Switch or solinoid for dual batt install

[nicbeer]

Hey,

I am going for a dual battery install on the new zook.

Whish is better and why should i choose it over another.

Colehearsy style
http://www.biasboating.com.au/battery_swtch.html
Extra Heavy Duty Battery Switch Cat. 2539 BIAS $36.50

Redarc - $100ish

ARB isolater $?

I am aiming for it to be negative switched and tempted by the swtch as i know what it is doing because i put it there not a solinoid doing itself.

cheers

Nic

[crack]

id have to say a solinoid but thats just me i think its a bit safer? have you looked at pirahna setups?


jack

[familybus]

redarc! 100%

been using one for ages and no probs as alot of people have been as well!

[Bluey]

i bought a big bugger solenoid of ebay to do the job. it was a abr sidewinder 200A continous and 600A surge. it only connects the batteries when the main battery reaches i think 13.5v (can't really remember to tell the truth), or has an override wire if you want. i then used old solenoid from previous owner to run my air compressor

[Oscars]

just curious, what did u pay for the arb solinoid off ebay

[Bluey]

think it was around $110.

[keencdk]

Is it this (note the brand is ABR, not the more commonly known 4wd accessory brand). $135 on their web site but they do sell on eBay as well from what I remember

http://www.sidewinder.com.au/page82.html

[Bluey]

yep, that's the one. basic with big amp capacity

[andy & di]

Had a boat switch for a while but it and some slightly to small wiring eventualy buggered the alternator. Put in the Redarc solenoid and have not looked back

[Oscars]

if u use a redarc make sure its not on starting.

i use solinoids usually

[Dooley]

Here a useful article I found.

http://www.thejump.net/fishingarticles/Ship-Shape.htm

It is written specifically for boats but most of it applies to 4bys.

[cruiserute75]

depending on how you want to use it. if you want something simple yet effective, like the boat swith would offer, why not use a solenoid. probly as cheap as a boat switch to buy but probly a little harder to wire. an easy way to set it up would be wire the to batteries together in parallel, (ie positve to pos, neg to neg) and put the solenoid in the poistive wire. the run a 'control wire' to a switch inside, this will energise the coil and connect your batteries. this setup may not give you some of the options that a tjm or arb $300 setup, but at under $100, you cant go wrong. sometimes simple is best, well thats what i think anyway

[-Scott-]

but at under $100, you cant go wrong.

Until you forget to flick the switch - then things can go VERY wrong.

There's generally a good reason for complicated systems.

[cruiserute75]

Until you forget to flick the switch - then things can go VERY wrong.

very good point... note to self, remember to flick switch.

[-Scott-]

Until you forget to flick the switch - then things can go VERY wrong.

very good point... note to self, remember to flick switch.

That's why I went for a complicated system - even if I tattooed a note inside my eyelids, I'd still forget to flick the switch.

Now, when something goes wrong, I blame FRED - Farkin' Ridiculous Electronic Device.

[bazzle]

Ive used the ARB seperator on 5 vehicles with no problems.

Easy to wire up.

Bazzle

[HotFourOk]

I've just used a 'Projecta' dual battery kit from Supercheap... I thought I would try it out first, being only $99 for the kit, which comprises a 100A solenoid, 100A power wire and 2 B&S Earth wire with all connectors needed.

It allows the aux battery to be charged when the main is over 13.5V, and stops the aux charging when the main drops below 10.5V i think... or something along them lines.
Its worked perfect so far and the price was right!

The best thing is the solenoid takes care of the charging aspect... no switches etc needed to remember. (Coz i would forget!)
You can also manually override the solenoid via a switch if you want to.

[Rb25sil80]

http://www.projecta.com.au/catalogue/cid/23/asset_id/53

Is that the one you got from supercheap? I was looking at one of those but Repco told me $250!

http://www.4wdmonthly.com.au/forum/show ... hp?t=25448
Thats my thread over on 4wd monthly forums, still havnt made my mind up what to use!