Benefits of having a second battery?

[SuzukiSJ410VH]

Hey guys, i was thinking of maybe putting a second battery in my sj. I was just wondering if anyone could advise/tell me the pros n cons etc of fitting a second battery.

Thanks guys.

Adam

[ScottieJ]

Do you have a winch? If not no need really it's just added weight.

[SuzukiSJ410VH]

Yes i have a winch mate

[turbo-tom]

i run/use too aswell run to batterys one just for the winch and few spot lights and the other battery to start it etc and all the other bits ,

i would also say out some sort of split charge in aswell likei have

[SuzukiSJ410VH]

Could you explain the split charge in depth please tom

[turbo-tom]

yeah , you by cheap you buy twice , mine had one of those split charge relays in what the previous owner put it and other then him wiring it up backwards and getting his positives and negatives colours around the wrong way it didnt really work but it was tempramental to say the least

theres abit about it one here:
http://www.landroverweb.com/landrover/p ... and-relay/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.x-eng.co.uk/X-Charge.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

but i remember when i watched mark evans build is bland rover (4x4 is born) , he used some tricked up charging thing , but i cant remember the name of it , i will try and find out when i get home and have a look on his dvd

[Highlander]

I run two batteries but without any split charger, just connected in parallel, although I have a manual isolator switch between them, which i connect after starting to top up battery 2, which runs the winch and also cuts off battery 1 while winching, although I can run them both together if needed.

Pros.... more amps available for longer when winching, if you flatten both batteries then you really are stuck

Allows you to have longer and more frequent winching between charge up times

If you leave the lights on then you still have battery 2 to start from

Cons..... can't think of much, one dud battery will kill the other good one..

extra weight isnt really an issue

Two batteries are more expensive than one

[justaddmud]

I must admit, i have thought about a 2nd leasure battery type affair, done the same way as highlander mentioned, so you can isolate the mains staring battery and leave things like lights stereos invertors on without fear of being stranded (i like camping alot)

[Highlander]

Camping in your SJ?

I have the same set up in a Transit for a leisure battery (not got a winch on it yet) , works very well with the manual switch as long as you remember to use it!

[turbo-tom]

this is the bit of trick kit i was on about , i saw it thought it looked good , but i couldnt belive the price

http://www.4x4overlander.com/products/e ... nt-system/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;