Dual Battery Placement in Series 95 Prado

Probably been asked before but this time its me so I'm interested...

I want to install a dual battery into my Series 95 Petrol V6 Prado. I will be getting an auto electrician to fit it, he has done plenty of dual batteries but, unfortunately, no series 95 Prados.

I think it could go behind the fuse box in the engine bay if the anti-pollution cannister was moved. Anyone got any ideas or recommendations? I'm sure ARB already where to fit it but they are quoting almost double the local auto-electrican :-X

One last thing, I'm not convinced about the need for deep cycle battery either, but may need to get one because of the small form factor might be needed to fit into the engine bay.

General requirements, when I camp I move around alot. I will be plumbing in the UHF and Waceo Fridge and the extra battery will also run my two fluro lights (they draw 1 amp each) I will also (probably) be fitting a HF Radio in the six months. Willl a normal battery do the job, it's not that I am cheap (well, you know what I mean), but I'm about to fit the Prado out for its touring role over the next months so a hundred dollars here and there there will add up. Anyone have any real world advise to offer as opposed to reading a magazine or asking ARB?

Thankyou for any advice you are able to give.


HT

[Bundy]

Try this web site they have listings for most duel battery setups
http://www.4wdmegastores.com.au/products_ak/dual_battery_system/piranha

Passenger side front twin cradle with an 8" battery.

Cheers Bundy

[baby_troupe]

In this pic you can see one on each side.

http://www.offroader.com.au/mcpaulsshowerunit/thumbs/imga0420.jpg

[Bundy]

In this pic you can see one on each side.

http://www.offroader.com.au/mcpaulsshowerunit/thumbs/imga0420.jpg


Isnt that a TD. But is there any difference just on the pirahna site they had different trays

is yours a diesel or petrol? i have a Prado 95 series 3.4ltr and i have fitted dual batteries to it. I bought the battery box from TJM warehouse cost me about $100, fits perfectly made just for this model. Your right about the charcoal cannister it gets moved, im sure you could easily fit the box yourself and atleast save some cash then jus pay an auto lec to wire it up for ya, as it came with easy to follow instructions an even though im an auto elec i reckon my wife coulda fitted it. The subject or dual batteries is never easily answered regardless of what anyone says, in my own i have two cranking batteries and works excellent for me i have never had a problem with it, i just use a continuous duty solonoid to join the batteries when the engine is running and isolate the auxillary when the key is off. Hope some of that helped

Thanks TuffToy. Its a petrol V6 and a simple system certainly suits me. I want to run the fridge mainly but also have a redundant battery for when travelling into remote areas. I have no gripe with deep cycle, but they seem (by reading on various forums) to have a limited life.

Since I am so mobile when I travel I think the batteries will have lots of opportunity to charge - I don't often stay in one place longer than one or two nights hence a cranking battery could be a better choice, and keeping the fridge going is cool ::) but the redunancy issue is still a biggie.

How big is an 8" battery? (probably a stupid question but I gotta ask it), what capacity is it likely to be?

Don't really know what I want yet, I am happy to pay a good price, I just have no experience with these things and don't want to sink hundreds into a system that doesn't stand the test of time and utility, and your wife is probably more mechanically minded than me mate :-[.

Any other thoughts?

[Bundy]

Try this site it has a heaps of helpful things and drop them an email if you have any qs and they answer tham pretty promply

http://www.solarpanelxpress.com.au/

The actual size of the battery isnt really a good way to determine the CCA of it, even though bigger is usually better. The biggest battery i could fit into the box i bought from TJM was an N50, all good quality ones such as bosch/exide/century will have a CCA(cold cranking amps) capacity of about 600 or better which is what you want. I run my 40ltr engel off that battery for a full day and night without starting the engine and it isnt even a third discharged so thats why it works great for me, as like you i am always driving places too i dont usually sit in one spot without driving somewhere for more then a day.

[walk]

Hi
I recently purchased a v6 2001 prado & have fitted a dual batt system I used pirana trays purchased through my local ARB store and fitted it myself the basics wer aux batt 12" went where the original start battery was & the start batt was fitted after moving the charcoal cannister to the opposite side of the engine bay where it had been.
This gives me a 12" NS70EX aux batt which runs my 45lt waeco fridge & camping lights with no dramas
Even though I did the work myself I did consider it to be expensive, Two trays $ 90.00 each ARB solinoid $185
& wiring ,Clips & fittings approx $50
P.s.
I also fitted a glind shower set up undert the bonnet at the same time ( that was a head acre)

Regards

[nqgu]

I wouldn't go deep cycle initially. Heaps of us running cranking batteries with UHF, fridge and HF. My aux runs a 3 way while engine going, a CD stacker, a UHF, and a HF.

On 5 week desert trip HF was on receive for about 2 hours per night sometimes longer - I like listening to the cockies chat and to ABC radio ;D

Ran flouro and occasional map light at rear of car for wife to see in drawers.

I have flattened it a few times inadvertently, and it lives still...not sure a deep cycle would have survived that.

Must admit I thinking of a cranking battery...couldn't get it booked in before Christmas so i get t o mull it over a while.

Hey nq, how do you find the HF? Is there much traffic these days and do you need to suscribe and get call signs and stuff these days? Haven't used once since I left the Army over 10 years ago...thought they were dying out with sat phones on the increase...