Member Since: 27 Jun 2011
Location: Saskatoon
Posts: 87
Dual Battery Setup other than Traxide
Wondering if this will work because it is costing less than half the price of the traxide optima d34 yellow top set up which in Canada will cost me around $600.
Click image to enlarge
They battery is from Walmart. They have a battery with similar (or better) specs as D34 yellowtop for half the price which will fit the aux battery compartment and has better rating also.Land Rover LR3 SE v4.0
Matte Black Wrapped with Chrome Edging, Front Grille, Aftermarket Reversing Camera, Aftermarket Parking Sensors, Curt Class III Hitch,
It depends on what you want to run off it, if you want a winch as well as all the toys then 80 amps is not enough.. Its not the battery thats the weak point its your isolator .
Flack
Last edited by Flack on 20th Jul 2012 7:44 am. Edited 1 time in total
20th Jul 2012 7:42 am
J@mes
Member Since: 10 Nov 2008
Location: Bomber County
Posts: 4547
I think a fair few people have the T-max kit, which is about £75 here!2014 D4 XS
2005 D3 SE - Gone
20th Jul 2012 7:44 am
toxxic
Member Since: 27 Jun 2011
Location: Saskatoon
Posts: 87
oh i see. i wont be running a winch really but can i use a 200amp isolator in lr3?Land Rover LR3 SE v4.0
Matte Black Wrapped with Chrome Edging, Front Grille, Aftermarket Reversing Camera, Aftermarket Parking Sensors, Curt Class III Hitch,
i am using a 50amp fuse with 80amp isolator. which fuse should i use with 200 amps?
I would say a 30 amp fuse should be ample for you
Flack
20th Jul 2012 2:59 pm
drivesafe
Member Since: 23 Feb 2006
Location: Gold Coast, Australia
Posts: 867
Hi Toxxic and best of luck with your set up but here are couple of suggestions for you, based on why my Traxide kits work and why people don’t have to do any guesswork.
The D3/LR3 has a large capacity alternator and the Optima batteries are RAPID charge batteries, so if your cheap substitute battery has similar specs, and I would be very surprised if it did, then here are a few things you need to know.
The SC80-LR is rated at 90 amp continuos load and 200amp surge, ( the USI-160 is rated at 160 amps continuos and 480 amps surge ) so first check that your intended isolator can handle similar as this is very important where the D3/LR3 is concerned.
Next, the Optima can SAFELY take full inrush currents which means if your auxiliary battery is like an Optima and is in a very low state when you start your motor, it can easily be pulling over 100 amps for a short time as it will not only pull everything your alternator can provide but can take some of your cranking battery’s energy as well.
This is just like when winching only in reverse.
Next, and this will save you a lot of time and money. You need to use 50 amp AUTO RESETTING CIRCUIT BREAKERS not 30 or 50 amp fuses or standard circuit breakers.
The reason for using a 50 amp AUTO RESETTING CIRCUIT BREAKER is that all automotive fuses and circuit breakers are specifically designed to tolerate around 135% of their marked rate for about 30 minutes.
So is you use a fuse or a standard type circuit breaker, first off it would need to be around the 100 amp mark but you would then need to use MUCH thicker cable to make the set up safe.
By using a 50 amp AUTO RESETTING CIRCUIT BREAKER, you can safely use 6B&S ( 13.5mm2 ) or 16mm2 cable and still have a safe and effective set up that will trip and reset on any occasion where you get ultra high currents for short periods of time.
Whereas with your set up, you will be replacing fuses or resetting circuit breakers any time you use the auxiliary battery.
Toxxic, I don’t mind people comparing my gear to others but you really need to know a lot more about different set ups and different types of batteries before saying something is cheaper than the Traxide set ups as the reality is that it’s cheaper because it will not give you anywhere near the same SAFETY or benefits and as Flack posted, it depends on what you run off it.2008 TDV8 RR Lux + 2009 D4 2.7
20th Jul 2012 8:31 pm
geoff.
Member Since: 24 Jan 2010
Location: West kent
Posts: 8531
just to add i had the traxide system in my D3 for 3 years with out any problems what so ever , so i know where my money will get spent next time
20th Jul 2012 10:32 pm
Moo D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 14467
I run a Tmax system with an Odyssey battery. Excellent set up and very, very easy to install. No issues or problems in two years and I like the battery link function on the monitor. Highly recomended.
21st Jul 2012 6:41 am
DG Site Moderator
Member Since: 12 Dec 2005
Location: The Gaff
Posts: 50979
I've run with the Traxide system for 2 1/2 years and have to say that it's excellent. The wiring kit comes ready made up and pre-cut to fit perfectly into the D3 /4 engine and rear load bay...it's a real doddle to fit. Ran permanently with my Engel MT45 to Morocco and back and for a further 6 months after that with no problems whatsoever. You pays your money ...... 21 year LR veteran > D2 GS 2003 > D3 S 2006 > D3 HSE 2009 > D4 HSE 2013 > D4 HSE 2015 > D5 HSE 2018 > DS HSE R-Dynamic P300e 2021
21st Jul 2012 8:40 am
toxxic
Member Since: 27 Jun 2011
Location: Saskatoon
Posts: 87
I didn't mean any offence just offering an alternative. So I figured out that my battery from Walmart was 23cm so too tall and aux battery compartment wouldn't close so I went and bought a different one from Canadian Tire similar spec to optima deep cycle only battery with 4 year warranty for $240 only battery in the city i could find that would fit the compartment. The kit including wiring has cost me around $200. Also it is taking me ages to figure stuff out on how to put it together. Wish I had bought a 200Amp isolator instead only $50 more. Thinking in retrospect if I had bought the traxide kit I wouldn't have to go through this hassle. But I have learnt a lot doing it myself. Saved maybe $50 so traxide is worth for what you get. I do have a LED indicator on the right side of my steering wheel which is also connected to isolator so if voltage is too low it switches off main battery use. I will post pics and instructions.Land Rover LR3 SE v4.0
Matte Black Wrapped with Chrome Edging, Front Grille, Aftermarket Reversing Camera, Aftermarket Parking Sensors, Curt Class III Hitch,
6th Aug 2012 4:47 pm
drivesafe
Member Since: 23 Feb 2006
Location: Gold Coast, Australia
Posts: 867
Hi toxxic and it’s all a learning curve.
A little tip on the LED mounting.
I experimented with dash mounted LEDs about 7 or 8 years back and supplied a test batch to different customers.
I found that in every case, after about 2 weeks the novelty wear off and the light became very annoying, particularly at night.
I got around the problem with my new in-cab display isolators by having the LED go dull 60 seconds after the motor is stated and everything is running correctly with the DBS. It only glows brightly again if something happens in the DBS.
So if you can, try to make sure your LED is not in your face all the time.2008 TDV8 RR Lux + 2009 D4 2.7
6th Aug 2012 9:14 pm
toxxic
Member Since: 27 Jun 2011
Location: Saskatoon
Posts: 87
ye i put the led in a small panel on the right side of the steering wheel which has a small vent in it. There is a dimmer wire on the battery monitor module but i don't know which wire to connect it to.Land Rover LR3 SE v4.0
Matte Black Wrapped with Chrome Edging, Front Grille, Aftermarket Reversing Camera, Aftermarket Parking Sensors, Curt Class III Hitch,
6th Aug 2012 10:08 pm
doddsy72
Member Since: 04 May 2011
Location: Exmouth WA
Posts: 29
I have used a Red arc isolator/ dual battery setup for 2 years now without incident, I am using a yellow top optima for secondary battery.
Redarc was $120 ish
Battery $250
Not tried the traxide kit, but everyone seems to like them. Me, I'm always trying to save a buck.
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