Outer Limits 4x4 Board

A mate wants to install twin batteries with a split charge system in his rangie
he has fitted an electrical winch, any ideas on battery choice/size and a splilt charge system
Cheers

CT is in here some where - he is using a Hellroarer system which hasn't failed him yet despite extensive testing in the field.... He is running a winch, lighting and fridges/GPS etc. Now using Exide Marines.

Check it here - http://home.off-road.com/~landy/battery.htm - and ask him some questions - he loves to talk about his landy

Depends on what you want to do...

Running a fridge and having one battery isolated so you can still start your truck in the bush if the fridge drains one battery is one scenario... use a smart isolator/split charge system and a slow drain/deep cycle battery.

Maximum winch power for a competition is another scenario, use two huge high CCA batteries that can stand the high current draw and the cycling (like the new giant yellow top optimas), with very heavy duty cabling and switching to maximise amps to the winch. Still need a charging system to split the charge, but it will look like quite a different system to the first scenario. Lots of guys end up using an additional small 3rd battery for reservce starting power in this scenario

I ended up trying to do both, by default the system uses a Hellroaoring split charge system to keep both batteries topped up, for winching I use a manual switch to combine both batteries and flow all those amps through heavy duty cable to the winch avoiding running 400 amps through the isolator!

I'd recommend talking to a 4WD electrical specialist that has done lots of these before - most sparkies will have a go but if it's the first time they have designed a system then you are the guinea pig...

You can put a full size battery in if you relocate the power steering fluid resevoir back a couple of inches, may also need a snorkel depending on air box type. Both sides of engine bay are battery cradles. Would turf the split system and get a reputable module/solenoid set up TJM, Piranha etc.

As an auto electrician I see lots of different charging systems on Vehicles. The one i would recommend would be using a constant duty solenoid splitting your battery and your aux battery, There cheap and very effective and i use it on my own vehicle and we install them that way to every vehicle. These Pirana and TJM systems do have the advantage of being precise with the split charging but it isnt really needed. A constant duty system would only cost about $180 max depending on the size and quality of the battery your planning on using... The higher the CCA the better..

As an auto electrician I see lots of different charging systems on Vehicles. The one i would recommend would be using a constant duty solenoid splitting your battery and your aux battery, There cheap and very effective and i use it on my own vehicle which is an 85 Range Rover and we install them in the same way in every vehicle. These Pirana and TJM systems do have the advantage of being precise with the split charging but it isnt really needed. A constant duty system would only cost about $180 max depending on the size and quality of the battery your planning on using... The higher the CCA the better..

My old man uses a rorotronics full auto isolator. Great system, nothing to worry about (my kind of battery system). Fitting one of these to Aquarangie when I get enough dosh, or I haven't broken, smashed or dented anyhting for a while!!

The kit cost $210 for the isolator and about $`150 for the deep cycle battery (not sure on brand, but a good one).

Good luck,

Trav