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Re: Fitting a second aux battery

Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 3:18 pm
by SimonB
Yeah Oom 4e... I thought "I told you so" posts were beneath you :lol: :lol:

Ok, anyone know of these guys?

http://www.cornerstonepowerproducts.co. ... 0-Amp.aspx

One thing I am unsure of - the output voltage on many of these seem to be 13.8, but I though that charging voltages for our purposes should be around 14.2 to 14.4 volts. Is 13.8 sufficient?

Re: Fitting a second aux battery

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 5:00 pm
by SimonB
CATS wrote:I can try and draw one up, but it is basically + to + and -to - and then the connections on the DC DC charger as indicated in the booklet :lol: Even me with limited knowledge could do the DC DC instalation.

I will try and do a diagram tonight and also take some photos.

CATS
Bump Christo ;)

Re: Fitting a second aux battery

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 11:07 pm
by CATS
Ok ok :-) But I only got my car back Sunday after my wife used it the whole of last week for a business trip to Limpopo provence. I started the drawing but itwill not be a technical correct piece of work unfortunately as my drawing skills are basic to say the least.

CATS

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Re: Fitting a second aux battery

Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 9:28 am
by 4ePajero
SimonB wrote:Yeah Oom 4e... I thought "I told you so" posts were beneath you :lol: :lol:
'twas not meant as "I told you so", but TITC to remind us never to say never.
Ok, anyone know of these guys?

http://www.cornerstonepowerproducts.co. ... 0-Amp.aspx

One thing I am unsure of - the output voltage on many of these seem to be 13.8, but I though that charging voltages for our purposes should be around 14.2 to 14.4 volts. Is 13.8 sufficient?
I downloaded the spec sheet, and I think it is good.
The voltage varies from 14.6V for bulk charging, to 13.2V for float charging.

Provided that their 4-stage charging is OK, it is good value for money.
SDC DC-DC Charger.jpg

Re: Fitting a second aux battery

Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 10:26 am
by jatan231
Good day.

I've been using the SDC-1130 since Sep. 2011.

The 4-stage charging works well and you can set the dipswitches to cater for your specific type of battery.
It has a manual on/off switch and well as a remote on wire.

I may just have a dud, but:

This unit has blown the capacitors on the output stage 3 times and it has unfortunately been at the suppliers longer than it has actually been in my Pajero.
This only happened when the battery has been discharged to +- 12.2V and below.
They have now replaced the caps. with the biggest size (voltage) that could fit into the available space and (touch wood) it has actually been able to 3 x now charge the 90Ah AGM from 11.6V to full (14.6V) without breaking again...

I am still actively testing the unit for reliability and will keep you posted of the results.

BTW, what are your experience with these?

Cheers

Re: Fitting a second aux battery

Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 11:33 am
by SimonB
Thanks for the input... Pretty much defeats the purpose of a DC battery if the charger can't deal with it going below 12.2 volts :?

Re: Fitting a second aux battery

Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 8:51 am
by SimonB
As regards the unit mentioned above I see it mentions that it takes 8-16 v input. I take that to mean S low voltage cut off will become necessary ? I am getting my two new DC batteries this weekend and want to finish this small project ready for our Richtersveld trip

Re: Fitting a second aux battery

Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 4:35 pm
by SimonB
Ok so I have made the decision to go for the HCDP 12A DC/DC setup with separate battery isolator. Although about R150 more expensive than the one above it also has a solar input and regulator circuit (among other things). So now to get the battery box designed as well as thinking about a small inverter (mainly to charge my camera batteries)

Re: Fitting a second aux battery

Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 3:28 pm
by SimonB
So here's my wiring plan for the new Dual Aux system
Dual Aux Battery System.png
The box is designed as a dual compartment plywood box, with battery and electrics separated, covered in car carpet to keep it neat (I just have to go buy the materials

I think I should add a 12v exhaust fan to the mix, and a couple of ciggie lighter sockets.

Re: Fitting a second aux battery

Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 6:54 pm
by CATS
See. That is why I never did a drawing of mine! Mine would have been a hand drawn picture and not nearly as nice as yours. Drawing is not my strong point. I can do photos of mine if you want :-)

Your setup looks well thought out.

CATS

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