So i've got my fridge...

[Brett G]

G'day all,

Dual batteries??? whos got them and what specfic problems did you encounter whilst putting yours in?

Any recommended management systems?

love your work

Brett

[Bitsamissin]

Well let me tell you a story........................
I had a Piranha DB150 dual battery controller with the in cabin battery monitor. Had twin Exide Extreme 4x4 batteries and everything worked well could get about 4 days running the 40ltr Engel out of the 2nd battery. Had this in for about 6 months when the Piranha controller caught fire and almost totalled my car. Insurance claim with $10K in repairs and 3 months off the road. The assessor reckoned the fire started from the module and spread around the engine bay taking out the ECU harness and all fuse box wiring etc. Why he doesn't know and the system was installed by a Piranha authorised auto eleccy (I hadn't touched a thing). The car was completely off (no accessories on whatsoever) for at least 20 mins until the fire started.
Have got an ARB dual battery controller now with the pissy batteries the repairer put in but soon some Optima's will replace them.
The assessor told me of other similar stories so do your research

[4runna]

Hey Brett,

I have a really simple one, A winch solenoid.

I ran this system on the 4runner for a number of years hassle free (i have a deep cycle battery, but is takes the same charge as a starter battery (lifeline brand) so it's not a huge worry with incompatibility.
I am only running the 2 batteries in parallel at the moment as I couldn't decide where to put the solenoid until I mount the locker compressor.

Very simple, very cheap, very reliable, but not really recommended if yours is a petrol, as there is a slight chance of a spike or surge and the ECU mightn't like that.

no probs with install, i just bought a battery cradle from 4wd warehouse. only prob with the diesel is, I have to remove the intercooler to service the fuel filter :( but a worthwhile tradeoff considering it takes a full size battery...... until i get sick of doing it!

Rob

[pickle]

Howdy Brett
Got a Rotronics in mine that has worked well for four years now.Simple enough to do yourself as I did,but you must do it properly or you will end up with the same problem Frank did. Would"nt be anything worse than seeing smoke pouring out from under the bonnet out in the scrub.
Dave

[South]

Hey, Ive fitted a Pirahna Battery Tray into out 3.5L NJ along with a REDARC smart solenoid (its the same as the ARB one, except much cheaper, and they are identical). The tray is very solid you couldnt budge it even if you jumped up and down on it. I cant fault the REDARC, it will charge the main battery first and at a certain volatge will swap over to the aux. Best of all its only $100...

You dont even have to wire an ignition switch to it. One cable to main, one to aux and a ground, its that simple!

Hope this helps.

Ryan

[turps]

There is a dual battery controler think it is a motsons. That is available from Repco and theya re on special this week. I dont know anything about them other than where you can get them though.

[Brett G]

thanks heaps fellas,

The system that South has sounds good. I'll be whacking in the heavier wiring to my rear lighter socket... anyone done this themselves, any dramas with this?

Frank, sorry to hear about your bus going up in smoke. I read your post on the system when you got it in and it sounded like a doozy, excatly what i want.

On another matter what do you guys reckon the market value of my bus would be...

its a 96 NJ shorty in top notch condition

120,000 km on the clock
Regularly serviced with log books
cruise
spottys
cooper st's
roo bar
K & N filter
Rancho's
not a grey import
1.5 year of warranty left from car yard where i brought it second hand.
2 x hiclones... not that they are worth much

just curious

Cheers

Brett