Fuses for dual battery set up

[deadly76 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close deadly76]

I know there are many threads a mile long for dual battery set ups but I thought it would be easier to start my own..

Intended set up-

ARB battery tray
Battery.... undecided????
Leighs Diode
Red arc SBI 12
2 x 60 AMP Circuit Breakers
Baintech DC Distribution Panel

I'm in the process of getting all the bits together for a dual battery set up and have bought 2 x 60 AMP manual reset circuit breakers for my system.

According to the RED ARC instruction leaflet the 60 AMP circuit breakers should be ok as long as i don't wire up the start button override.

Does anyone have some experience with similar set up?? I'm having second thoughts that I should have gone for the 100 AMP circuit breakers.

Thanks

Deon

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

I have been running 50 or 60 amp circuit breakers / fuses on mine for years and never blown or had to reset one.

Cheers Andrew

[deadly76 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close deadly76]

Thanks Andrew.

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

Hi Deon, the size of the circuit breaker/fuse is determined by the size of the cable you have used.

6B&S ( 13.5mm2 ) is the most common size used in dual battery setups and a 60 amp fuse/circuit breaker is the maximum safe size you can use.

BTW, in most cases, where you jump start from an auxiliary battery, you can do this through a 50 amp circuit breaker and it will not trip unless you continually crank a motor that won’t start.

[Boneyone Member Find all posts View Profile Close Boneyone]

I used these with 16mm cable and have jump started with the override switch successfully without blowing the 100A fuses. Redarc advised against mechanical fuses because of the harsh under bonnet environment. Just use Lanotech to prevent corrosion.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/2-X-Strip...item2eda750da7

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/5-X-100-A...E:L:OC:AU:3160

[Scruffy Member Find all posts View Profile Close Scruffy]

Here's a thought provoker! Why would you run circuit breakers on the dual battery cable. After all there are none on the original main battery cable and provided the cable is run/mounted properly why? Also is having circuit breakers going to prevent you from linking the batteries in a flat main battery situation due to them blowing? Derek from Sidewinder implies this optionality!

[AussieAndy Find all posts View Profile Close AussieAndy]

I never had fuses in my old 80 series, and it was linked via a redarc solenoid. The cable for it was heavy battery cable that was wrapped in convo tubing and held in place using p clips and zip ties. I am using fuses in the prado, but am using a BCDC1240 this time, so the fuses are really more for device malfunction as well as wiring shorts. To jumpstart if needed I will use a set of jumper leads, as soon as my drawers are fitted these will be a permanent fixture to the back of the prado.

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

It is like all things in life, how safe do you want to be?

Starter cables are usually well insulated and protected and generally short
and unlikely to be overloaded.

Dual battery wiring may run considerable distance, be exposed to possible
damage in the event of an accident, may be connected to devices that have thin
insulation and easily damaged in an accident. May be overloaded by non technical
persons expecting to much from the system.

If you are 100% sure the wiring is not going to be damaged in the event of an accident,
by abrasion or overloading etc then leave the fuses out. Its a bit late to start reconsidering
if you have an accident and your trapped in your car or drop a spanner and smoke starts
billowing out!

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

I'm sure a "fusible link" was mandatory, in years gone by, for all car battery connections.

[deadly76 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close deadly76]

I've ended up going with the 3 B&S cable to run between the redarc and batteries. So I intend on using the 60 amp circuit breakers I've already purchased..

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

I originally used circuit breakers but had one fail, I then changed to 100amp mega fuses simple and reliable. To mount them I used 13mm copper water pipe cut to length and flattened in the vice. I then bent it to the right shape as shown in the pictures below. This has provided a solid mount that does not move and is capable of conducting high current. I link my batteries when winching and have never had a problem with them overloading the fuse. I do carry spares just in case.

[Boneyone Member Find all posts View Profile Close Boneyone]

MRBF fuses combined with MRBF battery terminal fuse holders look really nice.