Dual Battery System or not.

[wonder]

Picking up a new 3lt turbo diesel Patrol on Monday. I'm going to get a Safari snorkel fitted and I'm wondering if I should also get a dual battery system fitted as well, considering I am planning on taking an Engel fridge with us when we travel.


Thanks,
Wonder.

[Winnie]

Picking up a new 3lt turbo diesel Patrol on Monday. I'm going to get a Safari snorkel fitted and I'm wondering if I should also get a dual battery system fitted as well, considering I am planning on taking an Engel fridge with us when we travel.

Thanks,
Wonder.

Absolutely mate, I'd say it's essential if travelling with a fridge. In my last patrol I did not have dual batteries and used the Engel, but it's not good for your cranking battery

[oncedisturbed]

Other option is to get a battery box like an ARK pack, that way the fridge isn't confined solely to your car.

[SonOf]

I would fit one. Not only for the fridge but for your spotties and accessories. You could also use it to run additional lighting for a camp site etc without the fear of sending your cranking battery dead

[AB]

One of the very first mods for any dedicated enthusiast mate, you'll never look back with piece of mind you can start the car to drive home the next day!

[Winnie]

I would fit one. Not only for the fridge but for your spotties and accessories. You could also use it to run additional lighting for a camp site etc without the fear of sending your cranking battery dead

I run my driving lights off the cranking battery, the car is running whenever those lights are on so it does not matter.

[ed12371]

Picking up a new 3lt turbo diesel Patrol on Monday. I'm going to get a Safari snorkel fitted and I'm wondering if I should also get a dual battery system fitted as well, considering I am planning on taking an Engel fridge with us when we travel.


Thanks,
Wonder.

As everyone here has said, a second battery is always a great idea. Even if you keep the vehicle running with lights on you are still wearing down (shorten it's life) the cranking battery.

I basically run everything of the second battery and keep the cranking battery for just that. You will have to consider a battery isolating switch as well, if going for a second battery and a battery tray if you don't already have one?

Depending on which battery you go for (hopefully a good quality AGM deep cycle?) and the rest you will need it will cost a little bit but once you have it you'll never look back.

I have a 140 watt solar panel (off ebay) and that plugs into my dual sensing red arc isolator which keeps the battery charged / fridge running throughout the entire camping trip without having to starting the vehicle.

Rough costs for something good :

RED ARC BATTERY ISOLATOR SMART START SBI 12V 100A (SBI12) $130.00 or REDARC SBI12D DUAL SENSING BATTERY BATTERIES 12V 12 VOLT SOLINOID ISOLATOR SOLAR $149.00

D34M Optima battery - blue top $250 - $300 (these are good as they have 4 terminals).

Battery Tray - Projecta sell them from $25 up to $250

140 watt solar panel - $220.00

Regards Ed