and how this will affect agm style batteries. Gel may be better, personally i run all wet cells on all of my batteries. this is a bit of a change for me as i used to run AGM in the back of my ute. however, this wasn't done to keep all of the chemistry the same, just because i could get a good deal with a good warranty and if it dies in 1 years time and i buy another one i'm still ahead of buying a newer technology battery. i've used the same Redarc SBI12 isolator for my past 3 4wds, and i've done camping as you're suggesting from them without issues. i've done this with different battery types and have had not one problem.

dan

[SOL Find all posts View Profile Close SOL]

Folks old thread and I am sorry about this. I do not have a great grasp on electrics (trade school did not help). So I know I want dual batteries. Looking at the Redarc sight their are two I am looking at. The second one seam to have better options for charging off solar or bat charger. Are either they suitable for the Prado? ANy help will be appreciated as I am dumb as dog s*&t when it comes to this stuff.

I am only going run the normal stuff fridge, UHF radio, compressor and lights at night.


The Smart Start SBI 12V 100A (SBI12)
http://www.redarc.com.au/products/pr...-sbi_12v_100a/

OR

Dual Sensing Smart Start SBI 12V 100A (SBI12d).
http://www.redarc.com.au/products/pr...-sbi-12v-100a/


Thanks all.
SOL.

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

I'd say go with the second one if you are regularly using solar panels or battery charger.

VXWesty