Hi everyone,

I recently purchased a '03 Td5 Defender that has the stock LR split charge system, which uses the voltage sensitive relay AMR3325. (This truck original owner had a HF radio installed, thus the split charge option.)

It looks to me that at some point in its history the wiring was switched between the smaller, higher-amperage starter battery and the larger, lower-amp battery that powered the radio. As it is setup now the fat negative and positive wires run to the larger (but lower amperage) battery and the thinner wires run to the smaller, higher amp starter battery.

I figure I can just switch everything between batteries but since I'm far away from parts (Nepal) anything I mess up has a two-week long wait to get in new parts.

If anyone has photos of their *stock* split charge system it'd be great to see those as well. Would be nice to see what the mounting system looks like in an unaltered state too.

photo caption: As seen from the passenger's side door, top battery has small positive (brown and white) and small negative connected to it. Bottom battery (larger one) has big thick positive attached (lower left corner, it is out of view in the photo) and the big negative wire running from the gearbox, as well as a smaller ground wire that runs next to the large positive wire.

Thanks,

John

I have the stock LR split charge system (although currently no second battery).

Basically, a live runs from the main battery, via the VSR and back out to the other battery via a M8 stud on an isolater block, there is then an earth which runs from the main battery to another M8 stud on the iso. block which then in turn leads to the second battery.

To connect things electrically to my system (radios and lighting) you would run a cable from the M8 terminals on the block to your consumer.

If your electrics are heavier you would use heavier cables from battery terminals on the second battery.

I will try and get you a photo but my LR is sort of in pieces!

Hmm, thanks for the reply. I have both manuals (mech/elec) for the Td5 as well as rave, and have not yet found a electrical schematic for this particular setup.

Do you know if your heavy red cable connects to the starter battery + or the secondary battery +? And same for the heavy ground to the transmission? That would shed some light on whether mine is wired correctly or not...

The heavy red cable goes from the main battery positive to the starter, the heavy black cable goes from the main battery negative to the gearbox/chassis.

For the second battery it's positive and negative are connected to the little isolator block I told you about (two M8 studs in a wee box basically). A wire then runs from the negative stud to the negative terminal on the MAIN battery. So thats the earth side of things taken care of.

Then there is a wire from the MAIN battery positive to the split charge relay, back out and onto the positive terminal on the little isolator block - which as noted above is in turn connected to the second battery.

Now depending on what you are using the second battery for depends what sort of connections you need, in my case the M8 studs simply have the load connected to them. The cabling from the second battery to the stud is sufficient for 60amps so I am OK.

I have a few pics of aftermarket dual charge system i fitted yesterday which sounds similar to the above, only real difference is a fusebox hooked up to the positive on the second battery - i can upload some pics if any help?

I guess I'm going to just switch the setup and hope for the best. Can't see how that would cause any harm (he says as sparks and smoke fill the cabin!).

Pepperedwelly -- some snaps of your new setup would be great if you get a moment.

They're here mate.

There's also the manufacturer's (Blue Sea) installation instructions here which include a good wiring diagram for a completed system.