Second Battery

[belzi82]

Okay I know I am a girl and this will seem like a silly question but please don't laugh at me.

I am wanting to put in a second battery and I have gone and got a battery tray - can I screw this to the car with standard screws or do I need special screws?
Also I am looking at the Redarc isolator from all I have read it is the best - Is this easy for me to install or should I just go to an auto elect??

[tzsafari]

I think it's great that you're doing it yourself! I can't answer your question, but good luck!

[Thirsty]

Hi,

I trust the battery tray is too suit your vehicle and not a universal tray, you may require some addition bolts although they should be supplied with the tray. The isolator is real easy to fit. Read the instructions and give it ago, then if you cant get it to work, atleast you gave it a go.

cheers

[Sir Roofy]

its easy mate just follow the instructions you can do it

[Yendor]

Fitting a second battery to a GU 3L is straight forward, if your tray suits your vehicle. The kit should of come with all the bolts you need.

Yes the Redarc is a very good unit and easy to set up.

What you could do is mount the battery tray, fit the second battery and mount the Redarc unit as close as possible to the main cranking battery (in between the cranking battery and firewall).

Then take it to your friendly Auto Elect, they can then make up the cables to suit, wrap them in protective conduct and fit them for you.

[AB]

Which tray did you get Bel, where did you buy the tray?

[Woof]

Hey Bel, no one here will laugh at you and if they do The Dogman will whack an infraction on them so fast that it will make their head spin.
That is what we are all here for, to help each other.

[belzi82]

Which tray did you get Bel, where did you buy the tray?

To be honest it is a simply tray from SuperCheap Auto, the guy that served me said he has a GU and used that tray and it was fine, I went in to see if they had a particular one for the patrol - if I can't get it to work then I will try and sell it. It didn't come with any bolts and is just a tray. It fits into the space where I am planning on putting it.

[Russell1974]

U may need to do a little mod on the tray ie: new holes but fairly simple just check the screws that came with it fit first sometimes they are to long just depends on what finish product u r after and the red arc is very simple to install

[belzi82]

The tray didn't come with any screws so I was wandering what type I would need - just any that are lying around in the shed or special ones??

[Rip'n'Shred]

Can you take a pic of the tray, someone may recognise it

[belzi82]

I have taken a photo of the tray, and a photo of the tray in the engine bay where I am planning on putting it

[oncedisturbed]

I may have missed which model but this is where mine is on my GU, this was already installed when I bought the rig

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a389/oncedisturbed/204dbd3e.jpg

[Yendor]

I have heard stories about inner guards cracking apparently caused by fitting of a second battery.

If it was me, I would buy a battery tray kit from a reputable company, one that was designed to fit correctly and has support bracing.

The kit will come with everything required to fit the tray and will save you a lot of prefab time.

[Thirsty]

I have heard stories about inner guards cracking apparently caused by fitting of a second battery.

If it was me, I would buy a battery tray kit from a reputable company, one that was designed to fit correctly and has support bracing.

The kit will come with everything required to fit the tray and will save you a lot of prefab time.

X2 - I've seen many GQ with cracked inner guards, only a couple GU's. they have a lot of weight on them.

Cheers

[myzathreeby]

Depends what you have lying round in the shed, Self tappers or nuts and bolts. metal or wood screws, plain, galvanised etc etc.
You might be better getting a proper kit with a some adjustable brackets and proper screws.
The carrier need to be fairly substantial, with a firm base.
It's a big battery and needs to be mounted firmly, especially if you are on rugged roads.
My battery also has a special bracket on top of the battery which braces it back to the body and stops it shaking around.
Cheers and good luck

[Oversize]

Depends what you have lying round in the shed, Self tappers or nuts and bolts. metal or wood screws, plain, galvanised etc etc.
You might be better getting a proper kit with a some adjustable brackets and proper screws.
The carrier need to be fairly substantial, with a firm base.
It's a big battery and needs to be mounted firmly, especially if you are on rugged roads.
My battery also has a special bracket on top of the battery which braces it back to the body and stops it shaking around.
Cheers and good luck

Thanks myza, I have taken your advice. Will post pics when its in.
Kind regards,
Louise

[FrankW]

Hi, I used the super cheap tray for my second battery, Go and get a length of flat aluminium bar, about a metre long, 25mm wide, 3mm thick. Cut two 100mm lengths. These are then bent in half at 90 degrees, give or take a bit. On the flat of the tray closest to the guard, I drilled two holes and used 30mm, 10g high tensile bolts and nuts. On the other side of the tray, Engine side I attached the two aluminium brackets then attatched the brackets to the lower inner guard with 30mm, 10g bolts and nuts. Had to drill a couple of holes here, but if you line up the brackets ther may be a couple of pre drilled holes.
I used the left over aluminium bar to make a bracket that I attached to the guard above the overflow bottle and the other end to the side of the battery tray for support.
Hope this gives you the general idea, not as hard as it sounds.

[belzi82]

Hi, I used the super cheap tray for my second battery, Go and get a length of flat aluminium bar, about a metre long, 25mm wide, 3mm thick. Cut two 100mm lengths. These are then bent in half at 90 degrees, give or take a bit. On the flat of the tray closest to the guard, I drilled two holes and used 30mm, 10g high tensile bolts and nuts. On the other side of the tray, Engine side I attached the two aluminium brackets then attatched the brackets to the lower inner guard with 30mm, 10g bolts and nuts. Had to drill a couple of holes here, but if you line up the brackets ther may be a couple of pre drilled holes.
I used the left over aluminium bar to make a bracket that I attached to the guard above the overflow bottle and the other end to the side of the battery tray for support.
Hope this gives you the general idea, not as hard as it sounds.

Sounds like a great idea. I was considering something similar, now just have to figure it out

Thanks Frank

[thepunter1]

Hi Belz,

My advice to you is the same as Yendor's.

To save all this mucking around take you tray back to SuperCheap and get your money back. Then go down to ARB and get yourself a purpose built tray (approx $100) designed for your vehicle. It will come with all the bolts and bracing that you will need to secure it to your model of vehicle. This is what I did.

I am pretty handy with this type of thing but there are some things you don't want to mess around with. You don't want the battery coming loose and banging around in you engine bay.

Regards,
David.

[GRA.GU]

I'd be very wary of using aluminium in this setting. It work hardens, becomes brittle, and can break. Murphy's Law means that it will be in unfortunate circumstances. The trouble aluminium causes is not worth the convenience of its use in such a situation. The tried and tested kit idea may well save you time and money, not to mention angst, in the long run.

[belzi82]

So I was really busy at work today, that I worked out how much it would be to modify the battery holder I have to what I want and how much a proper would cost. I manage to speak to someone who can get me the REAL arb battery tray for around $100. This was cheaper than most, so picking it up tomorrow morning. r4h5t5r5t4 (BJ - my cats opinion)

[Big Nog]

sorry Bel can't help with this one.. hope someone answers your question soon so you can get started, good luck

[myzathreeby]

Did you manage to fit the new tray OK, and did it come up to expectations??

[the ferret]

Any hi-tesile bolts will do Belzi, just find some bolts that only just fit the holes in the bracket.
Use washers both sides where you mount to a panel, and try and use spring washers.
Stainless bolts are best, but whatever you can find in the shed will do.
I find it a bit sad when you purchase a battery tray and they are too mean to supply half a dozen piddly bolts.
If you have a go and come to a halt, just yell mate, someone will get ya there.
Cheers, the ferret.

[bazzad]

Hey belzi82,
Ok first thing to do is sit the tray where it is going to be mounted. Use a marking pen and mark all the bolts that are near the holes in your new tray. These are the ones that you should be able to remove and reuse with your tray in place. If the screws don't seem long enough you may have to buy longer ones. Now your car is metric so all bolts and screws are metric. Should be able to pick them up from most shops in those little plastic kits. Try and use some bolt holes that are already there for the relay but don't strees if you can't find a spot. You can tec screw it to the firewall. ok. General rule is the thicker the wires the better without going overboard. Talk to whoever you get the redarc from, If they don't/won't help do not buy it from them because they should know. Have a crack at the wiring and if in doubt take some pics and put up here. You will get the help you need. Goodluck