I want to add a dual battery setup but I was thinking about having the battery in the back inside the cabin. I can not think of any issues if I use a optima?
battery in the cab of the Discovery
- Thread starter Rickinaurora
- Start date
When car batteries charge they produce hydrogen. Though it is a small amount and tends to dissapate quickly, it's very explosive. I would keep it outside the cab and in a place where it can vent.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Is_the_gas_given_off_a_car_battery_harmful
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Is_the_gas_given_off_a_car_battery_harmful
I always have a spare battery in a plastic battery box in the back of my truck, and often connect it into the power system to keep it topped-off. Batteries do produce hydrogen (and oxygen) when charging, but it is a very small amount.
My biggest concern (and it would be magnified with an always-connected battery) is fire. Many vehicle fires start with the battery, because the lead parts inside can short out with vibration. A spiral-cell battery will reduce this concern, but there's always a chance, and also a chance of an electrical fire with your high-amperage wiring.
My biggest concern (and it would be magnified with an always-connected battery) is fire. Many vehicle fires start with the battery, because the lead parts inside can short out with vibration. A spiral-cell battery will reduce this concern, but there's always a chance, and also a chance of an electrical fire with your high-amperage wiring.
As an aside: Battery failure due to vibration may be more likely than you think. The road in my avatar picture (Racetrack Playa road, and Old Death Valley Road), killed no less than two spiral-cell Exide Orbitals with heat and vibration.
Come to think of it, that trip also cost me two engine mounts, and one of my many re-welds of my spare tire carrier!
Come to think of it, that trip also cost me two engine mounts, and one of my many re-welds of my spare tire carrier!
Eric - interesting you should mention this place.
Optima in my D1 seemed to have lasted just fine through several trips down North Death Valley Road. Haven't taken a truck with Exide Orbital (NAPA) there yet.
This environment is brutal indeed. On my LWB, the dust shield on the left side of the rear axle came completely unbolted - and these are two metric-threaded bolts with nylock nuts...
I'd suggest using the space in rear quaters (where the useless pockets are on non-SE7 D1s), in an enclosed box vented outside into the wheelwell.
Optima in my D1 seemed to have lasted just fine through several trips down North Death Valley Road. Haven't taken a truck with Exide Orbital (NAPA) there yet.
This environment is brutal indeed. On my LWB, the dust shield on the left side of the rear axle came completely unbolted - and these are two metric-threaded bolts with nylock nuts...
I'd suggest using the space in rear quaters (where the useless pockets are on non-SE7 D1s), in an enclosed box vented outside into the wheelwell.
I just bought my first Optima, after two pairs of two Orbitals. 4-5 years from now, I'll let you know how they compare. 
optima's suck! I've gone thru 6 (I run dual batteries) in the last 3 years. I keep trading them in for new about every 6 months. If they weren't replacing them for free, I'd be running something else. Blue Top's by the way
As for running in cab, not sure I'd do it, but it can be done safely, there are plenty of products out there for this application.
As for running in cab, not sure I'd do it, but it can be done safely, there are plenty of products out there for this application.
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ptschram
Well-known member
You can put a battery in the cabin, it just needs to be one with a vent line. My mercedes 230k had a battery in the trunk with a vent line. The wife's Smart battery is under the passengers feet with a vent line, and the battery in my Boxster has a vent though it's in the front trunk.
VW busses had a battery in the back next to the engine, but the old VW bugs had a battery under the back seat. Makes jump starting tough.
VW busses had a battery in the back next to the engine, but the old VW bugs had a battery under the back seat. Makes jump starting tough.
Putting your 2nd battery in the cab with you is fine as long as you adhere to a few simple rules:
- Use a sealed battery
- Install at least 2 inline fuses (60AMP) between primary and secondary battery
- Sheath the +ve cable in any areas that have a possibility of chafing through
- Use at least 16mm cable otherwise you will not generate enough power to charge the secondary battey efficiently. (there is a formula to calculate power loss due to resistance per meter of cable) You definately need 16mm cable if you are going to your rear cargo area. I have done the calcs already as this is where my secondary battery is located.
I have been running my rig like this for about 6 years now with out any issues.
My set-up is like this:
+ve and neg cables run from respective terminals on primary battery through firefall to my electrical box in the rear cargo area where the driver's side jump seat used to be. In my electrical box I have a set of +ve and neg copper bus bars. The +'ve and neg cables from the primary battery terminate on these (one to each).
Then I have +'ve and neg cables comming off those going to a 100 AMP manual selectable battery switch. Here I can select either primary or seconday or both or none (off). Switch to secondary once the truck is switched off so that my fridge, lighting, etc ONLY runs off the secondary battery.........
LOL I can go on and on as I have installed a switch panel for my radios, solar panel regulator, ARB compressor, etc, etc.................
It is fine to install your secondary inside the cab, just plan it well and do a good install to prevent any short circuts or any fire hazzards.
Message me if you want any info or help with your install. I can give you a few wiring diagrams
- Use a sealed battery
- Install at least 2 inline fuses (60AMP) between primary and secondary battery
- Sheath the +ve cable in any areas that have a possibility of chafing through
- Use at least 16mm cable otherwise you will not generate enough power to charge the secondary battey efficiently. (there is a formula to calculate power loss due to resistance per meter of cable) You definately need 16mm cable if you are going to your rear cargo area. I have done the calcs already as this is where my secondary battery is located.
I have been running my rig like this for about 6 years now with out any issues.
My set-up is like this:
+ve and neg cables run from respective terminals on primary battery through firefall to my electrical box in the rear cargo area where the driver's side jump seat used to be. In my electrical box I have a set of +ve and neg copper bus bars. The +'ve and neg cables from the primary battery terminate on these (one to each).
Then I have +'ve and neg cables comming off those going to a 100 AMP manual selectable battery switch. Here I can select either primary or seconday or both or none (off). Switch to secondary once the truck is switched off so that my fridge, lighting, etc ONLY runs off the secondary battery.........
LOL I can go on and on as I have installed a switch panel for my radios, solar panel regulator, ARB compressor, etc, etc.................
It is fine to install your secondary inside the cab, just plan it well and do a good install to prevent any short circuts or any fire hazzards.
Message me if you want any info or help with your install. I can give you a few wiring diagrams
ptschram
Well-known member
having a second battery? there might not be enough room for another one under the hood.nosivad_bor said: