second battery in landcruiser 200

obi · Member

second battery in landcruiser 200

03_troopy · Guru

Hi Obi, if you join this site LCOOL they have stacks of info on this sort of thing.

Cheers.

jimricho · Guru

A neighbour of mine has recently purchased a 200 series and had the batteries "split" to provide a dual battery system. The dual battery isolator appears to be a Rotronics unit. So far he's not had any starting problems. Neither battery has been replaced.

The Redarc "Smart Start" isolators have a connection that enables a switch to be installed to temporarily bridge between the two batteries should the need arise. The switch is in in the control circuit of the isolator so a small (low current) switch is satisfactory for this purpose.

Captain · Veteran Member

I bought my Hilux back in 2005 and fitted a dual battery system which I purchased from ARB. It works automatically and there's no switches or anything else to worry about. I run ALL my accessories off the 2nd battery and always have the cranking battery at full charge. The only thing that worries me is that both batteries are now more than 7 years old but still going strong because I look after them. I won't be completely stuck as I also have 2 batteries in my van which are both 4 years old and they're still going strong too. Maybe I should find some wood and touch it.

justcruisin01 · Guru

obi wrote:
I recently purchased a second hand landcruiser 200 diesel and considering splitting the dual batteries to use the second battery to power my accessories (engel fridge,uhf radio,gps etc). I know I will need to put in a larger starting battery but has anyone done this succeccfully.

Obi

There will be several types of isolaters & charging systems available.

Most systems that are running two start batt, are desighned for the extreme cold countries.

JC

jimricho · Guru

I too thought that was the case Jim but not being a Landcruiser owner I couldn't be sure. That confirms my understanding that all that is required is to fit the dual battery isolator, no need to upgrade any batteries. This will give you the convenience of operation as described by Captain in his post.

In the very unlikely event of being "caught out" in very cold conditions you can always resort to using jumper leads.

justcruisin01 · Guru

obi wrote:
The batteries in the 200 series are 550cca and I think the starter draws about 650cca that is why 2 batteries are installed, that's why I thought I would have to upgrade my starting battery. Thanks for all your replies I will look up the other site mentioned. I would still have to isolate the second battery and put some kind of switch so I could use it for starting in an emergency.

obi

Just disconnect one battery & see how it starts when cold, this will give you an indication of a one battery start.

If this is ok then a simple remote starter solinoid is all that is needed, can be wired so that the two are joined when vehicle is running to recharge batteries.

This system can then be triggered by a seperate powered toggle switch to the positive activated terminal of the solinoide to join the two batteries for a start system if required.

JC.

-- Edited by justcruisin01 on Saturday 8th of December 2012 07:58:11 PM

jimricho · Guru

Generally correct Captain except that the vehicle always starts from the "main" or cranking battery. As you point out there are no switches to worry about. The only exception would be if you installed the Redarc system (or a solenoid as suggested by Justcruisin) with the emergency back up switch, you may need to switch it in the rare event of an emergency starting situation however this too can be automated.

The only accessories that draw from the second (auxiliary) battery are those that have been "after-market" installed such as the fridge.

I'm with Jim (Justcruisin) here, try it first before coming to any conclusions about the need for both batteries for starting. If the worst happens you can always use a set of jumper leads to jump start from the second battery.

-- Edited by jimricho on Saturday 8th of December 2012 08:16:40 PM

obi · Member

The batteries in the 200 series are 550cca and I think the starter draws about 650cca that is why 2 batteries are installed, that's why I thought I would have to upgrade my starting battery. Thanks for all your replies I will look up the other site mentioned. I would still have to isolate the second battery and put some kind of switch so I could use it for starting in an emergency.

obi

jimricho · Guru

The CCA rating is the current the battery is capable of delivering at zero degrees F or minus 18 degrees C. Marine batteries use the MCA rating which is at zero degrees C (plus 32 F). Sometimes battery manufacturers quote an MCA rating for batteries other than marine units.

check this site http://www.redarc.com.au/products/category/4wd-sbi-series-dual-battery-isolator/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc_175&utm_term=__3__redarc_smart_start&utm_content=REDARC_Smart_Start&utm_campaign=Australia_-_Search_-_GL or click on the underlined link in my earlier post.

If you drill down through the site you see that the Redarc can be wired to provide the very facility you're looking for.

This link http://www.redarc.com.au/handy-hints/-/always_start_from_both_batteries explains the installation to automatically connect the two batteries together for starting.

Captain · Veteran Member

I stand to be corrected but from what I can remember about the ARB dual battery system which I have been using for many, many years without a problem, when the engine is running, the cranking battery charges first then the 2nd battery charges - all automatically. When the ignition is OFF, the cranking battery is isolated and one can draw from the 2nd battery to power the accessories. When starting your vehicle, the system decides which of the two batteries has the most charge and that is the one that starts your engine. No switches to worry about. It has served me well for at least 6 years with lots of free camping and has not let me down yet.

obi · Member

This is the system I had on my Patrol and the starter battery always charged first then the auxiliery charged and was always seperated from the starter battery. It used to run the aftermarket devices and in seven years I never had a problem. My only concern was why does toyota instal 2 batteries if not required to start the engine ?

obi

justcruisin01 · Guru

obi wrote:
My only concern was why does toyota instal 2 batteries if not required to start the engine ?
obi

Most systems that are running two start batt, are desighned for the extreme cold countries.

03_troopy · Guru

Obi, the reason I posted the link to the Landcruiser Owners On Line forum is that there are a few owners of the 200 series that have asked the same questionas you. There are also a few that have done the split of the existing battery setup. As I read it, the question is more about the effect of separating the original batteries, and not so much about the different battery isolation systems.

obi · Member

I am having a bit of a problem trying to join the landcruiser forum so I can't read any of the solutions. I register but when I try to logon it says name and password not recognised.

obi