Hi All,
I would like to make everyone aware of an issue in relation to dual batteries on new vehicles in particular my 2011 D40 Navara.
I recently had a dual battery charging system fitted to my Nav by a local auto elec. He used a standard smart isolator and ran the cables directly to the tray. I then had the cable "T" joined to an Anderson plug to charge the battery in the van.
I first noticed an issue with intermittent charging in the rear, and yesterday took the vehicle back to be checked over. It seems that the latest Navara's have an ECU controlled alternator, that will only supply a float charge to the start battery when little power is required. The Alternator seems to rarely supply a higher voltage with the exception of when the engine is first started, Therefore float voltage does not supply enough voltage to make the smart isolator close in order to charge the axillary battery thinking the start battery is low on charge.
It appears that I will need to fit a DC to DC 12v charger and remove the isolators to make the system work. Searching other forums it appears that this issue may also be related to the 200 series cruisers and other newer vehicles. This one is a hard one to detect, as the vehicle charges at the higher rate when first started giving all the indications that the system is working fine.
This system only charged my auxiliary batteries to about 50% without the DC to DC Charger.
If anyone happens to know more about this issue with alternative solutions, please let me no.
Kev
I would like to make everyone aware of an issue in relation to dual batteries on new vehicles in particular my 2011 D40 Navara.
I recently had a dual battery charging system fitted to my Nav by a local auto elec. He used a standard smart isolator and ran the cables directly to the tray. I then had the cable "T" joined to an Anderson plug to charge the battery in the van.
I first noticed an issue with intermittent charging in the rear, and yesterday took the vehicle back to be checked over. It seems that the latest Navara's have an ECU controlled alternator, that will only supply a float charge to the start battery when little power is required. The Alternator seems to rarely supply a higher voltage with the exception of when the engine is first started, Therefore float voltage does not supply enough voltage to make the smart isolator close in order to charge the axillary battery thinking the start battery is low on charge.
It appears that I will need to fit a DC to DC 12v charger and remove the isolators to make the system work. Searching other forums it appears that this issue may also be related to the 200 series cruisers and other newer vehicles. This one is a hard one to detect, as the vehicle charges at the higher rate when first started giving all the indications that the system is working fine.
This system only charged my auxiliary batteries to about 50% without the DC to DC Charger.
If anyone happens to know more about this issue with alternative solutions, please let me no.
Kev