Carabraxis
Joined: 30 Dec 2007
Location: Nottingham
Posts: 34
 
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I am looking at installing an auxilary battery into the aux battery box under the bonnet so that I can have permanent live power in the car for charging the kids toys (Gameboy etc.). I also have a small 12v coolbox that I would like to be able to run when the engine is not on.
I have a spare 80Ah leisure battery that I would like to use for this that fits in the space but is very slightly too tall to re-fit the plastic cover (it does fit happily under the bonnet though). Obviously money no object I would get an optima or similar but if I am going to do this it is a bit of a case of use what I have.
I cannot see any reason why I should not just leave this cover off as the things that I can see under it shouldn't need protecting but does anyone know if there is a need to fit the cover or not?
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 Wed Oct 01 2008 3:47pm |
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tanters
Joined: 24 Oct 2007
Location: Up The Deise!
Posts: 968
 
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Not sure about that one. gets pretty filty under there and there are some gizmowhatdoyamacallems there that may not like said dust. 
Save up or ask Santa for the proper job, worth it 
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| Wed Oct 01 2008 3:50pm |
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Bodsy
Joined: 06 Nov 2006
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow.....
Posts: 6544
 
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Just make sure that the positive is well covered so it has NO chance of rubbing on the bonnet.
COuld be a nice big bang!  it! It's got a load of black bits on OK!!!
Campaign successful....
We D3, therefore we are.
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| Wed Oct 01 2008 5:03pm |
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Carabraxis
Joined: 30 Dec 2007
Location: Nottingham
Posts: 34
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good point re the +ve terminal.
I can put that to the back so the slope of the bonnet gives max clearance (and fit a terminal cover as well)
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| Wed Oct 01 2008 6:09pm |
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shiny moose
Joined: 12 Nov 2007
Location: Going to Iceland to get my money out
Posts: 1503
 
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Way back in the old days, batteries never had covers. Silver TDV6 S with sat nav, PTI and Moosed up a bit
"I know that you believe that you understood what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant"
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| Wed Oct 01 2008 8:33pm |
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10forcash
Site Sponsor
Joined: 09 Jun 2005
Location: In the naughty corner.... eligible for parole 2025
Posts: 14644
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It's not a battery cover - it's an 'enviro box' TorqTune for Freelander 2 Diesel, Discovery 3 / RR Sport TDV6 & RR Sport TDV8, Defender (TD5 & Puma) - available Now!
Vehicle modifications, preparation, training and equipment also available 
Autologic Diagnostics equipped!
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| Wed Oct 01 2008 9:17pm |
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Carabraxis
Joined: 30 Dec 2007
Location: Nottingham
Posts: 34
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so what's an enviro box then?
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| Wed Oct 01 2008 10:10pm |
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90BHP
Joined: 18 Oct 2006
Location: Half way along the road on the right
Posts: 2015
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looks a bit like a battery cover "To finish first, one first has to finish ...."
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| Wed Oct 01 2008 10:27pm |
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Carabraxis
Joined: 30 Dec 2007
Location: Nottingham
Posts: 34
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 Walked straight into that one
As Shiny Moose says, batteries never had covers and neither did the break servo or the alarm sounder which is about all I can see in there. I am only concerned if there is somthing that I can't see.
I can only think that the only use for the cover is that it makes it look pretty under the bonnet so I don't think I'll worry about it and leave it off.
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| Thu Oct 02 2008 12:15pm |
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shiny moose
Joined: 12 Nov 2007
Location: Going to Iceland to get my money out
Posts: 1503
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Go for it. Silver TDV6 S with sat nav, PTI and Moosed up a bit
"I know that you believe that you understood what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant"
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| Thu Oct 02 2008 12:18pm |
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tanters
Joined: 24 Oct 2007
Location: Up The Deise!
Posts: 968
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yeah Go for it as Shiny said 
TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY 
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| Thu Oct 02 2008 1:01pm |
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Iona Disko
Joined: 04 Jul 2008
Location: NE
Posts: 108
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Deliberating the same thing myself.
I've got a rather naff leisure battery that I fitted to get me out of a spot when I knew I would need the extra battery but I see no reason to get an optima.
One thing to try is changing the terminal post style to one that does not have a bolt vertically through it for connecting your charge lead or accessories. This is the first thing I did and discovered that with a slim-lined terminal post the cover very nearly fits - 2 out of 3 of the plastic clips. So nearly there it doesn't matter - bonet closes and there is no chance the cover will escape!
Then get a megafuse to ensure that you can't cause a welding current to pass through the battery.
You can get a fuse and holder for just a few quid. I went for 200amps and this should be suffice for the charge current as well as any accessories - including 50% of winch current.
Fit the fuse to the earth and you need not worry about any other connection to your battery.
Fit the fuse to the positive and you should then only wire into the battery through the fuse.
I have a winch, charge (alternator / vehicle battery) lead and an aux fuse box (fridge, gadgets, 2-way, etc) off the battery. The only way to protect is really via fusing the earth - not a text book solution but it will save your bacon. You can fuse off the positive but I think it is a messy solution as to do it well you need no set-up a seperate distribution point away from the battery.
Most important is the need for a dual battery management system of some kind - no point in having a leisure battery if it is permanently attached to the vehicle battery as both will drain.
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| Mon Oct 13 2008 11:50pm |
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Carabraxis
Joined: 30 Dec 2007
Location: Nottingham
Posts: 34
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Iona
Thanks for your comments - some good suggestions there.
I think I may put a big fuse in the earth line to protect everything and then use small ones in the live to protect the individual feeds I want to put in.
I believe in keeping things simple so for the split charge I'm thinking of using a simple 200 amp relay with a sence wire to the altenator to turn it on when the engine is running. Has anyone done it like this? Are there any issues I need to be aware of?
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| Wed Oct 15 2008 8:52pm |
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Iona Disko
Joined: 04 Jul 2008
Location: NE
Posts: 108
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I would strongly suggest keeping it as simple as possible.
The only problem I can see is that you will not be able to charge the vehicle battery seperately. If you have a spate of short journeys it would be beneficial to recharge only the vehicle battery until it is full then switch to charging both vehicle and aux bat. With a simple automated system you will be charging both the whole time the engine is running and possibly not reaching a full charge on either. The D3 has difficulty charging the main battery on journeys of less than a couple of miles.
What might be useful is an over-ride switch that you can use to isolate charging to just the vehicle battery. Maybe a simple toggle switch in the earth to stop the charging of the aux battery when driving for short stints.
Also an activate switch to keep your batteries linked - maybe a toggle switch with a seperate 12v to the actuating circuit of your relay. This would enable you to jump start off the aux battery should, for any reason, the vehicle battery go flat(leaving your lights on, radio or similar). Is also useful for winching if you have one fitted.
My system is a Genesyz as supplied by Devon 4x4 it does the job but have had a couple of irregularities which has got me pondering. Might be nothing but it is a confidence thing. I modified it to work with a charging loop for a battery in a trailer - I put in an isolator switch to give me manual control to
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| Wed Oct 15 2008 9:17pm |
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Kabous
Joined: 11 Jul 2007
Location: Mokopane
Posts: 72
 
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If you look inside the spare battery box , you will see that the bottom corners are slightly elevated / build up , I'm not sure why it's made like that , but I chisled out those and my cover fits perfectly.
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| Sat Oct 18 2008 1:14pm |
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