Split Charge - more CCA??

This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.
StuRox

StuRox

Well-Known Member
Posts
1,832
Location
Nr Bath
Well, I recently changed my battery, and never researched enough, and got one with enough CCA's to turn her over, but only just – (about 600 I think).....so instead of spending more on another battery…..as money is a bit tight at present :rolleyes:, I have a spare in the garage that I could fit as a 2nd, and then split charge etc - will this then give more CCA's these cold mornings to help turn over the veg oil?

I have read lots of threads about this, and some people just run the battery in parallel, but after a while won’t this discharge both? But my main question is that I wasn’t sure with the split charge if they would both work when cranking over, or just the main battery, and then once running the 2nd Battery comes to life?

Also thought I could then run all aux spots etc from 2nd battery too ;)

Any help appreciated as looking to get one of these Split Charge jobbies - Split Charger Relay Kit on eBay (end time 13-Mar-10 09:13:23 GMT)

Cheers
 
No
coz the 2nd battery is disconnected from the first when the alternator isnt charging. This is so they dont both drain.
Take the battery back and get it changed, although 600 CCA should be OK.
 
probably be better off checking, cleaning and upgrading the starter motor feed cable and the earths, maybe refurb the starter if it still doesn't spin quickly - 600 CCAs is more than enough
 
ok thanks for the advice.

I have done all the earth points etc....

Haven't done too much with the starter - as its bizarre - some cold mornings, starts on the button, then other times takes a good few cranks (to say the least) before life begins.....so I did think a lazy starter, and more CCA's might give it a boost.

How long does it take for batteries to drain themselves if put in parallel?
 
On the subject of split charge :) , I need to uprate mine for the winch, thought I might try putting the alt feed to the winch battery, then running it through a vsr to the main battery.

When the winch is working it would only use/charge that battery, once stopped it should switch back to charging the main batt. Think it will work ? or do I need plan B :D .
 
There is a long thread on this subject on another forum.

If you have two batteries and one charging source, then you can either

Parallel the batteries permanently
Parallel them just for heavy loads like using a winch

Charge through a split charger diode pack
Charge when they are parallelled

If you fitted a parallelling contactor between the positives of the two batteries, with the negatives commoned, then that contactor could be turned on by the alternator warning light going out (through a small relay) and the winch being turned on.

Thus all or most of your requirements are met.

Industrially we would charge each battery independently and feed the load through steering giodes, so the batteries couldn't backfeed into each other.

EDF6.jpg


Here are a couple of 108V 200AH batteries which feed a large grid substation, the batteries each have their own charger and there is a common cathode diode pack in the charger cabinet that feeds both batteries to the 110V distribution fuses.

We have also done batteries in parallel with a single charger and no diodes, but the battery strings are always fused.

Peter
 
i think as a point in principle stu, you should not be trying to add more amperage to overfeed a dodgy starter. this will just result in more heat being generated, more resistance as a result, and shortening th life of your starter as a result.

replace or recondition your current starter to improve efficiency and it will considerably reduce the current require to spin your motor over quickly enough. and if you need extra go youll have plenty there with a 600 amp battery on a cold morning.

dont polish a turd starter with a bigger battery!

and dent, my advice there is to keep it simple and simply have a split charge connect your two batteries when the engine is running.

that way with the engine off you have starter battery and winch battery.

with the engine on, you have winch battery powering your winch, which also receives help from the main battery and the alternator, which are all connected in the same circuit.

there is no reason to have the batteries kept separate from each other when the engine is running.

plus if you had relay failure your alternator is not connected to your main battery.

your secondary battery is les important, primary fucntions connect to primary battery and should be charged primarily accordingly.

cheers
 
Got it all sorted, dodgy starter relay and bypassed sedimeter and ran new fuel lines and jobs done. Also the split charge I installed is on a relay, so only charges when engine running. Plus whacked in the biggest battery with 1000 cca I could find :D
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

ian mitchell
Disco 3 (LR3) battery issue
Replies
11
Views
948
ian mitchell
ian mitchell
ibizalandy
Best alternator for 110 2.5D n/a
Replies
4
Views
422
lynall
L
loonyspoony
Disco 1 300TDI No Start
2 3 4
Replies
65
Views
3K
loonyspoony
loonyspoony
bukko
Disco 2 TD5 - Intermittent charging
Replies
6
Views
722
Stanleysteamer
Stanleysteamer
B
Discovery 4 2015 auxiliary battery Question
Replies
9
Views
2K
Graculus
Graculus
Back
Top