Dual Batteries

I know you wanted Southern but the ring road is a good run,

793 Nepean Highway
Brighton VIC 3186
Tel: (03) 9557 1888

Might be better

Thanks I will give them a try and it is a new Prado I need them fitted too

Regards

TD

T.D.,

I enquired about a dual battery at Brighton electrical and they recommended a simple solenoid from what i have read on this forum a solenoid is not the best option.

There number is 9570 2844

Regards

Stephen

Stephen,

I have the solenoid and its been in for about 18 months, runs fridge, fluro no worries, just about to get them to run a cable to the rear for an anderson plug to charge battery in jayco.

Cheers

Graeme

But what it doesn't do is protect the batteries from each other.

All a simple solenoid does is connect the two batteries together in parallel and therefore a fault in one battery (or circuit) will drain power from the other one.

Me, I want the confidence to know that I can still start the Jack when I'm 200km from nowhere. I justified a smart controller just on that basis.

Sandman
I have had a solenoid system in the old Patrol for five years and no problems. The idea is that the solenoid isolates the start batery from the second one to prevent it being drained. Simple but effective

Regards

TD

TD,

The solenoid only separates the batteries when it is turned off.

Is it manually operated via a toggle switch?

When you turn it on, both batteries will be connected to each other all the time. Should one battery short circuit, or go open circuit, or become drained when the fridge is left on too long, the result will be two flat batteries. Then you are stuffed.

A "smart" dual battery controller will keep the two batteries electrically isolated from each other so that a fault in one battery will have no adverse effect on the other. You have the ability to swap the batteries over, so you will always be able to start the vehicle to get you out of trouble.

It's your choice mate. But for me, the investment in a quality Isolator gives me peace of mind.