Two batts under pax

[jock]

Two batteries on extended trips are a must, running a fridge,lap-top,and lighting ... So with a bit of cutting and welding, I put them under the pasenger seat. To get h/duty batteries in the round edge has to be squared off, which still leaves room for electrics and wireing... The pic's show a defender seatbox, I think the series ones are built square in the beguining...Jock ...

[RMS]

Hi Jock,

Are you using the two batteries doubled up as auxiliaries, or is one the starter battery?

I would think, in your part of the world, you might be using a decent sized solar panel to help them along.

What fridge are you running? We use Waeco compressor fridges in both of our Carawagons, which just sip current and an Optima yellow top deep cycle battery will run it for a week, even in hot climates (so we're told!).
If you're using a '3 way' absorption fridge, that will be sucking current at around 6-7A (most do) all the time so would run a battery down in hours

Let us know what your setup is - it's always interesting to see how others cope

Cheers,
Robin.

[flyingant]

Here's the set-up in my Defender, using a Devon 4x4 battery tray and split-charge relay with twin Odyssey batteries under the L/H seat (driver's in my case!)

I also use a Waeco fridge, and can firmly second Robin's recommendation, with the proviso that if they are going to be subjected to knocks or abrasion, it's a good idea to protect the plastic casing with the optional cover. This also improves the insulation even more.

[jock]

G'day Guys ,Both batt's are in conjunction with h/duty solenoid . When ignition is turned on, both batt's are starters + both batt's get charged from an 80 amp alt (solenoid just joins batt's togeather). All axillary are run from the second batt... I run an Engle 40 lit two way fridge, it will run for 4 days without starting the vehicle, if stationary for two days or more I plug everything into a small 2 kva gen set and that will charge batt's and run everything, or if in a van park just plug into mains power ... The solenoid system dose not work to well with batt's (like one h/duty and one deep cycle) the start batt gets full charge, but the deep cycle wont get to it's max charge... I have a pic of batt set-up in Dormobile curtains... I might go for the Redarc system next time as I will be towing a camper trailer and that means a third batt ... Jock