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Equipment Tests > Battery Systems
Battery Systems
Words by John Denman
If you have an electric winch fitted to your vehicle, or you own a 12 volt fridge, chances are you have considered the idea of fitting a dual battery system. Even if you don't own either of these things you may have thought about it just for the convenience of having back-up power in the event your primary battery goes flat. Either way, there is a wide spread of opinion and a good many yarns on this subject. Like anything else, everyone has their own ideas, and while some of these ideas may be valid, a great many are not. The truth is in there somewhere, and you need to be able to sort through the B.S. to get to it. Dual batteries aren't new, they've been around for a fairly long time in one form or another, and many are the jobs I've seen cobbled up in someone's shed. Some have been well built and worked well, but others have left a fair bit to be desired.
These days, you really don't need to go DIY, in fact you really shouldn't. Fitting a dual battery system has become a highly specialised job. Try and save a few bucks by doing it yourself, and you could end up paying the price in a place where the Auto Club won't come. There are some excellent dual battery systems on the market, and with the complexities of modern engine management systems, you need to be careful. This is probably the area of greatest peril for any non-standard modification. While reasonably robust, the computerised innards and alternators of these new vehicles can be fried if they are not protected from current spikes, or overloads that can occur particularly when an electric winch is being used.
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Some new vehicles now run two batteries as standard fitment like the turbo-diesel Jackaroo and LandCruiser but these should not be confused with an aftermarket dual battery system. These are a parallel battery set-up and are there for auxiliary cranking in climates where extreme cold may be experienced - not really required in this country. As to the next question; no you can't just fit an isolator between them and hey presto! Dual battery set-up. In the case of a vehicle like this both batteries will have to be junked and you must start from scratch.
Which system?
When you go looking for a dual battery system, it's very important that you know what sort of use you are going to put it to. They come in a bewildering variety of types and functions, and unless you are specific, you could end up paying for the wrong one. Some are only there to run a fridge and some camp lighting, others are specifically designed for prolonged winching, others on the more extreme end of both usage and price, can be used to power not just the vehicles batteries, but those in a caravan as well. You can also get battery monitors that will tell you the status of the individual battery.
next page »
If you have an electric winch fitted to your vehicle, or you own a 12 volt fridge, chances are you have considered the idea of fitting a dual battery system. Even if you don't own either of these things you may have thought about it just for the convenience of having back-up power in the event your primary battery goes flat. Either way, there is a wide spread of opinion and a good many yarns on this subject. Like anything else, everyone has their own ideas, and while some of these ideas may be valid, a great many are not. The truth is in there somewhere, and you need to be able to sort through the B.S. to get to it. Dual batteries aren't new, they've been around for a fairly long time in one form or another, and many are the jobs I've seen cobbled up in someone's shed. Some have been well built and worked well, but others have left a fair bit to be desired.
These days, you really don't need to go DIY, in fact you really shouldn't. Fitting a dual battery system has become a highly specialised job. Try and save a few bucks by doing it yourself, and you could end up paying the price in a place where the Auto Club won't come. There are some excellent dual battery systems on the market, and with the complexities of modern engine management systems, you need to be careful. This is probably the area of greatest peril for any non-standard modification. While reasonably robust, the computerised innards and alternators of these new vehicles can be fried if they are not protected from current spikes, or overloads that can occur particularly when an electric winch is being used.
read on below advertisement
Some new vehicles now run two batteries as standard fitment like the turbo-diesel Jackaroo and LandCruiser but these should not be confused with an aftermarket dual battery system. These are a parallel battery set-up and are there for auxiliary cranking in climates where extreme cold may be experienced - not really required in this country. As to the next question; no you can't just fit an isolator between them and hey presto! Dual battery set-up. In the case of a vehicle like this both batteries will have to be junked and you must start from scratch.
Which system?
When you go looking for a dual battery system, it's very important that you know what sort of use you are going to put it to. They come in a bewildering variety of types and functions, and unless you are specific, you could end up paying for the wrong one. Some are only there to run a fridge and some camp lighting, others are specifically designed for prolonged winching, others on the more extreme end of both usage and price, can be used to power not just the vehicles batteries, but those in a caravan as well. You can also get battery monitors that will tell you the status of the individual battery.
next page »
