Twin batteries in a 90?

Hi chaps

My existing battery is on it's way out just now, so I thought it might
be a good time to think about installing 2 batteries in the seat box
if it can be done securely. My intended usage is for one to be the
normal starter battery, and the second - wired through a voltage
sensing relay for charging - to be used for the occasional use of a
small winch for boat trailer use, and for camping power, lighting and
other recreational uses. I already have a second leisure battery in
the vehicle and wired in, but it lives in the rear of the vehicle and
takes up precious space.

I think the battery and clamp existing in my late 90's 300tdi Defender
90 is not the proper arrangement - at least it's nothing like my first
90, a late '84 model.

I'd really appreciate tips from anyone who has done a twin battery
installation under the passenger seat. What is most important, is
that it should ideally involve minimal, or preferably no modifications
to the seat box or any other bodywork.

What have others here done?

Cheers

Neil

(Reply via NG please)

Neil wrote:

> I'd really appreciate tips from anyone who has done a twin battery
> installation under the passenger seat. What is most important, is
> that it should ideally involve minimal, or preferably no modifications
> to the seat box or any other bodywork.

I know several people who have done this, and they do fit. See
http://www.expeditionexchange.com/dualoptima/indexmain.shtml for an
example.

Paul

--
Paul Everett
repton at repton dot org
http://www.repton.org/

On Sun, 21 Nov 2004 10:26:12 +0000, Mr.Nice.
<mr.nice@*nospam*clara.co.uk> wrote:

>that works with the land rover batteries too
>one thing to watch is that once the metal cover is on the seat box,
>any weight on it will make it touch the perminals of the batteries.

and this makes some very impressive fireworks!.

Tom Woods wrote:

>>that works with the land rover batteries too
>>one thing to watch is that once the metal cover is on the seat box,
>>any weight on it will make it touch the perminals of the batteries.
>
>
> and this makes some very impressive fireworks!.

That's why in that example the battery terminals have covers on them.


--
Paul Everett
repton at repton dot org
http://www.repton.org/

On Sun, 21 Nov 2004 10:26:12 +0000, Mr.Nice.
<mr.nice@*nospam*clara.co.uk> wrote:

>On Sun, 21 Nov 2004 07:39:17 +0000, Paul Everett
><[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>Neil wrote:
>>
>>> I'd really appreciate tips from anyone who has done a twin battery
>>> installation under the passenger seat. What is most important, is
>>> that it should ideally involve minimal, or preferably no modifications
>>> to the seat box or any other bodywork.
>>
>>I know several people who have done this, and they do fit. See
>>http://www.expeditionexchange.com/dualoptima/indexmain.shtml for an
>>example.
>>
>>Paul
>
>that works with the land rover batteries too
>one thing to watch is that once the metal cover is on the seat box,
>any weight on it will make it touch the perminals of the batteries.
>1, be sure the terminals have plastic covers.
>2, be sure the underside of the lid has a rubber thingy (as original).
>
>I'm soon fitting a second battery to my 110csw but as the huge battery
>I have currently fills the under-seat space I'm putting the second
>elsewhere.
>
>
>Regards.
>Mark.(AKA, Mr.Nice.)

Thanks to all who replied.

Having looked at the twin Optima set-up, I don't really want to go to
the expense of Optimas. Neither do I want maintenance free batteries,
as I like to be able to check and top up electrolyte regularly. Hence
the clamp across the top of the batteries as in the pictures would
make this awkward.

Additionally, I have doubts that this could even be carried out in
this manner with a 300tdi model, as the seat box, battery compartment
has 2 steps in it which I believe earlier models did not. This
severely limits the space available on the level part of the base of
the seat box.

So has anyone with a 300tdi 90 actually installed twin batteries?

Cheers,

Neil

(Reply via NG please)

Neil,

As i understand it, the Optima's are sealed so you dont need to
"maintain" them. The big advantage with the Optima's is that they are
small and so easier to install. You can get 3 of them into a defender
battery box (wallet allowing!)

Also, you will probably need to put a false floor in the battery box
to get a level install base. If necessery though the sealed batteries
can be installed upside down of on their side with no adverse
effects).

I am in the process of installing a sealed Odyssey battery as a second
battery into my 1992 200tdi. That wiill be either a PC1700 or PC2100
running alongside my starter battery.

Note that it seems to be a mis-conception that the two batteries
(starter and auxillry) must be the same - this is only the case if you
are not using a proper split charge system.

hope this helps.
Jon


On Thu, 2 Dec 2004 19:50:48 +0000 (UTC), Neil <[email protected]>
wrote:

>On Sun, 21 Nov 2004 10:26:12 +0000, Mr.Nice.
><mr.nice@*nospam*clara.co.uk> wrote:
>
>>On Sun, 21 Nov 2004 07:39:17 +0000, Paul Everett
>><[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>>Neil wrote:
>>>
>>>> I'd really appreciate tips from anyone who has done a twin battery
>>>> installation under the passenger seat. What is most important, is
>>>> that it should ideally involve minimal, or preferably no modifications
>>>> to the seat box or any other bodywork.
>>>
>>>I know several people who have done this, and they do fit. See
>>>http://www.expeditionexchange.com/dualoptima/indexmain.shtml for an
>>>example.
>>>
>>>Paul
>>
>>that works with the land rover batteries too
>>one thing to watch is that once the metal cover is on the seat box,
>>any weight on it will make it touch the perminals of the batteries.
>>1, be sure the terminals have plastic covers.
>>2, be sure the underside of the lid has a rubber thingy (as original).
>>
>>I'm soon fitting a second battery to my 110csw but as the huge battery
>>I have currently fills the under-seat space I'm putting the second
>>elsewhere.
>>
>>
>>Regards.
>>Mark.(AKA, Mr.Nice.)
>
>Thanks to all who replied.
>
>Having looked at the twin Optima set-up, I don't really want to go to
>the expense of Optimas. Neither do I want maintenance free batteries,
>as I like to be able to check and top up electrolyte regularly. Hence
>the clamp across the top of the batteries as in the pictures would
>make this awkward.
>
>Additionally, I have doubts that this could even be carried out in
>this manner with a 300tdi model, as the seat box, battery compartment
>has 2 steps in it which I believe earlier models did not. This
>severely limits the space available on the level part of the base of
>the seat box.
>
>So has anyone with a 300tdi 90 actually installed twin batteries?
>
>Cheers,
>
>Neil
>
>(Reply via NG please)