alternator upgrade or second battery

Hi All

Need some advice.

I have an 04 freelander. I already have VHF (marine) bas set in the car which I use for running events that occur on the sea over the summer. I have also purchased a cb and been given and armature radio cable of 75 watts.

Also Being part of a 4x4 reposnse group I am getting the car kitted with orange led lights

Is best to get a bigger alternator or have double battery and has anybody body done it before?

Thanks

Lionel

never . twin batteries?

what do you want orange flashy lites for?

(psssttt - theres an intro section)

I use my freebie for a lot of events such a open water swims as the main base and getting to places means being on the seafront so need stand a a lot more.. Plus being with a 4x4 response group having flashy orange lights when you are on the side of the road helps a lot and makes things safer as people can see you

dont you have hazard warning lights on your motor? Or do you like bling?

There is nothing wrong with putting in an extra battery with a split charge system. You can then run all you extra goodies off that without worrying about draining the vehicle battery.

How easy is to use and do you have link where I could get the bits from?

Sorry meant to say how easy is to do?

lionel1066 said:

How easy is to use and do you have link where I could get the bits from?

Click to expand...

It would depend on your diy abilities. The most logical place for an extra battery would be in the boot inside a battery box. Split charge units are available easy enough. I'll look out some links of suppliers you could use.

Split charge system is described in some detail in the FAQ section. :doh:

I used this kit to charge the tilting bed hydraulics battery on my car transporter when I had it!! It's a nice bit of kit for the price.
Voltage Sensing Split Charge Relay Kit

My experience leads me to believe it's best to have the minimum of equipment permanently fitted in the vehicle.

Our Motorola 12v base station runs off a Hella type socket. I have 2 fitted - one in the front passenger area and another in the rear load area.

Cigarette lighter sockets are not up to the job.

I have the biggest battery that can physically fit in the battery tray - a Bosch F5 800cranking amps. 175 X 175 X 315mm

Don't go messing with the alternator.

The base station doesn't draw much power and can operate for 8 hrs and I still can restart the engine.

I do have a 2nd battery - but not permanently wired in.

If I was in any doubt I would run the base station from the 2nd unit.

I have a system whereby I can charge the 2nd battery from the rear Hella socket while driving. Another alternative is to carry an emegency battery booster / starter unit and run the base station from that. I sometimes need to take it from the vehicle and site myself on a hill-top.

As for orange beacons on the roof I have one with a magnetic mount which I use sparingly. I had 2 on the roof of my Unimog with 55w bulbs - drawing just under 10 amp they can drain a battery to the point of not being able to start in 5 or 6 hours.

I wish to attract no attention to the vehicle when it is unattended and not actually being used for the activity which requires my extra kit.

Everything can be stowed away in the rear and the roller cover conceals it all.

In other words - keep it simple and low-key - or some bu**er will nick it!

There are lots of folks about who decide they need your kit more than you do!

hi,
I have 2 led sets on the grill, 4 under the spots on the roof a britax led beacon on the roof as i use for escorting the combine etc, I also have 4 spots on the roof, 2 on the bumper, and a work light plus a CB radio, obviously don't have the spots on with out engine running for to long but the leds seem to be alright i have left them on for over five hours and still starts straight away. hope that's some help, However thinking of fitting an extra battery with odyssey spilt charge, as my freelander is used for camping trips, and the alike so more power capacity would be good.
many thanks
theoptimist

had a 2nd caravan leisure battery in my boot, T Max split charge, dual battery monitor up front. piece of cake, means you can run all ancils, lights, radios etc, without engine on.

like this...

Im doing exactly the same thing at the minute. I would love a tmax but they might be a tad expensive at the minute, as there just isnt enough cable supplied to get to the boot. I have made a box in the boot down the right hand side to contain the relays, fusebox, 12v sockets and battery, with a removable shelf at the same height going the full width of the car, onto a metal support on the left hand side.

Running on the main battery

Laptop
CB
12V charging kit
Driving Lamps
Front amber strobes (on bonnet brackets)

and on rear battery (88ah alphaline leisure battery) all kit on roof rack

4x 39W LED floods (driving lamps)
1 x pair Bolt mount strobes (front facing)
2 x 72W LED flood battens (1 either side)
2 x 24W LED floods (worklights rear)
1 x 30cm Amber Stobe bar.

Plus battery flood light charger, handheld cb charging, camera battery charger etc.

Will update on my progress over the weekend. Im running the 140a alternator so no issue driving both batteries

Im utilising the CD storage rack to the left of the fusebox to house a removable plate for aux fusebox 1 so I only have to drill two holes rather than 12. Also got a 6 way switch bank in the sunglasses holder, and the official 4 way switch plate in the right hand knee cubby hole.

Plenty of kit for ****s and giggles, late night loading trucks up at work and 4x4R stuff.


EDIT2ADD:

I found an empty grommet hole coming out directly above and slightly to the right of the accelerator pedal. Its obvious from the engine bay side, looking just behind and to the right of the coolant tank, however it is painted silver on the interior, so best to stick a screwdriver through it so you can see it. Absolutely ideal for the fusebox area.

I keep a 2nd battery in the rear load compartment kept charged from the 12s (white) socket as part of the towing setup. Very simple to make up a 2 wire lead and a correct (white) plug. Just earth (pin 3) and auxilliary batter charging (pin 4).

(Of course, assuming you have the towing electrics installed).