Dual batteries in WJ I6 - help

[MRGC]

Originally Posted by Roachy

Basically the set up is the same as Billsta (it was done by Mick Collins). I think from memory that the setup was about $1200 (could be wrong here as it was a few years ago) but that included the batteries (which are about $300-400 - they are Oddessy 1000's) and some extra wiring work as I had them run some high amp wiring and plugs through to the back of the car for my fridge and other stuff from the aux battery. I wil post some pic's when I get the chance (I think that I may have posted some pic's when this topic came up before). The whole set up works extremely well and I have had no problems with it at all. This is considering I was going through the Jeep spec batteries every 12 to 18 months and since putting in the dual batteries I have hadn't had to do a thing - well worth the money.

Thanx roachy pics would be great, you mentioned high amp plug to the back of the car didnt you have one already standard in the boot.

[Roachy]

Originally Posted by MRGC

Thanx roachy pics would be great, you mentioned high amp plug to the back of the car didnt you have one already standard in the boot.

There is one already in the back but it runs off the primary battery. The ones I got put in were 'hella' type plugs (the plugs are less likely to fall out) with one on each side instead of the cigarette type plug that is already there. I now have 3 outlets in the back -one wired to the primary battery (the original plug) and 2x wired to the aux battery.

[Roachy]

Here is some pics of my dual battery set up.

[MRGC]

thanx roachy will be sourcing the cheapest oddyssey batteries then call mick to instal.

One thing I want to ask, I thought with the dual battery setup the smart solenoid automatically isolates the primary battery when the car is switched off therefore any electrics used in the car will be drawn from the aux battery which means no need for an extra socket in the back for the fridge, please correct me if Im wrong.

[Roachy]

Originally Posted by MRGC

thanx roachy will be sourcing the cheapest oddyssey batteries then call mick to instal.

One thing I want to ask, I thought with the dual battery setup the smart solenoid automatically isolates the primary battery when the car is switched off therefore any electrics used in the car will be drawn from the aux battery which means no need for an extra socket in the back for the fridge, please correct me if Im wrong.

The other person to talk to is probably Troy over at Jeepers HQ/ARB City Southern (St Peters).

As I understand the setup, the isolator only splits the two batteries once a certain discharge voltage has been reached. The car's original auxillary circuits still run off the primary battery which is one of the 3 reason I got the extra plugs in the back. The 2nd reason being that the wiring put in for the extra plugs is of a higher amp so I didn't experiance as much voltage drop. The other reason is that I have had the plug on my fridge fall out once or twice. I am running a fridge slide in the back and this may been a contributing problem but I wanted a 'firmer' conection that the hella/merrit plugs provide and have not had any problems since.

I think that the only way to have the system run the way you have suggested is to rewire the car's auxillary circuits to the 2ndary battery. I am not sure that this is possible as the Body Control Module controls these. That
said I maybe wrong and have gotten it all mixed up (but I don't think that I have). If I get a chance I'll get out my multimeter and have a look and see if I can confirm.