Dual Battery System 06 Hilux

[luxtce]

After much research I went for the following

100ah under bonnet battery
Pirahna Battery Cradle
TJM IBS Dual battery system (though the gauges are not 100% they give an indication and I will be able to further check properly if needed with a multimeter)
250amp positive and negative cables

Cost under $900 DIY, the IBS is not cheap even though you can order it from QLD for $385 or push the price in NSW to $434, down from $484, heavy duty crimpers, Gel Cell AGM battery etc. Basically quality products!!

You are probably think 100ah, advertised as 90ah Gel Cell AGM battery is going to be over $300, but in Sydney only $210 pickup from super start batteries, the manufacturer of the battery.

So here is the start,, the battery is in and will be fully charged and then hooked up



I will update this DIY with pics soon

I wish I took more pics as I rust protected each hole with a primer (water based for metals) that is called "trubite" and is meant to stick. I think I did and ok job so far...

The battery being a Gell cell with AGM construction is not quite wide enough for the top brace, deep cycles non seal are generally wider at the top then the bottom. But belive me you can grab the battery and pull on it and it will not move and the car will rock from side to side, it is very secure.

Also if possuble fit the stainless upright retainers before putting in the battery as they are hard to get in after!!!

Also I would not go much bigger than the battery I installed in 06, the tray can handle bigger, slightly, but it is hard to fit especially considering it weighs over 30kg. Is is tight and has to be put in on and angle.

[F'n_Rover]

You've put too much work into that post for it to be lost in the elec section.

I vote for a move to members.

[luxtce]

Thanks Mate

I am going to do a full build up thread, if it gets moved I will alter it as can be.

This is a recent model so any feed back is good for the members IMO (in my opinion).

The engine will stay stock for the mean time, I promised my wife!!

Hopefully I can find a program to retune it myself with a good oxygen sensor and some det cans. I dont know anything about diesel though, if it was a petrol give me 10h and you would have a good tune. I do not have a clue when it comes to tuning a diesel.....

[luxtce]

Here is the battery hooked up


The relay that separates the batteries



And the controller, It seems quite accurate really. I am getting it readiung 12.8 when the batteries have a 12.84 charge. The only small inaccuracies is the chargin current which reads 13.5 when the current is around 14.05, but there is probably some voltage loss and small inaccuracy maybe in my meter or IBS system. It would be interesting to see what voltage would have to be reach for the 14 volt charge light to illuminate. But considering it is just over 14 volts really I am happy with the result.



It keeps the batteries linked from my observation all time until the battery voltages drop past ~12.9. So it is not uncommon to jump in the car in the morning and find the batteres still linked. This is good as it gets any residual charge from the alternator when the car is switched off. And separates them if a draw is present.