I am embarking on fitting a second battery to me disco, to power winch, and caravan and other toys whilst maintaining the ability to stilll start said disco after fal;ling asleep and leaving all the toys on. Does the group have any recommended split chargers/battery setups/battery tray information.
Thanks in anticipation
Well
Some people just connect them together and dont bother with split chargers.
Ive got both mine joined together by a massive relay that is switched by a feed direct from the alternator wire that goes to the dash. This means that when the engine is off, the batteries are not connected.
It really depends on what you want to use it for. For winch purposes it probably go with the first.
I use mine for fridges and extra lights. Its good peace of mind to know that when you kill one of them with a fridge that the other one is untouched.
I fit a second alternator, its trigger (field) connection being via a relay which is switched by the primary electrics but switching a feed from the second battery to the field winding terminal, if you get my drift. I run a
140A alternator to a 120Ah battery for winching and extra lights, and a 130A alternator into a 95Ah battery for the vehicle and radios. I also have a master switch that links the 2 batteries together, giving an "internal jump-start" capability. Hardest part is making a bracket to fit the second alternator to your engine, and sorting out a secondary drive belt to it. Badger.
I've installed a couple of the Halfords ones on various vehicles. Well made, heavy gauge wires, good destructions, good length in the wires in case you want to take a live to the rear of the vehicle. They're probably in the Caravan/towing section. Can't remember the price, but not ridiculously expensive. I don't say this often about Halfords, but recommended.
Location depends on which Disco you have, but on the D1 there is a spare tray on the LHS of the engine bay in the front corner which will fit a second battery. You'll have to find somewhere else to store the jack, though.
V8 or diesel
The best answer is 2 alternators and 2 batteries
Tony wrote
On or around Fri, 21 Dec 2007 18:04:34 -0000, "Badger" enlightened us thusly:
and on some vehicles, finding enough space. Although most landies would be OK. Anything that has aircon as an option but not fitted should have a ready-made space, and a belt drive option ready and waiting :-)
My split charge is done like marks - with an 80A relay triggered by the charge light.
Tis the cheapest way of doing it!
You dump the diode pack in the rewire?
I must say I never got my head fully around the diode pack. Relays I can get my head around! :-)
Lee D
Somebody else had already dumped my diode pack and incorrectly fitted a relay. I refitted it properly :)
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