The 150 series Dual Battery Guide

[krypto]

Hi AMTS, I was short of space too so I lugged the -ve for my aux battery and and bolted it to the front of my block. You will find a couple of threaded holes there and just need to find an appropriate bolt. Great earth from this point just a different way to do it

I did this as well as the block is ground zero for the alternator earth.

[Mattfunk 120]

Hi AMTS, I was short of space too so I lugged the -ve for my aux battery and and bolted it to the front of my block. You will find a couple of threaded holes there and just need to find an appropriate bolt. Great earth from this point just a different way to do it

2. I went for the 4-70mm2 hydraulic crimper. It comes with hex dies.
4. My query is all surrounding the -ve terminal on the starter battery. The wire diameter that comes from down below (I assume the engine block) is 9mm (including insulation). Then at the -ve terminal, it branches off (earth strap) in a smaller diameter to the earth point on the guard. Refer to image below (taken from here http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...l=1#post394600)


I was initially going to leave the -ve wire terminated on the clamp, but cut the clamp and leave the bolt hole in place, like this (taken from here http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...l=1#post418095)

[mjrandom]

1. yes, I did this with the P-ute
2. As above, make sure it is a good quality crimp though (which tool did you end up getting?)
3. No idea but that sounds about right
4. Is the 6 B&S replacing the 3 B&S? If so no. If it is just to earth the auxiliary then it depends on what the total current draw will be on the auxiliary but typically yes. I have 6 B&S in and out of my auxiliary. If you were hooking up a winch then no.

Make sense?

You can cause some strange cranking battery charging problems by having other loads fixed to the cranking battery's negative terminal.

As such, nothing should be connect to any new vehicle’s cranking battery negative terminal.

This may or may not specifically effect Toyotas, but it’s still far better to make it a practice to keep away from the cranking battery’s negative terminal in any vehicle.

Running a negative from the auxiliary battery’s negative terminal to to the cranking battery’s earth point is always a good move.

I'm connecting my portable battery in the cabin to the starter battery. The earth point on the guard coming off the -ve terminal is getting rather crowded. So I was thinking of getting this Projecta BT925-N1 terminal distribution connector.


Is this OK to do?

Also, is it OK to cut the factory's -ve cable at the crimp and reterminate using a suitable size lug to one of the studs on the Projecta connector, and a separate earth strap from the connector to the earth point on the guard?

Does anyone know what the cable size is on the factory's -ve wire? The diameter including insulation is 9mm - which seems to correlate to 3 B&S.

Is it then OK to use 6 B&S for the earth strap?

[fido666]

Or changed it for Petrol Diesel!

That's a point. Is the diesel tray longer?

[AJ120]

When changing my starter battery over last week we noticed the factory plastic tray under the battery was only big enough for a 10" battery. I've replaced it with a Century Overlander (N70 size) so the battery now hangs over the end of it. Looking at ####'s 120 the factory tray was larger, just seems a bit weird that Toyota changed it for the 150.

Or changed it for Petrol Diesel!

Cheers Andrew

[fido666]

When changing my starter battery over last week we noticed the factory plastic tray under the battery was only big enough for a 10" battery. I've replaced it with a Century Overlander (N70 size) so the battery now hangs over the end of it. Looking at ####'s 120 the factory tray was larger, just seems a bit weird that Toyota changed it for the 150.

[Symo]

Just completed my DBS install, used a Optima D34 and SBI12. Amazingly it worked first time, I earthed the aux batt to the earth right next to the aux battery itself, and earthed the redarc to the nearest bolt holding the tray. Just need to install the diode to boost the voltage and run a power cable to the rear. All fittings were bought from ABR sidewinder and the job looks smick.

[LeighW]

Fair enough Tim, in my vehicle and other Prado's as you noted it is not an issue and this
is a Prado forum. But yes in the ECU models with smart charging that monitor the cranking battery charging it would be an issue.

Which brings about another aspect, most people with winches connect them directly
to the cranking battery terminals, the engine management system in ECU controlled
wouldn't be happy about that. Connecting to the vehicle earth point would also be
an issue as the earth strap is not all that large and not designed for winching applications
so something else to look out for?

Cheers
Leigh

[drivesafe]

In my vehicle I have run the earth cable from the negative cranking battery
terminal to the aux negative

Hi Leigh and this is not advisable in any new vehicle.

Most makes of vehicle now have some form of cranking battery monitoring and this is usually done in a number of different ways but most use some form of BMS based around the negative cable running from the cranking battery to the chassis/body earth point.

You can cause some strange cranking battery charging problems by having other loads fixed to the cranking battery's negative terminal.

As such, nothing should be connect to any new vehicle’s cranking battery negative terminal.

This may or may not specifically effect Toyotas, but it’s still far better to make it a practice to keep away from the cranking battery’s negative terminal in any vehicle.

Running a negative from the auxiliary battery’s negative terminal to to the cranking battery’s earth point is always a good move.

[Bailey84]

Thanks Leigh that's exactly what i wanted to know!!!

[LeighW]

Bailey84,

Earthing to the aux is ok, as for the other not sure what you mean?

In my vehicle I have run the earth cable from the negative cranking battery
terminal to the aux negative, I then run a strap from the aux negative terminal
to the earth stud on the drivers side of the vehicle (aux is located behind drivers
side headlight) this duplicates the way the cranking battery is wired.

The small negative lead on the isolator can be attached to any convenient earth point.

Leigh

[Bailey84]

Looking at installing dual batteries on the weekend and just collecting parts and questions...

Does it matter if I earth the Redarc SBI12 back to the aux battery or does it need to be earthed to the chassis?

And should I join the two earths on the battery?

[fido666]

So is spike protection and surge protection are gimmicks why choose an electronic isolator over a simple VSR? Near as I can gather after reviewing this entire thread they basically do the same thing