Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hi
Can anyone tell me which alternator would be best to use as a secondary charger for fridge batteries. It needs to be about 100amp or higher, small enough to fit above original alternator on td42 nissan and as usual cost is an issue.

And what are everyones thoughts about a cape trip in mid July. Do you think it will be to wet? Got a snorkel but the missus will be screamin if the creeks are to deep.

Thanks Brent

What about a larger alternator to replace the oe item, maybe a solar panel or an outback battery charger would all be better options IMO

if you do a couple of hours driving each day, you should be able to maintain charge in the batteries with one good alternator.

Winter is the dry season, it is wet season from something like late october to march

Tiny wrote:What about a larger alternator to replace the oe item, maybe a solar panel or an outback battery charger would all be better options IMO

What he said, all easier options.

commodore or falcon, cheap as chips and can be found in any wrecking yard.
But if driving most days I probably wouldnt bother if I was traveling with someone else. Just take jumper leads.
If you plan on giving the elecs are real flogging, I rekon an indapendant 12v system for the auxiliary crap is a good idea.

Will be driving most days on cape trip but when we go to fraser don't want to drive everyday but i have to. I have replaced the original alternator with a larger one, 120 amp i think. I've only ever gone flat once but a mate of mine with similar setup (except for isolator) found if he didn't drive much the main battery would take to long to charge before the second battery received anything. I've got both batteries joined in parallel so i have the expense of an isolator v another alternator. i can make a mounting bracket myself so price will hopefully be not that much more. i think solar will be to expensive although i would like to go that way

Thanks Brent

Your mate sounds like he has something wrong with his main battery, it should start charging almost straight away even after a couple of days. Does he have some accessory wired to his start battery ? Having your batteries wired in parallel is not the right way to do it if you are running accessories such as a fridge etc. Drawing down starting batteries this way leads to a very short life. You really need to separate the batteries with a an isolator and use a deep cycle battery, flooded or AGM does not matter really. If you run a decent size battery such as a 100ah you should be able to run a 40l fridge and accessories for a couple of days without problem.

GaryP wrote:Your mate sounds like he has something wrong with his main battery, it should start charging almost straight away even after a couple of days. Does he have some accessory wired to his start battery ? Having your batteries wired in parallel is not the right way to do it if you are running accessories such as a fridge etc. Drawing down starting batteries this way leads to a very short life. You really need to separate the batteries with a an isolator and use a deep cycle battery, flooded or AGM does not matter really. If you run a decent size battery such as a 100ah you should be able to run a 40l fridge and accessories for a couple of days without problem.

What he said. I got a red arc isolator with a plunge button. So when main battery goes dead I can push the button and start it. Your alternator should easily handle a fridge and normal accessories.

maybe look at one of the dc-dc chargers to isolate and charge the 2nd and maybe 3rd battery if required.
i run the red arc dc-dc charger in mine and its awsome. takes a hell of a lot load off the alternator

If your a tight arse. Just get a $12 terminal switch. They look like a normal batt terminal but have a bolt holding to halfs together. I ran this for years no problems. Just leave disconnected till smoko. Then pop the bonnet and spin the bolt down.

That was running to cranking batters for years.

Hi Mate,

it sounds like your most concerned about the draw on your batteries when your parked up?? IF this is the case then having a second Alternator bolted up under the bonnet wont offer you much of a solution on the 3rd day of parking when the battery system is getting low.

Your problem sounds more like a storage issue rather than a charging issue.

If your already running a 120 amp alternator on a TD42 your pumping out the charge. far more than your likely to be using while your driving along so the batteries will certainly replenish.

Look at grabbing a couple of higher capacity AGM GEL batteries for behind the back seat and a decent battery isolator and your done. I really see little to NO advantage to your situation and needs going to the trouble for a second alternator.

IMHO.

If you are serious about the 2nd alternator i have seen them mounted above the power steering pump running on the PS belt. Which one to use?? Well you dont need the vacuum pump for the second one so obviously the CHEAPEST one you can find and the biggest one your money can buy. It matters little what it came out of.

my 2c

what about just buying a generator? swap your fridge to generator for camping maybe?

reliability would be something i'd be concerned about with putting a 2nd alternator on for touring. you want stuff done right to prevent other issues.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Furking generators, they should all be blown up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GaryP wrote:AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Furking generators, they should all be blown up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

pigs arse they should.

generators take up to much room and with three kids i don't have much. The plan was to have the second alt set up so if either one died the other could charge the whole car, so reliability would actually increase

keep suggestions and thoughts coming

Brent

snotboxracing wrote: The plan was to have the second alt set up so if either one died the other could charge the whole car, so reliability would actually increase

keep suggestions and thoughts coming

Brent

I still don't understand why people want to carry so much extra gear "just in case". Granted things like hoses/belts/fluids are definitely spares to carry but things like 2nd alternators, driveshafts etc seem excessive that add up to extra weight which will probably see you break something due to being overloaded. I like to carry spares for common problems not the once off. Just my opinion though.

Dude, I have 3 batteries 75 amp yellow tops in my patrol, two under the bonnet and one in the back next to the fridge ( must keep the beer cold ) - standard alternator powers the lot no probs. Storage is definatly the go. Buy some extra batteries and a 80 watt solar panel, you can hold up for days with out any challanges. Cheers

I dont think your biggest issue is the alternator, its the trip itself. With the amount of rain thats been already had up there, and more predicted, we have already canned our planned trip to the tip in May/June. It may still be too wet in July.

i think your right Bundy, we're a bit worried about the weather ourselves. have been thinking of making it a desert trip but i don't know a lot about it, travel distances, places to visit ect. . i've got 5 weeks off work and as i have to put in for them 12 months in advance i will be going somewhere.

BundyRumandCoke wrote:I dont think your biggest issue is the alternator, its the trip itself. With the amount of rain thats been already had up there, and more predicted, we have already canned our planned trip to the tip in May/June. It may still be too wet in July.

Really?
Where are you getting that from?
We are going in July too.
Desert trip really doesnt do it for me.

What about an underdrive pulley? They are often used to run a supercharger, but I have been considering knocking one up to run a backup alt, air pump, supercharger, AC, power steer for my rig. Gives you much more flexability for placing extras. The "Big bonus" is how you can gear it up or down so it runs your second alt fast at idle so you can top up your batts when parked, or when winching (need a elecrtic clutch like mad max). OR you can gear it so your acc's run slower and reduce the parasitic drag on your engine and give a torque & HP boost!!!