X-Eng Dual charge, to buy or not to buy?

So after running my battery flat dicking around with my new toy (a winch) I thought its probably best to put some sort of dual charge system on my 90...

Would love to put a twin alt setup on but for now i only really need it for my winch.

T-max do one on ebay for about 80-100 Which has a fancy switch that you can use the second battery to boost the 1st but i was looking at this basic one

LAND ROVER X ENG X CHARGE DUAL BATTERY SYSTEM | eBay

Just wondered if anyone had had anything to do with this and if its worth it?

i have one, no problems i fitted it and never touched it since, winch runs from 2nd battery and it always works

it has no fancy displays but i dont need these, i have a couple of voltage displays to fit at some point that where only a couple of quid off ebay

Cool, ill order it on payday (friday)

I had a spare battery but its gone bad and wont hold charge at all. I was going to use that buy I don't think it will be up to it even just for winching.

Not sure how it is going to change anything unless you've been winching with your engine off?
I had one on mine for a month, realised it was a waste of money and just put some 40mm2 cable between the batteries instead of it. Also, and I may be wrong here, but I didn't think that the cable was actually big enough to use with my winch. Given it can pull just shy of 400A when working it very hard, thus would potentially be drawing 200A from the battery linked in parallel, the cable is only 25mm^2 (max) and thus rated to 170A?

Doesnt bridging the two batteries together with a cable make them discharge themselves?

No, it just means they have equal voltage. Some people claim it can damage batteries, I've had absolutely no problems with it. And given that I was recommended to do it by Jim @ Gigglepin (who I think know's what he is talking about when it comes to powering winches!) I don't expect any problems either.

All that X-Eng unit does is link the batteries in parallel when your engine is running, then unlink them when you turn the engine off. So unless you are winching (or running electric fridges etc) with your engine off, it's making no difference at all.

Hmmmm now I'm in two minds wether or not to just get some 40mm2 cable and link two together..

jackmac said:

Not sure how it is going to change anything unless you've been winching with your engine off?
I had one on mine for a month, realised it was a waste of money and just put some 40mm2 cable between the batteries instead of it. Also, and I may be wrong here, but I didn't think that the cable was actually big enough to use with my winch. Given it can pull just shy of 400A when working it very hard, thus would potentially be drawing 200A from the battery linked in parallel, the cable is only 25mm^2 (max) and thus rated to 170A?

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Depends on the type of relay, if it's a voltage sensitive one then with the winch wired to an aux battery then when in use with the engine running if the volts drop below 12v the relay will isolate the starter battery. Not much use if doing hardcore winch challenge stuff maybe but for general stop/start winching it is.

If it's a simple relay switched from the alternator then it won't help other than if winching with the engine off as you say.

That's my limited understanding anyway

blue beasty said:

Depends on the type of relay, if it's a voltage sensitive one then with the winch wired to an aux battery then when in use with the engine running if the volts drop below 12v the relay will isolate the starter battery. Not much use if doing hardcore winch challenge stuff maybe but for general stop/start winching it is.

If it's a simple relay switched from the alternator then it won't help other than if winching with the engine off as you say.

That's my limited understanding anyway

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It's a simple relay, costs about £10 off t'internet.

jackmac said:

It's a simple relay, costs about £10 off t'internet.

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You're right. This is the sort of thing I'm thinking about 12v Cargo 160740 180amp voltage sensitive Split Charge Relay | eBay

That costs more than the set from x-eng...

Im totally lost on what to do now lol.

What do you actually do with the landy?
Greenlaning and the odd pay and play where you use the winch? Winch challenges? Overlanding/camping trips where you will have electrics running off it overnight?

IamRobbie said:

That costs more than the set from x-eng...

Im totally lost on what to do now lol.

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That's because it does a lot more. It'll protect the starter battery when winching with the engine running, a simple relay won't.

The choices are wire the batteries together with a manual iso switch so you choose when the batteries are linked (until you forget)

Simple relay so batteries are linked when the engine is running (which it should be whenever possible when winching anyway)

A voltage sensitive relay that will protect the starter battery whether the engine is running or not.

A T-max type full monitor system that displays both battery voltages and gives a manual battery link option.

You pays yer money and makes yer choice.

Personally I'd go with either the manual iso switch, a couple of cheap voltmeter displays and use my head or voltage sensitive relay for peace of mind

I have a switched relay (200amp) That connects the Aux battery to the main when the ignition is on, disconnects when ignition off. As a safety backup. I also have an isolator switch that physically seperates both batteries. I also have a voltage sensitive relay that I need to wire into the 200amp relay that will switch off if the voltage falls below 11.5V. This is a 2nd safety backup that will prevent the aux battery from draining the main battery.

jackmac said:

What do you actually do with the landy?
Greenlaning and the odd pay and play where you use the winch? Winch challenges? Overlanding/camping trips where you will have electrics running off it overnight?

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I do the odd pay and play days and the odd green laning. One day i hope to have a light bar on and a couple spots off my winch bumper. I have a digital voltmeter that i am going to wire up to my current battery and could get another if needed.

IamRobbie said:

I do the odd pay and play days and the odd green laning. One day i hope to have a light bar on and a couple spots off my winch bumper. I have a digital voltmeter that i am going to wire up to my current battery and could get another if needed.

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I have a pair of these that are on my list of things to fit..

DC 3-30V 0.36" 2 Wire LED Digital Panel Volt Meter Voltage Voltmeter Car Motor | eBay

Also bought an auto XS voltage display thingy that comes with a pair of crocodile clips. just clip to battery and it shows the voltage. was £2.99 from Aldi IIRC.

Just wondering wether or not to have a twin battery setup. I think it wouldn't hurt to have a second but i can't figure out the best system to use!

IamRobbie said:

Just wondering wether or not to have a twin battery setup. I think it wouldn't hurt to have a second but i can't figure out the best system to use!

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best system is as above put a voltage sensitive relay between main and aux batteries and then wire any extra's winch lights etc, to the aux battery. That way there's no way for the aux battery, to run the main battery flat.

so search ebay for a voltage sensitive relay?

DURITE Split Charge Voltage Sensitive Relay 12V 140A 0-727-33 | eBay

any good?