↓ Advertise on Defender2 ↓

Home > Maintenance & Modifications > Dual battery installation - critique my wiring diagram!
Post Reply  Down to end
Page 2 of 2 <12
Print this entire topic · 
mikeh501



Member Since: 07 Jan 2013
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 1142

United Kingdom 
OK, here goes version 2 Mr. Green


Click image to enlarge

Electrical Setup v2 by mikeh501, on Flickr

* Got rid of the 400a fuses
* Got rid of 1 of the fuse boxes
* Got rid of both bus bars
* Got rid of the fuse box relay and just put another isolator in.
* Changed the 120a ACR for a 500a one.

Question: For all the ancillary loads like spotlamps etc, should i bring the earths back to the fusebox or run it into body ground? I guess it depends on the quality of my chassis earth but assume this is good. Im definately bringing back my winch earth back to the battery, its just the rest im wondering about.
Post #210623 11th Feb 2013 10:42pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
leeds



Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8581

United Kingdom 
mikeh501 wrote:
....
Question: For all the ancillary loads like spotlamps etc, should i bring the earths back to the fusebox or run it into body ground? I guess it depends on the quality of my chassis earth but assume this is good. Im definately bringing back my winch earth back to the battery, its just the rest im wondering about.



Take all the negatives back to the negative busbar in the fusebox with a good negative feed back to the battery.

The small extra cost in the cable could save a lpt of head scratching if there is any problem with chassis earth.




Brendan
Post #210628 11th Feb 2013 10:50pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Luismi



Member Since: 04 Nov 2010
Location: Cotswolds
Posts: 178

Spain 2004 Defender 110 Td5 SW Alpine White
Terrific.

Now installation time Thumbs Up
Post #210640 11th Feb 2013 11:37pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Christian



Member Since: 23 Feb 2013
Location: Doha
Posts: 66

Qatar 2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 SW Java Black
Hi Mike,

I' m quite interested in building a similar setup than yours.
Any photos of what you finally installed ?

Your Flickr photos are no longer accessible, if you don' t mind reviving them Thumbs Up

Thanks ! Chris
Post #280716 9th Nov 2013 8:13am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
mikeh501



Member Since: 07 Jan 2013
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 1142

United Kingdom 
Hi,

I installed it as per the picture above, which i can see, so not sure whats happened. This one.


Electrical Setup v2 by mikeh501, on Flickr

The only change is that i ended up using Optima Bluetop batteries instead of the numax as i couldnt get those to fit. Expensive mistake!

Ive got some images of the build, but none of the final product, but i can tell you that its working extremely well and has been battle tested with some big winch pulls out of the muddy stuff Smile

This was after id stripped it out.

2013-04-01 15.02.19 by mikeh501, on Flickr

I then painted the entire interior with compressor and single pack.
[/url]
[/url]

Click image to enlarge
[/url]

Click image to enlarge
[/url]

Coming together. The bluesea in place and holes made, grommets added. All the major wiring in place ready for final crimping/soldering/heatshrinking etc.
[/url]

happy to answer any questions etc.
Post #280770 9th Nov 2013 2:33pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Christian



Member Since: 23 Feb 2013
Location: Doha
Posts: 66

Qatar 2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 SW Java Black
Outstanding, thanks a lot for this !

I fancy your isolators, though I'm looking for something that would fit in/on the cubby box... I wish I could find 300A rated relays so I could operate it remotely Mr. Green Unfortunately, this translates into three phase contactors... Chris
Post #280964 10th Nov 2013 1:19pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
mikeh501



Member Since: 07 Jan 2013
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 1142

United Kingdom 
no problem. the isolators are from bluesea. i removed my centre seat and replaced with a cubby box so the isolators can be easily reached from the drivers seat and it means they cant accidently be turned.
Post #281059 10th Nov 2013 8:10pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Christian



Member Since: 23 Feb 2013
Location: Doha
Posts: 66

Qatar 2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 SW Java Black
Alright, quick question here, before I start my own setup.

As I probably won't get easily a Bluesea ACR here (or not at the right price anyway), I'm looking for an alternative which in my opinion is a simple undervoltage relay that triggers a higher rating relay.

My only concern is the way the voltage is monitored.

To ensure the alternator has charged the first battery enough, I wait until it reads 13.5 volts on its poles before combining. And then as soon as it drops under 12.35 for more than 10 seconds (meaning the alternator is not effective anymore while loads are present), I isolate the two batteries. Simple.

But if we assume the aux battery is low before charging it (which it usually is after a night feeding a fridge, for instance), when the relay will combine the batteries, the voltage read on the sensor will be the average of the two.

Isn't there a risk that it makes the relay to open again, thinking the alternator is not working ?

The bluesea ACR claims it has a dual sensor, but as soon as you combine both batteries, there is no way to read each battery's voltage,unless there is a diode somewhere... Question

Am I being paranoid or do I just miss the point ? Chris
Post #282068 14th Nov 2013 7:15am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
mikeh501



Member Since: 07 Jan 2013
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 1142

United Kingdom 
I'm not really sure, but I chose the blue sea controller rather than a cheaper version because of similar concerns. My concern was that in a situation where one battery was at a lower voltage than the other it could cause some large inrush currents especially when winching. These currents could easily be more than 100amps which was the typical size of other voltage sensitive relays I found online. Basically I just bit the bullet and got the proper kit. My blue sea asr is rated for peaks of 2500amp. The blue sea also has the convenience of a dash mounted indicator and switch to for manually separate/combine or automatic.
Post #282070 14th Nov 2013 7:43am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
BigRuss



Member Since: 15 May 2010
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 2785

United Kingdom 2010 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Santorini Black
I would have a chat with Tim at mobile centre, I know he has posted headlights to Azerbaijan in the past Thumbs Up Russell
2011MY 110 XS USW Black
Post #282071 14th Nov 2013 8:03am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Send e-mail Reply with quote
couplands



Member Since: 31 Aug 2011
Location: Peak District & Cornwall
Posts: 1826

United Kingdom 2001 Defender 90 Td5 HT Oslo Blue
Mikeh501, any chance you can reinstate the photos..?

Cheers

Simon
Post #368448 31st Oct 2014 8:45am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
mikeh501



Member Since: 07 Jan 2013
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 1142

United Kingdom 
yeah sure. dont know what happened, but ill see if i can upload again.
Post #368515 31st Oct 2014 5:01pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
couplands



Member Since: 31 Aug 2011
Location: Peak District & Cornwall
Posts: 1826

United Kingdom 2001 Defender 90 Td5 HT Oslo Blue
^^^^ cheers... Thumbs Up
Post #368521 31st Oct 2014 5:30pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
pannawonica



Member Since: 21 Nov 2010
Location: Clackline Western Australia
Posts: 568

Australia 
[quote="mikeh501"]I'm not really sure, but I chose the blue sea controller rather than a cheaper version because of similar concerns. My concern was that in a situation where one battery was at a lower voltage than the other it could cause some large inrush currents especially when winching. These currents could easily be more than 100amps which was the typical size of other voltage sensitive relays I found online. Basically I just bit the bullet and got the proper kit. My blue sea asr is rated for peaks of 2500amp. The blue sea also has the convenience of a dash mounted indicator and switch to for manually separate/combine or automatic.[/quote]

I had they same thoughts, in addition if I ever get an electric winch it will not need upgrading. Very Happy
So I ordered up the same one from the Mobilecentre.
Post #368658 1st Nov 2014 2:27am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
couplands



Member Since: 31 Aug 2011
Location: Peak District & Cornwall
Posts: 1826

United Kingdom 2001 Defender 90 Td5 HT Oslo Blue
mikeh501 wrote:
yeah sure. dont know what happened, but ill see if i can upload again.


I think the pictures have disappeared from your Flickr account, so would need restoring there..?

Cheers

Simon
Post #368664 1st Nov 2014 6:57am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Post Reply
Post Reply  Back to top
Page 2 of 2 <12
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