Second battery

MaltaTony · Jan 26, 2020

Hi i am disabled and don't use my range rover p38 DSE very often, so usually flat when need it, so thinking of wiring second battery, with split charger and isolator switch, has anyone done this or have any ideas /suggestions, thanks

Henry_b · Jan 26, 2020

Better to put her on a Ctek battery conditioner/maintainer while she isn't used.

Stanleysteamer · Jan 26, 2020

+1^^^

kermit_rr · Jan 26, 2020

Hi, do you not have power nearby to keep it on charge? Have you confirmed there are no unexpected power drains?

MaltaTony · Jan 26, 2020

Henry_b said:
Better to put her on a Ctek battery conditioner/maintainer while she isn't used.

Out in a car park nowhere near the house

Henry_b · Jan 26, 2020

MaltaTony said:
Out in a car park nowhere near the house

Solar charger

MaltaTony · Jan 26, 2020

kermit_rr said:
Hi, do you not have power nearby to keep it on charge? Have you confirmed there are no unexpected power drains?

It lasts about 3 weeks

Stanleysteamer · Jan 26, 2020

+1^ Also, you could try simply disconnecting the batt each time you park it up, but obviously you'd have to reconnect each time you want to use it. you can get batt disconnect switches, often sold as anti-theft devices. Again, you'd lose stuff like radio settings etc. unless you've got a face-off head unit.

MaltaTony · Jan 26, 2020

Henry_b said:
Solar charger

Do the work through the obd2 port

MaltaTony · Jan 26, 2020

Stanleysteamer said:
+1^ Also, you could try simply disconnecting the batt each time you park it up, but obviously you'd have to reconnect each time you want to use it. you can get batt disconnect switches, often sold as anti-theft devices. Again, you'd lose stuff like radio settings etc. unless you've got a face-off head unit.

Disabled not an option thanks

Stanleysteamer · Jan 26, 2020

either connect direct to the batt or maybe through an accessory socket but often they only connect with the ignition switch in position 1

kermit_rr · Jan 26, 2020

Henry_b said:
Solar charger

You'd need a fairly big panel

Stanleysteamer · Jan 26, 2020

MaltaTony said:
Disabled not an option thanks

My wife is disabled so I am used to work arounds necessary for peeps in your situation. The batt cut off switch is deffo an option as all it requires is to be fitted and then you can remove the red key each time you park it up. I'll look for a link now.
Here is one
Amazon product
You could even wire one in as well as a solar top up thing, that way you could keep the batt topped up while cutting out any current drain. Just pit the solar charger onto the batt posts but put the batt cutoff in the red lead away from the batt.

MaltaTony · Jan 26, 2020

By disconnecting the batt you lose the alarm code, i would have to setup the whole system, by having a second battery or keeping the main one charged, i would avoid going through that rigmarole, had new battery just before Xmas and had to reprogram the whole system.

Stanleysteamer · Jan 26, 2020

MaltaTony said:
By disconnecting the batt you lose the alarm code, i would have to setup the whole system, by having a second battery or keeping the main one charged, i would avoid going through that rigmarole, had new battery just before Xmas and had to reprogram the whole system.

Think you have answered your own question there.
I am only used to Disco 1s and 2s and they are not such a problem when you disconnect and reconnect a battery. Progress I suppose!

So now I would be into the field of suggesting you have a second batt connected in parallel at all times to give you twice the power available. Have the second batt connected up but have a cutoff switch in the positive lead so that you can disconnect it/reconnect it whenever you want it. Then you wouldn't lose your alarm codes etc, but would have the power when you need it for starting etc.
Feel your pain mate. Modern car electrics are a complete nightmare.

kermit_rr · Jan 26, 2020

When you reconnect the battery you also need to deal with the window beeps

MaltaTony · Jan 26, 2020

Stanleysteamer said:
Think you have answered your own question there.
I am only used to Disco 1s and 2s and they are not such a problem when you disconnect and reconnect a battery. Progress I suppose!
So now I would be into the field of suggesting you have a second batt connected in parallel at all times to give you twice the power available. Have the second batt connected up but have a cutoff switch in the positive lead so that you can disconnect it/reconnect it whenever you want it. Then you wouldn't lose your alarm codes etc, but would have the power when you need it for starting etc.
Feel your pain mate. Modern car electrics are a complete nightmare.

Would the second battery get charged when engine running if the switch was in the on position

MaltaTony · Jan 26, 2020

kermit_rr said:
When you reconnect the battery you also need to deal with the window beeps

And sunroof

Stanleysteamer · Jan 26, 2020

MaltaTony said:
Would the second battery get charged when engine running if the switch was in the on position

Short answer, yes. If both batteries are connected, in parallel, they would both act to start and run the car and would also be charged as you drive along. The thing then would be to simply remove the cut-off key to the second battery when you leave the vehicle. As the batt would no longer be connected to anything it could not lose charge to any residual leaking current. That would all leak out of the only batt which has a fully connected circuit.
In fact the problem you might have is remembering to leave the second batt connected when driving along. Just a question of generating a new habit.

kermit_rr · Jan 26, 2020

If i was going to wire in a second battery, of be looking into a high amp relay to dis/connect with a switched live

Second battery

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