Dual battery System---200 series Landcruiser

Submitted: Tuesday, Sep 06, 2011 at 14:17

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Battery Power

In this article we explain why you might need an additional power source independent of the starting battery installed into your vehicle and we look in detail at types of batteries,

Sapper D

G,Day Everyone
Looking for some info regarding splitting the dual battery system for the 200 series.-----I've heard around the traps that for some reason it can't be done, but find that a bit hard to believe.-----I've done it successfully on my 100 series, as I'm sure most of you have, so why not on the 200 ?-----Is it just because of warranty reasons, or is there some mechanical or electrical reason for not being able to do it
Looking forward for some advice from the forum.

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Reply By: Member - Phil H (NSW) - Tuesday, Sep 06, 2011 at 15:20

Tuesday, Sep 06, 2011 at 15:20

Sapper D,
Guess you are or were in the army?? Have you been given any reasons why it is not recommended having split systems in the 200 series?? Presume you need a deep drain battery for camper/caravan etc??. Provided you keep isolated from main battery I should imagine O.K. There is a tremdous amount of electronics in the 200 series so it would be wise to check with an auto electrician who has done this mod successfully.Years ago I did a lot of marine electrics and I found isolation of both systems essential to prevent corrosion and errors in instruments due to circulating currents. This just maybe similar if your load was substantial e.g using second battery as winch/starter battery. Hope this helps .
Phil H

AnswerID: 464354

Reply By: Kris and Kev - Tuesday, Sep 06, 2011 at 15:46

Tuesday, Sep 06, 2011 at 15:46

We had a qualified auto electrician perform what you are questioning about on our 200 about 2 years ago. He took both factory fitted batteries out, put a larger capacity one on the passenger side for the motor and put a deep cycle in the driver’s side. He fitted a good quality isolator so the deep cycle battery will never drain the main battery. He also ran good sized cable to the rear and fitted two plugs, a normal cigarette and a Hella type. The Hella is for our fridge. He also ran a cable from the deep cycle to the rear to an Anderson plug fitted beside the 7 pin towing plug. We plug the camper trailer into this to charge up the camper batteries. So it is definitely possible and will not affect your vehicles electrics or warranty. But please note, we had a proper qualified person do all of this! Kevin

AnswerID: 464357

Reply By: Member - Captain (WA) - Tuesday, Sep 06, 2011 at 15:46

Tuesday, Sep 06, 2011 at 15:46

Hi Sapper,

I split my batteries in my 200 3 years ago and the system works fine. I replaced the original NZ50 batteries with 2 x NZ70 as the OEM stater battery only has ~550A whereas I now have ~720A for the starter battery now.

I used a Redarc isolator and only start off one battery, however, what some have done is install the switch to the Redarc to combine both batteries and only isolate if they need to use one as an aux battery. Cheaper this way as no need to replace the OEM batteries upfront.

The 200 will easily start on one OEM battery, but I found that my replacement radio would occasionally lose its settings, it showed that the OEM battery did not have much left in reserve, hence why I replaced upfront. Besides, I needed another battery on my camper at the time so worked out well to move things around.

Cheers

Captain

AnswerID: 464358

Reply By: CSeaJay - Tuesday, Sep 06, 2011 at 16:55

Tuesday, Sep 06, 2011 at 16:55

Same as Captain here
N70 starter, isolated by Redarc, and AGM as Aux.
Not a problem starting, ever. Remember the 70 series has the same motor (except for having one turbo only) and has one battery.
Simple but effecttive alternative to use Redarc or similar isolator. You can spend a lot more money on DC-DC chargers/isolators, but for many the added benifit is not much specially in the cost of that marginal benifit
Cheers
CJ

AnswerID: 464363

Reply By: Sapper D - Tuesday, Sep 06, 2011 at 19:56

Tuesday, Sep 06, 2011 at 19:56

Thanks Captain, Cseajay, Kris & Kev, and Phil H, you've confirmed what I hoped was the case,--exactly the same as I had done in my 100 series, don"t know where the "furphy" about not being possible started, but your feedback is enough for me to go ahead and do it again in the 200 which I get at the end of the month.---Yes Phil, I'm an old Sixties Sapper.
Thanks again.....Sapper D

AnswerID: 464381

Follow Up By: Member - Boobook - Wednesday, Sep 07, 2011 at 07:12

Wednesday, Sep 07, 2011 at 07:12

Like Captain, Cseajay and others, I did exactly as you describe 3 1/2 years ago and it works fine, even in the snow!

Toyota sent out a bulletin about 3 years ago specifically recommending what you described and NOT putting a 3rd battery as per ARB and Pirhana. Putting in a 3rd battery moves a lot of OE wiring and fuel lines, and Toyota claim it could void the warranty. They move some scary stuff at the rear of the passengers side under the hood inc the ABS system.

The reason that splitting the batteries is not reccomended, and where the story came from is that ARB and and Pirhana miss out on selling you about $700 of battery tray, and installation given that everything is already there. So it MUST be no good.

Also I advise using a Surepower ( ARB) or Redarc 200A isolator and wiring it so it can be overridden ( like a jumper lead), and you can boost the alternator voltage by 0.6V by putting a diode instead of the fuse in the Alt-s fuse location in the fuse box under the bonnet. Usefull for charging ifyou have a camper.

Tony

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