The 150 series Dual Battery Guide

[drivesafe]

How important is surge protection? I see some VSRs on eBay that have over current protection but not surge protection.

Hi fido and there is actually no need for surge protection in a DC system.

Surge protection is something that is needed in AC systems.

The claim that an isolator has surge protection is fine but is nothing more than a sales gimmick.

It’s like all the electronic isolator ads that promote the fact these devices have spike protection.

This too is nothing more than a sales gimmick and in reality, if the devices being advertised did not have spike protection, it is that device that would be damaged the first time you used it, but nothing in the vehicle would be harmed.

[LeighW]

I know where you're coming from, the problem is these days that their moving away
away from being real 4X4 like other manufactures, the big market is people mover
shopping run abouts and that what their designing them for, the fact that they
don't even have a real battery tray is indicative of this. Maybe ok for around
the city but when you put heavy batteries in them and start traveling corragated
roads with out lowering tyre pressures etc the problems begin.

Cheers
Leigh

[ttmx83]

Not taking as narking at all

Maybe like myself being budget conscious, people can't justify a tray when the footing is there and that's how they come from the factory in the UK.

I don't have one, time will tell if they crack. I'm not going to look, in protest!!

Cheers Brad.

[LeighW]

I believe cracking has occurred on both the cranking battery and aux positions
so it is unlikely the cracking is caused by the tray!

The problem with movement is that under harmonic conditions the movement
can be amplified consider leading to fatigue failures.

Personally I would go with a tray that can disperse the weight as widely as possible.

As for cost, its like all things, yes there expensive compared to do it your selfer
copying someone elses design, they have to put the research in, develop the tooling,
make it a mercantile product and provide a guarantee and support etc, and put
research etc into new products.

Not trying to be narking just trying to put across the manufacturers point of view

Cheers

Leigh

[ttmx83]

Posted the following, then discovered similar discussion earlier, but how many have done it?

Planning my dual battery set-up. Noticed the main battery doesn't have a tray as such, just piece of plastic, and sits out over the end of the platform (in 2014 Diesel). It just uses a cross-piece and hold down rods.

Would there be a problem with doing the same with the auxiliary? The hold down points are there already. A hold down bracket and two rods would provide the same security as that afforded the original battery. The most obvious problem would be relocating the A/C bracket, but that's possible.

Have ordered an Optima D34M, so it would be smaller and lighter than the cranking battery too.

Greg

I did exactly this. I had a battery clamp and the plastic insert from a 1992 Cressida laying about, looks factory Toyota, because it is It should fit the Optima you mention as I plan on getting one too. (Currently using a normal size car battery) You may have to move the AC pipe over 20mm or so. I made a bracket to do this in anticipation but have no fitted it yet.

I wouldn't be surprised if the way some of the expensive trays mount, with the extra support, that they cause the guards to crack by transferring the shock from the radiator support wobbling around into the inner guard area. Sometimes it's better to have a little flex/movement. I'm probably wrong, or that could be just me trying to justify up to $200 for a tray made with $5 worth of steel

Cheers Brad.

[fido666]

Well I was shown a tray when I went there but didn't quiz the guy enough as to suitability for the petrol model, will call them to see what the go is.

How important is surge protection? I see some VSRs on eBay that have over current protection but not surge protection.

I believe ARB stopped making battery trays for the position behind the driver's side headlight due to the 120 inner guard cracking issue.

[fido666]

You have a point Andrew. Looking at the Piranha tray it employs a brace from the front J bolt to the radiator support. The ABR tray doesn't seem to have it but it wouldn't be too hard to make up something similar with some flat steel. I'm not sure about the ARB trays, can't find much info on them and the price list I have only mentions the diesel model. TJM don't do one for a petrol anymore as near as I can tell.

With a handful of stories about cracked inner guards, I would look at battery trays that have good bracing to prevent repetitive forces onto the inner guard.

[fido666]

I'm sure plenty have done as you suggest Greg. A cheap tray and hold down clamp from Supercheap does the job if you can make your own bracket for the AC pipe clamp.

I have the petrol engine so also have to relocate the Power Steering Resevoir. The ABR Sidewinder tray I'm looking at has provision for mounting that and the aircon pipe bracket on the side of the tray. The Piranha tray also has this facility but it's a bit more expensive than the ABR tray..

[gnunn56]

Is a battery tray really necessary?

Posted the following, then discovered similar discussion earlier, but how many have done it?

Planning my dual battery set-up. Noticed the main battery doesn't have a tray as such, just piece of plastic, and sits out over the end of the platform (in 2014 Diesel). It just uses a cross-piece and hold down rods.

Would there be a problem with doing the same with the auxiliary? The hold down points are there already. A hold down bracket and two rods would provide the same security as that afforded the original battery. The most obvious problem would be relocating the A/C bracket, but that's possible.

Have ordered an Optima D34M, so it would be smaller and lighter than the cranking battery too.

Greg

[fido666]

Has anyone use the ABR Sidewinder kit of late? I'm thinking of buying his tray, kit, and monitor. Derek offers 10% discount to PradoPoint members too.

[bretthar]

Pirahna do make a 10" tray for the petrol model.

Yeah they do to, don't know how I missed that, thought they were all 12". I was going to try and fit the 12" but after getting the tray and seeing how far that pipe needs moving plus the extra weight of the 12" thought the 10" was a safer bet. Was easy to modify, just cut the folded up bit off and and bent up the end.

[krypto]

Part of the reason is 12" batteries, because they hang out over the guard and put more stress on it. A 10" sits inside the guard.

[fido666]

Pirahna do make a 10" tray for the petrol model.