Battery inside vehicle?

Ah back seat that is! Just finished night shift -bit blurry eyed!

Hi, I don't see that it would be illegal as my mates camper van has one mounted ( in a box) under the seat behind the driver's seat. Also I have seen an extra one mounted in a black plastic box in the back of a 4x4 wagon.
Cheers Des.

I beleive that a battery in the cabin would be illegal. Check with your local authorities. If it's allowed I'd be using a gel cel or sealed lead acid battery.

Used to be legal, - e.g. beetles with battery under back seat.

But changed about 10 to 15 years ago with ADRs as far as I know.
(But CAMS allow it though.)

Not legal anymore to put lead/acid batteries in the passenger compartment.
But a sealed battery like an AGM would be OK I think if tied down well.

Doesn't the current model defender have its battery under one of the seats?

1 for 2 against !
I 'm not sure on legal side . Is there a copy of ADR's on the net anywhere?
Vehicle is Tassie registered and most anything goes down here!. Would differebt states have other laws or all under ADR's?
Thanks for the thoughts.

Failing to get it inside has anyone put another battery under the bonnet of an RN106? I have had a look but its going to require a lot of work to move the air cleaner and also worried about cracking the inner guard as it does not seem to have the renforcement that the other side does.

We have the reserve batterys (sealed) mounted under the passengers seat in Merc sprinter work truck (amb)........

Cheers

Why not just put a decent AGM in as the main battery and forget the second one.

A whole lot less mucking around, no ADR or legality problems, and you can run the fridge for 4 days.

I don't have a clue about the legalities, but putting an AGM in the back would be fine as far as safety is concerned. Another advantage of the AGM is that you can install it on its side or end if it fits better. No venting reqiuired. Make sure you tie it down well

I have also removed my rear seat and installed a flat (carpeted plywood) platform. Carry 3rd spare, big esky (soon to be second fridge), crab pots (behind spare wheel). Floor for boat and lots more there.
But I also have a canopy, so have an AGM in the back behind a wheel well and beside a draw unit.
Your Lux is clearly not the new 05+ model as there is an excellent spot in it (TD anyway) for a battery. I used to have a 105AH wet cell, but just converted to a 90AH AGM.
Is your Lux a tray back or style side? On tray back you can generally mount a battery under the tray.

Sounds like an AGM might be the go. How well do they survive under the bonnet? Just in case I go down that road. Thanks for all the help!

Hi, my sources tell me a lead acid battery can be mounted in the cab, PROVIDED .... it is in a sealed enclosure (to the cab), vented directly to the atmosphere. Now where's that angle grinder :-o

Cheers

Hi Strahan

We couldn' fit a second battery under the bonnet of our V6 4 Runner either. I bought an Optima deep cycle battery 3 years ago and its been fantastic. They are expensive but I am told that under normal charge conditions, they don't give off any nasty gasses.

I installed it via an Engel (Piranha) dual battery management system so the car charges it whilst driving and 2 x 40 watt solar panels charge it when stopped. Its 55 amp hours in size but you can get a bigger one now (not when we bought ours) and we run a 40 litre engel with it. Its stored in a battery box and located on the floor behind the driver's seat.

Cheers
Peter

Hi Strahan

I mounted the unit under the bonnet. I seem to recall that it needs a 12volt source that is disconnected when the ignition switch is off, I guess that if the power keeps going to the unit when the car is stationary, it might flatten the battery. The leads are long enough. I had to cut a bit off them and they would have been long enough to put the battery behind the back seat if necessary.

Cheers
Peter