rotronics or not

lol, rather over the top for such a simple process isn't it. The Redarc isolator is one of a range of simple cheap isolators that works well, no need to buy some overpriced electronics. You will find them on Ebay.

Isn't it funny how the "Brand name" Isolators all command a similar price.
Must be something to do with quality and reliability:-)))

When you are talking about an "independent battery system" I would assume you are looking at the Isolator, the Cabling, the battery tray, maybe a second battery and possibly installation as well. Of course you would be expected to pay more than a basic self-installed system.

I invested $800 several years ago in a total solution. I have buggered a couple of batteries through too much discharging, but this was not the result of the Isolator managing the dual battery system faultlessly over that time. (The Engel did it and I'm not even blaming that).

What ever the Brand, "you get what you pay for".

Hi Stan,
if your interested i have a Rotronics unit here for a duel battery system in working order. it was removed from our 80 series as we don't require a duel battery setup for this cruiser as our other ones are already set up.

you can send me an email
luciani@alphalink.com.au

Thanks
Luke

I have a very simple Rotronics sytem in my GU, it was there when I bought the car.

I rang Rotronics to get a bit more info and they reckon it is not up to what I want to do with it. As well as the second battery in the car I have a battery on the camper. This battery is charged from the aux battery and connects when I plug the trailer in via a heavy cable direct from the aux.

Rotronics reckon that I am asking too much of the little unit in my car. The guy I spoke to reckons it will burn out. This will leave me with a flat aux battery and no way of charging it. The guy at Rotronics said that if I can put up with that risk he would keep using what I have but when it dies replace it with something more suitable.

That was 4.5 years ago and it is still going fine. In the previous car I killed 3 different isolators and about 6 batteries in about 6 years, and that was without the battery on the camper.

Duncs

Have a look at the Traxide units !!!!! Aussie made and they are good to deal with and also know their stuff !! The only unit to suit the Disco 3, so they know what they are doing !! And the price is very good also ..

Had a Rotronics in the previous vehicle ,well made unit but very $ exy and very specialised as per models for specific charging ,ie: aux only ,aux +1 in c/t ect ect ,, now using a $95 Calibrae from Supercheap ,, works better than expected or the price reflects , keeps main charged and isolated from aux at 12.5v and recharges aux when main back to 13.2v ,,,, 18mths on not a problem ,, should mention that my aux batt is also in para to the 3x batts in c/t so the little $95 "supercrap, you only get what you pay for" job is doing the job just as well as a $1000 "brand name "

Rotronics make a number of charge systems
The INDEPENDANT charging systems from rotronics is totally different from , traxide, redarc, etc etc. These simply protect the main battery from discharging and are very slow to recharge say a flat auxillary ie many hours or running
Independant units charges each battery individually giving full altenator charge to each one not justy charging for the least discharged as happens when normal parralel units link batteries
Independant systems are capable (if the batteries can handle it) of putting in max altenator charge ie 80+ Amps/hr
Of course it separates all three batteries when ignition is off too, incorperates a low voltage cutout on the auxillary and provides winch only mode to protect altenator from overload using aux battery only.
Automatically works out if a trailer bat is connected and brings it into the charge queue. Italso incorperates a float charge mode to help batteries last longer
I bought one and it works better than a similarly pried petrol generator in a camping situation. A short running of the car puts in heaps of power to all three batteries
Expensive' yes but not in the same class as the normal charge isolators
JR

Hi Stan

Have you had a look at the Bi-solator due in May 2007 ?



The Redarcs are great, the supercheap one is a similar unit to the Redarc but the new Redarc has better voltages. Ebay price is better than supercheap for a genuine Redarc.

I have looked at the Traxide units and they are quite good just make sure you know how to wire it up before fitting it.





Regards

Derek.

all our work vehicles fitted with Redarc no trouble
fitted my 2 vehicles Redarc and found satisfactory
was advised by heaps not to buy any electronic or diode type isolator due to voltage drop
Redarc for $100 is good reliable and works.

I had a Rotronics and it melted just after warranty ran out so I tossed in in the bin.

I now have a standard Solenoid (dunno what they cost but it can't be much) with an On/Off switch on the dash. This I got courtesy of Member Roachie who installed it as well(Good on ya, Bill). It was for free BUT I have suffered various indignities via Mr Roach here on the forum since, as a result of this freebie...LOLOL. I am waiting for my turn with Mr Roach...it will come...:-)))

Cheers

I don';t even have a solenoid, just a 40 A relay controlled by a switch on the dash, so when I want to charge the batts I flick the switch and presto !!

And the same feed, when not switched on, and hooked up to the CT , will feed the CT batts to the fridge in the back of the 4x4 via a hella type plug in the cargo area of the 4x4..

Redarc is an isolator that is excellent, and for around $90-120 for the unit the cost is good. The only other things you need is h/duty wire. Made in Adelaide, good reputation, many people have said they last for a long time performing faultlessly.

Redarc also actually recondition some units and sell them for peanuts with a warranty. So you would think if by the off chance a new one did fail then it could be repaired easily.

I fitted mine myself, and I'm no electrician so it's very easy. Without a battery it cost me about $180. That's a lot better than the $5-600 the auto 'leccies quoted me including fitting.

Barnesy

Geezzzzzz I just went to auto electrican to get a new system wired up and he said why do all that. What he put in was an isolater, so basiclly when I fire up the rig it charges the main battery and whens its charged it charges the 2nd battery, when i turn off the vehicle it isolates the rear battery so it cannot drain the main.

All wired up with two extrenal all weather cig sockets and a vehicle cut out switch Total cost including parts was just under $160.00. The only thing I would have liked is a gauge to see what charge is in the batteries.

I figure its simple and I felt was a good price. I try and live by the K.I.S.S. principals.

Worked so far for two years :).

Brian

Statn,

Dual battery systems and 12 electronics in general will always be very hotly debated on forums such as this one. Every one has a system that is great and better than the next persons.

I found when doing extensive research on this that there are basically 2 broad opinions: 1. KISS principle... ie simple isolator/redarc/ piranah/ etc 2. More expensive/complicated systems that have far greater sophistocation in battery charging and discharging.

Both systems will do the job of isolating separate batteries and then charging them up when the engine is running. In my VERY humble opinion it is the charging characteristics that differentiate between the two. Generally, the simple systems will charge the AUX battery, but not as thoroughly and not as quickly as some of the other more sophisticated systems such as the Rotronics.

The difference is that the INDEPENDANT systems do NOT parallel the batteries to charge and voltage sense from both batteries independantly, so as to tailor the alternators charging current to each battery depending upon their needs. The overall effect of this is to charge batteries (AUX particularly) quicker and more thoroughly.

For me, the benefit of this independant system is battery longevity, where the battery will last longer, due to decreased sulphation. As a side not, I also charge my batteries regularly on a quality 240v multi-stage charge when I have access to 240v power at home or caravan parks that I may stop at along the way.

You can do almost unlimited research on this on this net. I spent MONTHS researching and have come up with my own level of compromise which suits me. Others will no doubt have a different opinion and that's fine. It's horses for courses.

Do your own research to your own level of satisfaction and go with what you think suits your needs and budget.

Cheers,

Mark

To answer the original question.....there is no other isolator that will charge each battery individually...they all join the batteries together once main has reached a certain level. If you are good with a welder and spanner, another alt from a common datsun running off your motor will do one better than the redarc...you will have a totally independant second system that charges to battery condition....and cheaper...

thanks to all for your input and i like the idea about the second alt