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Benefits of having a second battery?

Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 10:59 pm
by 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

Re: Benefits of having a second battery?

Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 11:13 pm
by ScottieJ
Do you have a winch? If not no need really it's just added weight.

Re: Benefits of having a second battery?

Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 11:16 pm
by SuzukiSJ410VH
Yes i have a winch mate

Re: Benefits of having a second battery?

Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 11:21 pm
by 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 :lol:

Re: Benefits of having a second battery?

Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 11:39 pm
by SuzukiSJ410VH
Could you explain the split charge in depth please tom

Re: Benefits of having a second battery?

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 8:09 am
by 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 :lol:

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 :lol:

Re: Benefits of having a second battery?

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 10:22 am
by 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 :D

Re: Benefits of having a second battery?

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 10:57 am
by 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)

Re: Benefits of having a second battery?

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 11:45 am
by Highlander
Camping in your SJ? :D

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! :hahaha:

Image

Re: Benefits of having a second battery?

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 5:41 pm
by 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 :shock: :shock:

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