Installation of Dual Battery System

Hi If you go to ARB TJM or a good Auto sparky. Most of them will quote in the range of 450-550 installed. plus battery.( I use an Exide Extreme $135) for a basic setup,which does a good job. You don't need the fancy (read $$$$$$$)ones. My basic one from TJM using a smart solenoid $150. Instead of $400+ electronics. and battery cost under $650.and keeps my 80 ltr Waeco in a 3 ltr Patrol going no troubles.If you fit the battery mount kit yourself it will be cheaper again. but I don'r recommend playing with the electrical side. You've got your trade, they have theirs.We get 2 days comfortably, but do have 2 x 40 watt solarex on a long cable for when in camp.
Regards
Macka...

Greetings

If you are comfortable doing it yourself buy the quality components and go for it.

Some thoughts:-

You pay for what you get. The Piranha, ARB, TJM systems are all of good quality with a proven record of saftey and reliability. Each of these companies offer dual battery systems of varing price depending on vehicle to be fitted and components used.

An alternative is your local auto electrician ( a much overlooked source of quality well priced vehicle electrical work). Many can make a good quality dual battery system out of readily available parts at a very competative price.

Regards

Paul

I disagree with the pay for what you get here, particularly when its got anything with ARB or Pirhana written on it. Check your prices and shop around. There are plenty of good supplier/manufacturers out there. Some suggest redarc as a good isolator($100). Buy your mounting system, which no doubt will be a pirhana battery tray or similar, then look at the battery isolator and ECU protection system.

I currently have an old rotronics unit, that Pirahana tried to tell me didn't have any spike protection. If I had followed their advice I should remove it immediately and install one of their systems for a little over $300. What a bargin - not. Rang Rotronics, and was assured that my unit did have spike protection.

I am looking at a similar system for another vehicle at the moment - check out this website as they seem to offer good value for money:

http://www.traxide.com.au/index.html

Do some research on which type of battery you want to go for. It will depend on how you want to use it as to the type you get. (as well as how much you want to spend). If you plan to flaten a battery quite often, then look at a deep cycle, AGM or Calcium. Some on this site will tell you you only should use a starting battery due to the quicker re-charge time.

Do'nt be afraid to do it yourself. A cheap soldering Iron is $20, cables $40(max) Battery $150-200, isolator $140, battery tray $100 - before you know it you have done the job yourself for under $500. Thats a lot of change out of $1000 and best of all you will know your vehicle a whole lot better than you did before you started.

Search the archives of this site, and others and you will find more than enough info required to have a go.

Cheers

Talk to Chris at Battery World, Wantirna. He has done an in car setup with an AGM battery (worth at least $300 on its own), Redarc Isolator, cabling, battery box etc for around $700 for both Moggs and myself. If you're after a wet cell DC (as Pirahna would have been quoting you on) and un underbonnet setup, I reckon Chris would do it for way less than $1000. I'd be surprised if it was much more than $500 depending on the cost of a tray.

Chris was actually at the show today, I had a chat with him. He does great work, offers great back up and advice, and is a hell of a nice bloke into the bargain.

Cheers,

Jim.

get prices from good autoelec...using the redarc...i understand it to very good...i use er what do i use...its not redarc..i know that and its not one of those ARB or pirahna or anything...its something my brotherinlaw (has his own autoelec business mainly trucks etc etc ) fitted ...simple voltage regulator?.....
Hasnt failed yet (in the 8 yrs I have had it on two vehicles)
comes with a lifetime warranty ...provided his sister doesnt leave me i guess hahaha

Rose and Gerrit. I bough a second hand Piranha unit redcently and installed it myself. I had no knowledge whatsover about DB set ups except for what I've gleaned of this forum in particular, and the web in general. Admittedly I'm a tradie with an electrical background but the install was not particularly difficult, hardest part was running cables into the car for the monitor and finding an appropriate lead to connect to the isolator (far too many wires in these modern cars and why are internal trims so hard to get into)

If you want a pre loved Piranha DBE 150E system let me know.
I'm about to replace mine this week with a rotronics.
I started with the elcrappo $100 solenoids and was not happy with their recharge (un)ability, you learn by your mistakes, if you can admit to making them!

I bought a battery tray from ARB and fitted it myself (they come with instructions). Then I bought a redarc and roll of 6mm cable and a couple of 2 pin low-voltage plugs (caravan type) from the local electrical distributor, and then headed to my local auto sparkie who hooked it up in no time at all. I can't say how much it cost exactly cos we did a contra deal, which I came out of very well, but he didn't care.

With me pulling cables thru the car and helping out wherever possible, it was all over in less than 3 hours, that included 2 outlets near the rear door and a hot wire to the trailer plug for lights in the camper, all with circuit breakers and extra tubing for protection where cables were under the bonnet. I bought the complete roll of cable cos I plan on fitting a deep cycle in the camper to run a single fluro light.

I have wired everything that runs on 12V with the 2 pin plugs, compressor, lights etc; so they will work in the camper as well. I don't trust cigarette lighter type plugs.

Hi All, i did it even cheaper,, ARB tray $100, Exide Extreme battery $135, $20 of very flexible welding cable and a $10 manual switch. Easy, when you set up your lights or whatever, unscrew the manual isolator... to easy.. Best regards Scrooge.

We fitted my Piranha one in about 3 hours.. There is nothing to it.. We fitted his in under 2 hours...

I bet the price was a "SHOW SPECIAL ONLY!" Price it again this week, probably be $200 cheaper

THere are dozens of ideas on dual batteries...

www.rotronics.com.au sell kits too..

This is timely, I am just doing my own install now.

With advice from a few in here I went with a Redarc isolater system and it is to run a boat winch on trailer and Hella power socket in the rear boot for a fridge (Waeco CF50)

All up mine cost:

Redarc $140
Battery - Free :) Friend gave me a Marshall 600CCA premium heavy duty
Piranha battery tray, and Hella socket and plug $100
Terminals, fuse holder, flexi conduit and cable $60
Anderson connectors $20

So there you go mine will be all set up for $320 and will not only run a Hella socket in the boot, but also a Anderson aux connector on the trailer hitch

I have never installed one before but do have a fair amount of electronics experience - but they are simple for anyone to do with a bit of care.

Rose, Gerrit,

Have a chat with Marcus at Northern Solar Power in Campbellfield. 03 9308 6744. He recently installed a system on my brother's 100 series, and is doing one for my Playdoe next week.

The 100 series set-up worked out at just over $600, using a smart relay, ARB tray, and a FullRiver 90amp hour SLA AGM battery. He also had some cheaper options using different batteries.

Nice guy, very knowledgeable, and made sure he built the system with my brothers needs in mind.

Good luck.
Chaba.

Rose & Gerrit: I'd join a 4wd club and pay the subscription ($50-90ish) and get free training, choose club trips with fellow members and pickup on their experience. Better and cheaper

....meanwhile, back to the old chestnut, I've just come across the Fullriver AGM battery which is a sight cheaper than Optima etc and apparently better. I'm looking to put a 120 a/h battery/dual system in my Cruiser which has an existing N70ozz Exide cranker. Does anyone know if they're compatible? Also, claims that these Fullriver batteries recharge in 2.5 to 3 hrs from your alternator. Realistic? checkout www.fridge-and-solar.net/agm.htm