Extra Battery installation / Air filter box

[StuartL]

Hi guys, I have now bought a winch and would like to install a second battery in my 109. My current battery in under the drivers seat and I have lots of room under the hood.

I was going to use a marine battery switch to isolate them but the amperage isn't enough.

Also I have been thinking of adding a new air filter set-up that I can utilize a K&N and attach it to a snorkel. Would you suggest the standard Series II set-up with the combination battery and Air cleaner holder or something else?

Thanks for your advice.
Cheers,
Stuart

[DaveB]

Hi Stuart,

As far as battery placement, I don't know what works best with your set up, but if you have room, you could do what I did and put two batteries one after the other in the spot where the battery normally goes, extending back over where the old air cleaner went. In terms of connecting them, all you need is a solenoid rated for full time engagement. These are about $11 at Lordco, or about $16 at most RV places. You then run both negatives to good grounds on the engine or frame. Run one positive to the starter button terminal, with an additional heavy gauge lead going to one side of the solenoid. Run the other battery positive to the solenoid only, on the other side terminal. You then ground one of the activator terminals and run a wire from your ignition power to the other activator terminal. Or you could have a look at mine.

This ensures that both batteries are connected when the ignition is on, which gives double the cranking amps, and also charges both during operation. But, one battery will always be fully charged as it is shut out of the curcuit whenever the ignition is off.

A couple of other variables, you could wire your winch to the secondary battery, thus keeping your charging battery from becoming drained if you're powering the winch without your engine running -- not really a good idea, but can happen in some circumstances. Or run other accessories like your stereo, fridge, cig lighter off this battery so you can use them at night, but not run down your starter battery.

And, a small length of jump wire allows you to jump start the truck by reverse-enabling the solenoid if you happen to let the starter battery drain to stone cold dead. no jumper cables needed.

I have no idea what the best route for the snorkel is, so I'll leave that to someone who's done it before.

Dave

[bclandrover]

After a few quick searches on google, it would seem that the ultimate set-up would be two "optima" yellow top dual purpose deep cycle battery run in parallel or with an isolator(one battery for winch and one for starting).

You shouldn't need to run the load through the switch or isolator.

Here is some links I found with further info on batteries:

http://www.stu-offroad.com/electrical/elec1/battery.htm

http://www.optimabatteries.com/publish/ ... cycle.html

As for the snorkel(aka raised air intake) you can get a kit for series trucks from Mantec. www.mantec.co.uk or if you wanted to get creative and do a custom one off job, I would ask Karl who made his own in recent years.

Later,
Don

[rick.m]

I got a battery box from an rv place that is made to hold 2 6volt golf cart batterys, it has hold down lugs on it and a screw top lid. i have it in my 109 behind the seat. i ran #4 battery cable to it through an isloator so they charge when i drive and dont when i shut down . it is only 6 ft from the main under the hood. i have power outlets front and rear from them. and they will run a winch when i get it. the batterys are rv 27 series 6 volt. the box and batterys are from interstate. rick.m

[red90]

I would suggest the Exide Orbital Marine Starting/Deep Cycle, http://www.exide.com/products/marine_rv ... cycle.html. They are the same size and specs as the group 34 blue top (D34M) Optima dual purpose but cheaper and they have a better reputation. Canadian Tire sells them rebadged as "Nautilus Deep Cycle Battery, product# 10-3490-0" for $180.

http://members.shaw.ca/red90/batteries.JPG