Battery's N70ZZ4WD is an Ultra Hi Performance
Submitted: Thursday, Aug 13, 2009 at 22:45
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Richard Kovac
The Troopy has done another battery, Starter battery "Century N70ZZ4WD is an Ultra Hi Performance" new on the 31/03/2008, two years warranty so will be taking it back.
Had it on charge all day and checked it out tonight, first cell next to Neg post dead, hydrometer will not even float off the bottom,
The Troopy doesn't get used as a daily, gets a 480 km round trip every two weeks and then some small trips plus the 1 to 2 major trips a year (still doing around 25000 km / year.
this will have to be the 3th one in 5.5 - 6 years more if you add the Aux. battery (I now have a solar panel to keep that charged over the 2 weeks.
I don't seem to have a good run with battery's with the Troopy.
the problems with the Aux battery where all
mine not looking after them. but the starter should be OK.
Any advice?
Cheers
Richard
Reply By: Troopy(SA) - Thursday, Aug 13, 2009 at 23:18
Thursday, Aug 13, 2009 at 23:18
What about a trickle charger to keep the battery charged when you are not using the Troopy ?
AnswerID:
378916
Follow Up By: Richard Kovac - Thursday, Aug 13, 2009 at 23:30
Thursday, Aug 13, 2009 at 23:30
I have a problem with the aux battery draining over the 2 weeks as the NavNet Computer drains it so if I start the fridge before we go out the 11.5 volt cut out will cut the fridge out, so I but a 11 watt solar panel to fix that problem,
I may have to do it to the main as
well, the solar panel must not have the power to reverse open the smart solenoid and charge the main battery.
Thanks
Richard
FollowupID:
646303
Follow Up By: Stu & "Bob" - Friday, Aug 14, 2009 at 08:13
Friday, Aug 14, 2009 at 08:13
Richard,
It sounnds like that you will need a deep cycle battery as you aux rather than a cranking battery. Cranking batteries don't like being drained down that far before being charged.
My .02
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Richard Kovac - Friday, Aug 14, 2009 at 14:23
Friday, Aug 14, 2009 at 14:23
Stu & Bob
Thanks
I have fixed the problems with the Aux battery with using the solar panal to trickle charge it over the 2 weeks, it will stay at or above 13 volts.
Richard
FollowupID:
646363
Follow Up By: oldtrack123 - Friday, Aug 14, 2009 at 20:17
Friday, Aug 14, 2009 at 20:17
Hi Richard
" may have to do it to the main as
well, the solar panel must not have the power to reverse open the smart solenoid and charge the main battery"
No it will not that is not the way they are designed to work.
FollowupID:
646419
Follow Up By: Richard Kovac - Friday, Aug 14, 2009 at 20:32
Friday, Aug 14, 2009 at 20:32
oldtrack thanks
But it does as i said above/below and it was confirmed on the post 36808, I'm no expert on this matter so I will only go by what I've been tolled and seen.
If it was not designed to do it I will get it check out by an auto sparky.
hope that sounds right.
Cheers
Richard
FollowupID:
646423
Reply By: Member - Hughesy (NSW) - Friday, Aug 14, 2009 at 08:25
Friday, Aug 14, 2009 at 08:25
Hi Richard,
My cruiser only gets used for trips away and might get used for 200km a month on average. I used to have the same problem with starter batteries only lasting 12-18months and many a jump start to use the vehicle. Now I bought a charger and leave it connected in the shed on trickle charge all the time. It keeps the main and aux charged and I shouldn't have the issue your having anymore.
Either buy a charger if your vehicle is near a powerpoint or upgrade your solar so it keeps both batteries topped up.
AnswerID:
378937
Follow Up By: Richard Kovac - Friday, Aug 14, 2009 at 14:27
Friday, Aug 14, 2009 at 14:27
Hughesy thanks
I may have to look into it, the battery's always seem to drop a cell, I will have to do some research into why.
I might have to look into a charger
Cheers
Richard
FollowupID:
646365
Reply By: Member - Allan B (QLD) - Friday, Aug 14, 2009 at 09:00
Friday, Aug 14, 2009 at 09:00
Hi Richard,
The solar panel voltage possibly does not rise high enough to reverse-operate the solenoid (if it will reverse-operate at all) but even an 11 watt panel should be capable of keeping both batteries on float. In any case, the solenoid itself draws significant power when pulled-in so best that it does not operate.
Try putting a jumper between the two batteries whilst on standby (Can be light-duty cable) and monitor the terminal voltage to ensure that the solar panel is doing the job.
My Troopy stands idle for weeks at a time and I have it on a Ctek on float with the batteries jumpered together. No problems. Though I may get a small solar panel instead of running the Ctek all the time. (Think green LOL)
AnswerID:
378943
Follow Up By: Richard Kovac - Friday, Aug 14, 2009 at 15:06
Friday, Aug 14, 2009 at 15:06
Allan thanks
"The solar panel voltage possibly does not rise high enough to reverse-operate the solenoid (if it will reverse-operate at all)"
I know that the solenoid will do it as the first time I parked at a caravan
park and pluged the van into 240 volts I'm a newbe to vaning.
Istarted to wonder about it and chcked it out (in the rain) you can read my qusetion and the replys on post 36808
36808
It would charge all my batterys.
I will look into the wire / switch between the batterys to charge them using the solar panel, the panel come with us on trips, for the just in case time.
Cheers
Richard
FollowupID:
646367
Follow Up By: oldtrack123 - Friday, Aug 14, 2009 at 20:31
Friday, Aug 14, 2009 at 20:31
Hi Richard
Steve's post is correct one in that thread.
If the dbr is properly connected & depending on type it will get it's operating power either via ignition switch when on or If voltage sensing type from crank bat when voltage is a little over 13.2v .
The charger cannot charge back thru the dbr.
FollowupID:
646422
Follow Up By: Richard Kovac - Friday, Aug 14, 2009 at 22:25
Friday, Aug 14, 2009 at 22:25
Thanks oldtrack
i will do some more check and get some more info on it. Then take it to an Auto Sparky..
Regards
Richard
FollowupID:
646453
Follow Up By: Richard Kovac - Sunday, Aug 30, 2009 at 19:28
Sunday, Aug 30, 2009 at 19:28
oldtrack123
Just found the ARB Bulletin No. 83
and it says it will do as I say.
Image Could Not Be Found
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: oldtrack123 - Sunday, Aug 30, 2009 at 21:40
Sunday, Aug 30, 2009 at 21:40
Hi Richard
Unfortunately your post of bulletin is not readable
I have tried googgle but can not find it.
ARB site really says nothing.
But I still believe you should be able to isolate aux battery before it flattens the main. otherwise there is no point in having an isolator.
Some isolators have a switch for selecting differant operating methods:-.
[a]Both batts permanently in parallel via DBR operation, independent of main batt voltage,
[b]Aux connected after main has reached predetermined voltage.
[c]Ignition control connects DBR . for operation [a] & [b] & with engine "off" DBR is not functional
Some also keep batts parallelled until main bat voltage falls to a predetermined level usually about 12.5 < 12.6v But certainly should not stay in below that voltage
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Richard Kovac - Sunday, Aug 30, 2009 at 22:29
Sunday, Aug 30, 2009 at 22:29
Oldtrack.
Yes it does what you say but if the main is fully charged above 12.6 volts, the main and Aux will stay connected, meaning if I drive to a caravan
park, pull up plug the van into the 240 volt , the charger will charge all three battery's as it did when I was in
Norseman, I think (fingers crossed).
It may work with the solar panel but I have never tested it
Cheers
Richard
FollowupID:
648612
Follow Up By: oldtrack123 - Monday, Aug 31, 2009 at 22:13
Monday, Aug 31, 2009 at 22:13
Hi Richard
Now I see what you meant, yes If @ the time of connecting the mains charger the tug bat is above the drop out point that will happen.
If you do not wish for it to happen just wait till the voltage has dropped down to the drop out point before connecting the charger.
You should also be able to have the ARB wired so it is ignition switch controlled if you prefer that method
It could work with the solar if you again got it connected before the ARB dropped out but after the 1st night you would have to start the engine to get voltage high enough for the ARB to close,& chargethe tug bat
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Richard Kovac - Monday, Aug 31, 2009 at 22:41
Monday, Aug 31, 2009 at 22:41
Thanks oldtrack
I will look into it. will be laid up for a couple of weeks so will look at it then
Cheers
Richard
FollowupID:
648810
Reply By: Camoco - Friday, Aug 14, 2009 at 10:36
Friday, Aug 14, 2009 at 10:36
I have only just replaced my N70ZZL thinking that at 7 years of age it must be the problem. My issue was a slow starter.
I turns out that the battery was fine and the starter needed a strip and clean.
At 380K that's the first look inside the starter.
The old battery is now being used elsewhere but the new battery has 780CCA whereas the old one was 550CCA.
I opted again for a wet cell maintenance battery as the old one served me so
well.
I am not sure how long the starter can take such a quick spin up in the mornings but only time will tell.
Cheers Cam
AnswerID:
378955
Follow Up By: Richard Kovac - Friday, Aug 14, 2009 at 15:14
Friday, Aug 14, 2009 at 15:14
Cam thanks
I'm not sure why I'm not having much luck with my battery's. The Aux battery's some of them (most) where my fault, not looking after them. But the starter is bad, even the original battery only lasted 2 and a bit years.
Cheers
Richard
FollowupID:
646368
Reply By: Von Helga - Friday, Aug 14, 2009 at 15:53
Friday, Aug 14, 2009 at 15:53
Richard,
Shhh
Just our secret, till you take the battery back to the manufacturer.
Trickle charge the new one.
Trevor
AnswerID:
378991
Follow Up By: Richard Kovac - Friday, Aug 14, 2009 at 17:31
Friday, Aug 14, 2009 at 17:31
Trevor thanks
I just got a new battery under warranty no questions asked,
She will be going on a 500 km run over the weekend so it will be fully charged
Regrads
Richard
FollowupID:
646389
Reply By: macy - Friday, Aug 14, 2009 at 19:58
Friday, Aug 14, 2009 at 19:58
Richard
The troopys and tray backs batt gets the heat from the fan/radiator blown straight at it, so it runs very hot, the wagons have their batts insulated. I have been told that the heat reduces the life of the batt and have insulated ours, so far so good.
Mac
AnswerID:
379019
Follow Up By: Richard Kovac - Friday, Aug 14, 2009 at 20:05
Friday, Aug 14, 2009 at 20:05
Mac Thanks
That makes sense
might look at adjusting the battery tray and box it in a bit.
the liquid always starts to turn a black sticky oily look.
Cheers
Richard
FollowupID:
646416
Reply By: Hairy (NT) - Saturday, Aug 15, 2009 at 00:45
Saturday, Aug 15, 2009 at 00:45
This post has been read by the moderation team and has been moderated due to a breach of The Personal Attacks Rule 
.
Forum Moderation Team
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Member - Roachie (SA) - Monday, Aug 31, 2009 at 23:21
Monday, Aug 31, 2009 at 23:21
G'day Richard,
I only use my Patrol for trips too, so it sits for lengthy periods. I have 3 batteries on board....2 hooked permanently for "normal" duties plus a 120a/h AGM for fridge etc.
I have mounted a 15 amp 3 stage smart charger inside the canopy and have a caravan type flap/input on the back of the canopy, leading to a double power point. The 240 is always hooked up to the input. The fridge is also plugged into the double power point, so I always have fully charged batteries and the fridge doesn't drain the batts either.
The smart charger has 2 separate circuits available, so I have one circuit wired up to the AGM and the other is wired to the dual starter batts.
Works VERY
well (touch wood)... haha
Cheers
Roachie
AnswerID:
381376
Follow Up By: Richard Kovac - Tuesday, Sep 01, 2009 at 00:14
Tuesday, Sep 01, 2009 at 00:14
Thanks Roachie
I may have to look into the smart charger, to keep the battery's up. I have a van on my country property (LOL) and the battery is on charge all the time and when tested it OK after 3 years fullriver or something.
The Troopy wont be going anywhere for a while as I'm of tomorrow to get a new hip... :-((
So I will keep an eye on her to see how she handle's it
Cheers
Richard
PS. if this doesn't make sense I'm having my last dinner .. hic..
FollowupID:
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