Dual Batteries for dummies

[2007Lux]

Very nice. Compare that to my "predator" set up and I feel so messy (check out my post in the Dual Batteries for dummies thread). I'd need a day off and a good butane soldering iron to get mine looking like that. Jealous

[Qwerty]

Very nice. Compare that to my "predator" set up and I feel so messy (check out my post in the Dual Batteries for dummies thread). I'd need a day off and a good butane soldering iron to get mine looking like that. Jealous

He's got pink and blue tassled predator dreds ... and they're combed neatly... Predator at mardi gras!

[sclaff]

Yeah, I ran outa red & black heat shrink, I was spewin, so that was the next best option. Mardi gras here we come

[2007Lux]

.....check out my post in the Dual Batteries for dummies thread.......

I meant Alternator thread. Who's the dummy

[mathew8235]

And heres the whole job.




That looks great, very tidy, I'm going to do something similar and mount the bcdc in front of the main battery. I hope my wiring turns out that neat.

[Rustyau]

A word of warning!

This is how the aux battery was installed in my lux when I bought it.



All was ok until one day I took the battery out to do some other task and I found that one corner of the battery was hard up against the rather large factory wiring harness that runs around that corner if the engine bay. Sure as shit, the battery had rubbed through the insulation/tape to the point where it had exposed bare wire and just about severed one of the wires in the harness. I couldn't work out what the affected wire controlled, I can only assume it may have been an un-used wire for my model, luckily.

However, the consequences could have been much worse, eg engine bay fire, etc.

The battery is only a 100Ah calcium, so not overly big, yet it could not be moved any further away from the harness. So now, it lives in the tub.

[seannico]

I just recently intalled a dual battery system in my 2013 sr d4d. i used a redarc SBI12 and a 95 A/H Aldeco battery.

My only problem is when i start my lux and drive for the first 15 mins i can hear the solenoid clicking on and off intermitantly. as in it may click on and off 4 times in a 20 second period. I notice it mainly when i accelorate it clicks on then when the revs drop when i go to change gears it clicks off then strait back on when the accelorator is applied again. Has anyone else experianced this? Could this spike my computer? I checked for a loose earth to the solenoid but all is good.

I heard that the alernator in the hiluxes is only capable of charging the battery to 70 odd %. Is this still true in the newer models? ie my 2013?

appolgies if all this has been answered i skimmed through the last 10 pages of this forumn but didnt see anything?

[outbackjoe]

Hey seannico sounds like you have a problem - either with your alternator being unable to maintain voltage under load or the cables to your relay are too small, or a problem with the solenoid hysteresis voltage not set properly. You need to measure voltage at the relay to find out.

Any voltage above the voltage dictated by the cell chemistry will charge to 100%. So you will charge to 100%. You can verify this on battery data sheet charge characteristic curves which show capacity asymptotically approaching full charge regardless of charge voltage.

[Gsxr1000testpilot]

I just recently intalled a dual battery system in my 2013 sr d4d. i used a redarc SBI12 and a 95 A/H Aldeco battery.

My only problem is when i start my lux and drive for the first 15 mins i can hear the solenoid clicking on and off intermitantly. as in it may click on and off 4 times in a 20 second period. I notice it mainly when i accelorate it clicks on then when the revs drop when i go to change gears it clicks off then strait back on when the accelorator is applied again. Has anyone else experianced this? Could this spike my computer? I checked for a loose earth to the solenoid but all is good.

I heard that the alernator in the hiluxes is only capable of charging the battery to 70 odd %. Is this still true in the newer models? ie my 2013?

appolgies if all this has been answered i skimmed through the last 10 pages of this forumn but didnt see anything?

Mate you should have used a BCDC 1225lv or a ctek 250s as the alternator is computer controlled, and will cut it self right back. The output voltage of your alternator is going below the minimum cutout voltage of your sbi12.

[07luxyTD]

I had a simple projecta isolator (not dc-dc) Much cheaper and did the job i wanted it to do. Before you start looking for another isolater as mentioned above id take outback joes advice and check a few measurements before throwing money at a new isolator.

[Gsxr1000testpilot]

The old style isolators work fine on the older hilux's, pre 2010 or 2011 but I think you will find with the new hilux's 2012 and onwards the computer will actually turn the alternator off at times therefore the sbi12 and other smart isolators will disconnect . The only way to get the most from your second battery is with the new style inverter type ctek and redarc isolators/chargers. Seannico you may have a problem with your install but you symptoms are exactly what I would expect the sbi12 to do.

[07luxyTD]

If the alternator is turned off then no charger dc-dc or simple isolator will charge in that sistuation. From 2010 the computer took more control over charging current as it is more tempreture dependant. Check what the readings are then start looking at the isolator. Whats the isolation voltage with your setup? What current will the solinoid disconnect?

[Gsxr1000testpilot]

The sbi12 turns on at 13.2 and off at 12.7. I have the redarc sbi12 in my old hilux and it works perfectly, but I use the redarc bcdc1225 LV in my new 2013 hilux for this exact reason.

[07luxyTD]

Thats pretty low aye. I would just test them and if your alternator isnt putting out 12.7v when warm, then i would consider a dc-dc. I would measure voltage first

[seannico]

Thanks for all the info boys!! So anyone looking for a cheap SBI12, looks like ill have a spare one now.. haha.

[outbackjoe]

How will a dcdc converter help with an alternator that is turning off?

12.7V is low enough such that even a charged battery would hold it in. Dcdc converters also have a minimum voltage below which they shut off to preserve the starter battery. The voltage cut off is independent of the type of charger. I'd be looking into some measurements before committing to new hardware that may not fix the problem.

[mathew8235]

Mate you should have used a BCDC 1225lv or a ctek 250s as the alternator is computer controlled, and will cut it self right back. The output voltage of your alternator is going below the minimum cutout voltage of your sbi12.

The altenator in the 2012 hilux does not require the LV version of the BCDC. Below is a quote from the REDARC forum and they recommend the standard BCDC charger.

Hi,
I was wondering which charger to get for my turbo diesel 2012 Hilux SR5? Would I need the bcdc1225 or the bcdc1225ign or the LV version?
Thanks

Hi
Thank you for your post.
The standard BCDC1225 charger is capable of charging from the 2012 Toyota Hilux's alternator system, so the IGN and LV variants are not required for your vehicle.
Please don't hesitate to post further if you require anymore information.
Kind regards,
Wayne

[outbackjoe]

That is consistent with my understanding of the hilux alternator, which might drop it's output to 13.5 or something after an initial boost charge but doesn't switch off completely like some systems. The voltage shouldn't be dropping below 12.7V.

[Gsxr1000testpilot]

Mate you should have used a BCDC 1225lv or a ctek 250s as the alternator is computer controlled, and will cut it self right back. The output voltage of your alternator is going below the minimum cutout voltage of your sbi12.

The altenator in the 2012 hilux does not require the LV version of the BCDC. Below is a quote from the REDARC forum and they recommend the standard BCDC charger.

Hi,
I was wondering which charger to get for my turbo diesel 2012 Hilux SR5? Would I need the bcdc1225 or the bcdc1225ign or the LV version?
Thanks

Hi
Thank you for your post.
The standard BCDC1225 charger is capable of charging from the 2012 Toyota Hilux's alternator system, so the IGN and LV variants are not required for your vehicle.
Please don't hesitate to post further if you require anymore information.
Kind regards,
Wayne

That contradicts everything I have read and been told when I contacted Redarc.

[Rustyau]

Probably worth investing in a voltmeter before wasting $350+ on a device that may not achieve much more than the SBI anyway.
I only have the SBI and haven't had any probs getting charge in the aux battery.