↓ Advertise on Defender2 ↓

Home > Modifications & Maintenance (L663) > Anyone fitted a split charge dual battery
Post Reply  Down to end
Page 2 of 5 <12345>
Print this entire topic · 
JackW



Member Since: 09 Jan 2017
Location: Roswell, Georgia
Posts: 115
United States 1998 Defender 90 300 Tdi SW Coniston Green

Click image to enlarge
Progress for the day - got the frame for the floor of the compartment welded together and started building the battery box - which has to be recessed in the final floor. I'm using 1/2" Baltic birch plywood for the floor attached with rivnuts in the metal frame. I had to reposition a couple wiring harnesses but everything is looking good so far. Once I have the floor complete I will start figuring out where to position the rest of the electrical components and create some storage compartments for the other stuff that will be stored under the rear floor.
Post #1012366 23rd Oct 2023 9:49pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Moo



Member Since: 01 Oct 2021
Location: UK
Posts: 1398
Ukraine 
Looking good. Thumbs Up Eiger Grey MY23 D250 SE with bits. Known as Noddy.
Post #1012368 23rd Oct 2023 10:04pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
JackW



Member Since: 09 Jan 2017
Location: Roswell, Georgia
Posts: 115
United States 1998 Defender 90 300 Tdi SW Coniston Green

Click image to enlarge


Click image to enlarge

A little more progress - battery mount completed, floor panels cut, pieces for the upper cage support cut. Need to get about six more feet of 3/4" square steel tubing and weld some more of the frame together.



Click image to enlarge

Big AGM battery - weighs 67 pounds.


Click image to enlarge
Post #1012801 26th Oct 2023 11:17pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Moo



Member Since: 01 Oct 2021
Location: UK
Posts: 1398
Ukraine 
That's proper engineering!

Any reason you didn't go for a lithium battery. It's much lighter? Eiger Grey MY23 D250 SE with bits. Known as Noddy.
Post #1012810 27th Oct 2023 7:34am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
JackW



Member Since: 09 Jan 2017
Location: Roswell, Georgia
Posts: 115
United States 1998 Defender 90 300 Tdi SW Coniston Green
Lithium was too expensive and this battery will also be used to power the winch through the Redarc relay. I'm not sure lithium batteries are suitable for that kind of load.
Post #1012841 27th Oct 2023 12:10pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Moo



Member Since: 01 Oct 2021
Location: UK
Posts: 1398
Ukraine 
My current thinking is to put a dual purpose battery under the bonnet (hood) linked to a split charge and Lensun solar panel on the bonnet through MPPT controller. I then plan to fit a 200ah lithium battery in the rear via a DC-DC charger from the main battery.

With this is I will have two cranking batteries and a leisure battery to power everything. It'll be charged either with the engine or solar if camped for a while. It should give me enough to deal with most situations. I might also get a power bank with solar when we need light and power away from the car. Eiger Grey MY23 D250 SE with bits. Known as Noddy.
Post #1012865 27th Oct 2023 2:36pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Lightwater



Member Since: 28 Jun 2020
Location: Sydney NB
Posts: 72
Australia 
Don't put a battery in the engine bay unless it can be isolated from heat & well ventilated, otherwise it will have a short life. Visitor - Freelander owner
Post #1012931 28th Oct 2023 3:59am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Moo



Member Since: 01 Oct 2021
Location: UK
Posts: 1398
Ukraine 
It should be fine. I was going to put it in the same place as this. Go to 7.16 in the video.

&t=196s

I've run both D3 and D4 with second batteries in the engine bay and they've been fine. Thumbs Up Eiger Grey MY23 D250 SE with bits. Known as Noddy.
Post #1012962 28th Oct 2023 10:51am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
aajr



Member Since: 18 Dec 2022
Location: San Diego
Posts: 32
United States 
JackW wrote:

Click image to enlarge
Progress for the day - got the frame for the floor of the compartment welded together and started building the battery box - which has to be recessed in the final floor. I'm using 1/2" Baltic birch plywood for the floor attached with rivnuts in the metal frame. I had to reposition a couple wiring harnesses but everything is looking good so far. Once I have the floor complete I will start figuring out where to position the rest of the electrical components and create some storage compartments for the other stuff that will be stored under the rear floor.


Nicely done. I've been planning using this area for a second battery, but I might change what I had in mind for the platform to something similar to what you have done. Thank you for posting, interested in seeing more.
Post #1013032 28th Oct 2023 10:13pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
JackW



Member Since: 09 Jan 2017
Location: Roswell, Georgia
Posts: 115
United States 1998 Defender 90 300 Tdi SW Coniston Green
I'm adding some upper framework to the platform as well to have separate compartments for the stuff I want to carry under the rear floor like recovery gear, my Viair portable air pump, an old school Rover bottle jack in addition to the stock scissor jack and a first aid kit. The frame will also be where mount the Redarc components and the fuses - stay tuned as it will be a combination of metal working and woodworking that is probably way more complicated than it needs to be. I have a Land Rover event next weekend to prepare for so it may be a few days before I can make any progress reports but I'll keep it updated as it comes together. Its got to look cool as well as be functional.
Post #1013038 29th Oct 2023 2:58am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
JackW



Member Since: 09 Jan 2017
Location: Roswell, Georgia
Posts: 115
United States 1998 Defender 90 300 Tdi SW Coniston Green

Click image to enlarge

Got the frame all welded up today - need to paint it and skin it wit the 1/2" Baltic birch plywood. It's divided into three sections and has a ledge for an old Range Rover bottle jack. The Redarc bits will mount to the outside of the frame leaving the interior for a battery compartment, a space for the Viair compressor kit and the factory scissor jack and a recovery strap
Post #1013430 31st Oct 2023 8:33pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Moo



Member Since: 01 Oct 2021
Location: UK
Posts: 1398
Ukraine 
That really is coming together nicely Thumbs Up

I don't suppose you have any drawings and dimensions etc you'd be willing to share would you? 🙏 Eiger Grey MY23 D250 SE with bits. Known as Noddy.
Post #1013432 31st Oct 2023 8:47pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
JackW



Member Since: 09 Jan 2017
Location: Roswell, Georgia
Posts: 115
United States 1998 Defender 90 300 Tdi SW Coniston Green
Be glad to once I get it all assembled - its still very much a figure it out as I go along work in progress. So far I've used about 22' of thin wall 3/4" square steel tubing. I have a friend who is a much better welder than I am. We've spent about 3-1/2 hours welding this thing together - hope it fits.. I'll find out tomorrow. A reminder - my car is a P300 with none of the MHEV system back in the underfloor area.
Post #1013440 31st Oct 2023 10:17pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Moo



Member Since: 01 Oct 2021
Location: UK
Posts: 1398
Ukraine 
Thanks. I forgot you had a P300 but I'm sure there will be enough similarities.

Fingers crossed it all fits. Thumbs Up Eiger Grey MY23 D250 SE with bits. Known as Noddy.
Post #1013446 1st Nov 2023 12:40am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
aajr



Member Since: 18 Dec 2022
Location: San Diego
Posts: 32
United States 
JackW wrote:

Got the frame all welded up today - need to paint it and skin it wit the 1/2" Baltic birch plywood. It's divided into three sections and has a ledge for an old Range Rover bottle jack. The Redarc bits will mount to the outside of the frame leaving the interior for a battery compartment, a space for the Viair compressor kit and the factory scissor jack and a recovery strap


Excellent work. Interested in seeing where exactly you are going to put the Redarc stuff. I have mocked up a skeleton, and I'm not sure how you are able to get as low in the back as you are without interfering with the wiring harness at the back of the trunk and the control module that sits in front of the air compressor for the air bags, specially if you are trying to keep your platform level. I know you said you did some slight rerouting of the wiring harness, but even doing that I cannot get that low without rubbing the harness.

JackW wrote:
We've spent about 3-1/2 hours welding this thing together - hope it fits.. I'll find out tomorrow. A reminder - my car is a P300 with none of the MHEV system back in the underfloor area.


Doesn't seem like too much time welding at all. The V8's (which is what I have) have the same set up back there, which is why I am very interested in what you are doing. On the V8, the vertical spacing decreases from the front to the back (it slopes towards the back with respect to where the removable floor sits) by something like 1/2 inch. Is that the same for the P300?
Post #1013448 1st Nov 2023 2:03am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Post Reply  Back to top
Page 2 of 5 <12345>
All times are GMT

Jump to  
<  Previous Topic | Next Topic >
Posting Rules
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum



Site Copyright © 2006-2024 Futuranet Ltd & Martin Lewis
DEFENDER2.NET RSS Feed - All Forums