P38 dual optimas under the hood?

[Pugsly]

I don't remember seeing anyone posting this - but has anyone had any success mounting dual optimas under the hood in place of the stock battery / ECU assembly?

I've checked, and it looks like it will fit, just wondering if anyone has beat me to it and can confirm that it will work!

 

[agro1]

Yeah, I have...

 

[RhinoRange02]

sweet! , ask and ye shall recieve knowledge....

Argo, we'd love to see some pics man....

Are you using Red or Yellow tops? or a combo? Are you running them in parallel?

 

[Pugsly]

Okay, I've completed my dual optima setup. pictures at P38 dual optima install

 

[agro1]

LOL - there's a reason the factory battery is in a semi-sealed enclosure.

 

[Rippers]

Okay, I've completed my dual optima setup. pictures at P38 dual optima install

Wow that looks nice! Wish I had the room in my RRC for that - hmmm maybe I should just buy a P38??

 

[Pugsly]

Wow that looks nice! Wish I had the room in my RRC for that - hmmm maybe I should just buy a P38??

Thanks - it was a tight fit but ended up coming together quite nicely.

 

[agro1]

Do you plan on doing any water crossings ?

 

[Rippers]

I do alot of water crossings - the main obstacle here in Florida - so I plan to do more...

Why Agro? Is there something you recommend for battery setup - right now my red top sits in the same spot as the old interstate did. I'd like to run dual batteries but not sure where to put it just yet and I have other things higher on the priority list....

 

[agro1]

The battery is protected inside the factory housing for a reason. I won't say it's watertight, but it does prevent a lot of water ingress and other elements.

 

[Rippers]

The battery is protected inside the factory housing for a reason. I won't say it's watertight, but it does prevent a lot of water ingress and other elements.

Hmmm... Not sure about the P38 but my RRC doesn't have a housing of any sort - We've treated the terminals and battery wire ends with some stuff that is suppossed to prevent and mishaps ( I can't think of what it's called atm).

I thought maybe you knew of a reason not to do a setup like he did?

 

[Pugsly]

Hmmm... Not sure about the P38 but my RRC doesn't have a housing of any sort - We've treated the terminals and battery wire ends with some stuff that is suppossed to prevent and mishaps ( I can't think of what it's called atm).

The only reason that enclosure is there is to provide protection for the ECU (which used to be locate directly behind the battery). Newer P38s don't have the ECU in the engine compartment, so you can safely remove all the plastic.

If you think about it, not many vehicles have 'enclosed' batteries - the things are pretty stable on their own! (RRC, Disco, etc.) I actually get a lot more water and dirt in my Defender battery box, since it is under the drivers seat and vents to the bottom of the vehicle.

 

[RhinoRange02]

Can this still be accomplished utilizing the plastic bin?

Well for someone interested in keeping the stock battery "bin" is it still possible to do the dual optimas? Or is it a must to remove the plastic battery bin and make something as in the posts with pictures above?

Also if needing to use an optima yellow for winch and exterior lighting in the near future, do you have to run two optima yellows in parallel, or can you run 1 Red, and 1 Yellow in parallel?

 

[Pugsly]

Well for someone interested in keeping the stock battery "bin" is it still possible to do the dual optimas? Or is it a must to remove the plastic battery bin and make something as in the posts with pictures above?

Also if needing to use an optima yellow for winch and exterior lighting in the near future, do you have to run two optima yellows in parallel, or can you run 1 Red, and 1 Yellow in parallel?

I don't think there is any way to do it with the bin. Why do you need to keep it - is your ECU there? There is room to move the ECU back and to the side of the engine if need be.

I've read about some folks locating a second battery in the spare tire well. The logic being that as you go with larger tires you have to mount the spare on a tire carrier (or carry it on the roof rack), so might as well do something with the empty well!

If you are not going to isolate your winch battery, it needs to be the same type / age / condition as the starting battery. If you use a battery isolator then you can do whatever you want!

 

[agro1]

I don't think there is any way to do it with the bin. Why do you need to keep it - is your ECU there?

LOL - good luck with that.