Hi all,
Just got back from a 3 week holiday, had a great time but thats another story. I have a redarc dual battery system in my Pajero with a 100 amp deep cycle as the aux battery, I also run a waeco in the back (from aux) and power the 186L fridge/freezer in the van while travelling (draws 22 amps) On 2 occations while away i flattened my starter battery (2 year old factory 10") while playing cd's and each time only got about 1/2 hr playing, so maybe time for a new one which i can live with. The waeco will be lucky to run for a day off the aux 100 amp battery which i think is not right so i'm thinking it's a charge problem and the talk on here about "smart alternators" has got me thinking.
I checked the charge output from alternator and it was about 13.4V and also thought that was a bit low, this was when engine was running before i connected my compressor to pump up tyres. As i was pumping up tyres i noticed the compressor suddenly increased in rpm so i checked the voltage input again to find it increased to about 14.4V, so when it sensed an extra load it increased output so it seems to be doing what it is suppost to but i still don't think both my batteries are charging fully. Another thing i have noticed is when the van is plugged into car with 12 pin plug running fridge i hear a noise like a relay clicking in and out from the intake vent on van, this is with engine running, would this indicate not enough voltage at the fridge end? I have not checked voltage there yet, however when we return from a trip all is still cold and frozen.
I was going to get a auto sparky to check over the system but seem to think either an alternator upgrade or possibly a dc-dc charger in tug?
One of my mates runs a ARB fridge (same compressor as waeco) in his Prado on dual batt with no dramas using isolator like me and no dc-dc.
Appreciate any advice or opinions providing it's not about buying a Prado...no offence.
Cheers.
Just got back from a 3 week holiday, had a great time but thats another story. I have a redarc dual battery system in my Pajero with a 100 amp deep cycle as the aux battery, I also run a waeco in the back (from aux) and power the 186L fridge/freezer in the van while travelling (draws 22 amps) On 2 occations while away i flattened my starter battery (2 year old factory 10") while playing cd's and each time only got about 1/2 hr playing, so maybe time for a new one which i can live with. The waeco will be lucky to run for a day off the aux 100 amp battery which i think is not right so i'm thinking it's a charge problem and the talk on here about "smart alternators" has got me thinking.
I checked the charge output from alternator and it was about 13.4V and also thought that was a bit low, this was when engine was running before i connected my compressor to pump up tyres. As i was pumping up tyres i noticed the compressor suddenly increased in rpm so i checked the voltage input again to find it increased to about 14.4V, so when it sensed an extra load it increased output so it seems to be doing what it is suppost to but i still don't think both my batteries are charging fully. Another thing i have noticed is when the van is plugged into car with 12 pin plug running fridge i hear a noise like a relay clicking in and out from the intake vent on van, this is with engine running, would this indicate not enough voltage at the fridge end? I have not checked voltage there yet, however when we return from a trip all is still cold and frozen.
I was going to get a auto sparky to check over the system but seem to think either an alternator upgrade or possibly a dc-dc charger in tug?
One of my mates runs a ARB fridge (same compressor as waeco) in his Prado on dual batt with no dramas using isolator like me and no dc-dc.
Appreciate any advice or opinions providing it's not about buying a Prado...no offence.
Cheers.