Dual Battery System - What have you fitted?

[burnsie]

Hey All

We have the dual battery setup in the Prado, the standard cranking battery at the moment and a Optima Yellow Top as the secondary. To connect it all together we went with the Redarc setup BCDC 1225 & Solenoid duo which gave us some options including the anderson plug for solar but also a momentary button we have fitted in the cabin, so if for any reason the cranking battery runs out of juice it will join the batteries together and jump start the cranking battery for us, very similar to the below diagram



Like most people we also have multiple additional 12V sockets inside the vehicle most in the rear, and run a Projecta dual battery monitor mounted in the cabin

 

[bigcol]

yeah, @The Goodwins did a dual battery setup in his Prado earlier on this year (late last year)

its not hard
just depends on
what exactly do you want V's what you actually need V's how much you want to spend V's who can or will fit it

 

[greynt]

G'day @Smergen reading the latest Caravan World mag, they have info on dual battery isolators, different brands etc, if you are still thinking that way. Another option maybe the folding solar panels/blankets, just need to add an Anderson plug to your system if you don't have one, they are light weight and don't take up much room. Cost can be an issue with these as well. Think Redarc and Projector do them. Thumper packs can work, but you still need to charge them at some stage as well as the weight and size issue.

 

[Smergen]

Hey All

We have the dual battery setup in the Prado, the standard cranking battery at the moment and a Optima Yellow Top as the secondary. To connect it all together we went with the Redarc setup BCDC 1225 & Solenoid duo which gave us some options including the anderson plug for solar but also a momentary button we have fitted in the cabin, so if for any reason the cranking battery runs out of juice it will join the batteries together and jump start the cranking battery for us, very similar to the below diagram

View attachment 35342

Like most people we also have multiple additional 12V sockets inside the vehicle most in the rear, and run a Projecta dual battery monitor mounted in the cabin

View attachment 35344

Thanks for the detailed post and pics of the set up. Really useful and appreciate it.

yeah, @The Goodwins did a dual battery setup in his Prado earlier on this year (late last year)

its not hard
just depends on
what exactly do you want V's what you actually need V's how much you want to spend V's who can or will fit it

I can pretty much assure you that I won't be fitting it. Have developed a pretty good relationship with the local auto-elec and I trust their work. And yep, those "vs." are exactly what I'm trying to determinei over the next few months. Will pick the brains of those at Beaufort and see what is really required.

G'day @Smergen reading the latest Caravan World mag, they have info on dual battery isolators, different brands etc, if you are still thinking that way. Another option maybe the folding solar panels/blankets, just need to add an Anderson plug to your system if you don't have one, they are light weight and don't take up much room. Cost can be an issue with these as well. Think Redarc and Projector do them. Thumper packs can work, but you still need to charge them at some stage as well as the weight and size issue.

Thanks for the heads up and the lead. Will look into it.