Electrics break down for an idiot :)

Hey guys,

So Im planning a split battery charge thing in my ninety for lights, winch and CB.

Maybe there is a guide already on here somewhere, but being a nooby on here, I couldnt see it.

So is there a list somewhere of what I would need for my set up?

All I know is I need a second battery, split charger, my 8 lights, winch and CB haha

Maybe someone could write me a list of what i need from start to finish like;
Split charger - Battery - fusebox - switches or what ever the line up should be.

Sorry for being such an idiot

Chedgy said:

Hey guys,

So Im planning a split battery charge thing in my ninety for lights, winch and CB.

Maybe there is a guide already on here somewhere, but being a nooby on here, I couldnt see it.

So is there a list somewhere of what I would need for my set up?

All I know is I need a second battery, split charger, my 8 lights, winch and CB haha

Maybe someone could write me a list of what i need from start to finish like;
Split charger - Battery - fusebox - switches or what ever the line up should be.

Sorry for being such an idiot

Click to expand...

I'll help out, but not really my area as I haven't done this yet so hopefully someone else will chip in...

Some people prefer to use a voltage sensing relay to a split charge system as they are a lot cheaper, but I personally think I will go for one with a status display like the t-max.

The second battery should fit in the battery compartment in your 90, but you may need to make a bracket to hold it all in place.

Then it is simply a case of connecting everything up. It is easier to do with a fuse box as it will save you having to get multiple inline fuses, something like this will do

1 POWER IN 6 WAY FUSEBOX FUSE BLADE BOX FUSEHOLDER KIT CAR AUTO BOAT MARINE | eBay

You will obviously need some auto wiring and some switches for whatever you are connecting to the battery, make sure it is good enough wiring for the job. You would obviously connect one end of the cable to the posititive on the battery, then the switch, then from the switch to the positive on whatever you are connecting, then connect the negative to earth (something metal).

If you are running a lot of stuff you may need to get an uprated alternator as well, they aren't too much money on ebay.

For the winch you also need an inline isolator just incase anything goes wrong.

As for the second battery, I am looking at something like the optima yellow top (cheaper if you shop around)
Optima Yellow Top £179.00 - ELECTRICAL - Batteries Flatdog UK

Just search split charge and you find all the posts you could possibly want. This one in particular is very helpful:

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f38/wiring-split-charge-relay-system-61268.html

I'd use a towbar relay. This provides one continuous and two voltage-switched outputs for the grey (12S) trailer socket. Originally, one powered the caravan fridge, the other charged its onboard battery. The standard has changed and now the old 'fridge' connection handles both. This means the battery charging output is free for use in a split charge system on the car.

Thanks for all the comments folks. I've thing I still got some more reading to do