Tuesday, Nov 23, 2010 at 11:50
Geofff
What series Prado do you have. I had a RAPS and Aux set up in previous 90 and now doing same in my 120. I gather you are setting up an Aux battery to connect your accessories to, and ultimately protect your starter battery. Are you planning on leaving the AUX Battery in battery box permanently in the back of Prado, or removing it? Your answers may change my thinking below. Any reason you dont put Aux under bonnet?
From what you have said to date, I think you would:
Connect Aux AGM Batt to the Starter Battery via an Isolator using correct cable size.
Connect RAPS to the AUX Battery. You could permanently mount RAPS either on the Prado or the Battery Box itself. Will depend on what you are doing with the box - leaving in or taking it out between uses.
Connect Waeco to the RAPS (Remove red tip and use the LHS Hella fitting)
However if you dont use an electronic isolator between the Main and Aux Batteries and use a solenoid with manual switching to charge the Aux, you may encounter a problem where you can only use the RAPS when Aux is switched to charge.
The other option you have because the cable supplied with the RAPS is long enough is to:
Connect AUX in Battery Box to Main Starter via Isolator
Mount AUX in rear of Prado
Mount RAPS unit to Battery Box and cut and use short length of supplied RAPS cable when connecting RAPS to AUX, THEN
Use remainder of RAPS cable, run it along interior of car under sills etc on LHS and connect it to MAIN Starter battery. Terminate it in rear of Prado with insulated connectors for protection when not in use. Then if the Aux Battery Box is removed you can simply remove the short cables from the RAPS that run from AUX and then connect the RAPS to the longer set from the Main Starter. Best of both worlds. Or if thats too much effort, connect a Hella fitting to the battery box, connect the RAPS to Starter and you will have two fittings and runs to use. I would make the RAPS removable and interchange it as it simply slides off bracket and 2 small screws are all that you have to remove and refit in other location. By doing this you dont even need to buy anything extra, you are just using what you have and not wasting the excess length of cable from the RAPS you will have unless you use that to connect the isolator to the AUX. You have a few options here.
If you decide on connecting the RAPS to the AUX that you get a sparkie to fit in rear of car, you could save some $$ and fit RAPS yourself using the supplied info from RAPS and the materials it comes with. Most you will have to do is run the cable , mount the sockets and connect the cables and fit the fuse. They are simple to install if you have the original complete setup.
Forsome ideas have a look at:
http://www.exploroz.com/Forum/Topic/82567/Anderson_plug_from_alternator.aspx?p=%2fForum%2fDefault.aspx
and also
http://www.sidewinder.com.au/page165.html - if you buy a box like this you can mount RAPS off Starter and use the fittings on the Batt Box.. This site also has wiring diagrams for you for what you wat to do. If you use their isolator (or some others) you can setup a connection to jump start your Prado off the Aux rather than have it sitting in the back and a flat starter under the bonnet. Look at their electronic battery isolator and monitor at the above sidewinder site for ideas. Derek may even reply to your question here??
Sorry but Insert Link function wasnt working when i did this reply, cheers
AnswerID:
436690
Follow Up By: PradOz - Tuesday, Nov 23, 2010 at 12:16
Tuesday, Nov 23, 2010 at 12:16
some more info worth reading
dual battery systems
(now i think the Insert Link function is working, hmmm)
FollowupID:
708091
Follow Up By: Geofff - Tuesday, Nov 23, 2010 at 20:21
Tuesday, Nov 23, 2010 at 20:21
Sorry, I have a 2005 Prado - there doesn't look like a lot of room under the bonnet.
I will be using the battery box when we go around Australia next year but it will probably only get used with the fridge where we can't take the van e.g.
Gibb River Road, etc.
I have an Anderson Plug on the back of the Prado and it is connected to main battery via a Redarc isolator. We only use it when towing van. When I need to use fridge, the Anderson plug will be free for use wsith the fridge!!
FollowupID:
708138
Follow Up By: PradOz - Tuesday, Nov 23, 2010 at 21:54
Tuesday, Nov 23, 2010 at 21:54
geofff
sign yourself up to pradopoint.com and search dual battery installs for your series, ie 120 series. there are plenty of photos from people that have done it already so the hard work is done for you. you just need to copy to suit yourself, and there are plenty of experienced guys and gals there to answer your questions. 2 of the best sites on the net - EO and PP
Regardless if you have a diesel or petrol you can fit another battery under the bonnet. One location is behind the drivers headlight other is in front of the firewall on passenger side. You do need to move some stuff but its not hard if you put your mind to it and use
places like here and PP to fine tune things. They have advantages and disadvantages to both locations so weigh them up to suit yourself. For me, i have a petrol and am putting a large battery behind headlight. I got my tray in, just waiting for my isolator and some bits and pieces to be delivered from Derek at ABR that I just bought - cheers
FollowupID:
708154