Dual Battery Options and Fitting

[heyasam]

Hi All, reviving an old thread. According to travels volts here - Leoch Xtreme AGM 110 ah battery | travelvolts he is saying this 110ah AGM:

354mm long x 175mm wide x 190mm high. 24 kg.
Fits under single seat easily.

Of interest that one is a bit larger than discussed in the sticky thread - T5 FAQ and How to THREAD (up to August 2009).

Doesn't seem easy to get the batteries advertised by travelvolts here in Oz, so I'm thinking for a second battery to fit under the passenger single seat in my t5.1 highline to try this:

SuperCharge MF77HRX | 915CCA GoldPlus Battery | Frankies Auto Electrics
32 x 18 x 17 cm

Can't quite tell but think this is an AGM. I think it might be considered dual purpose? It's 110ah, and hope it can be mounted on its side...

Just hoping anyone can confirm if this looks like a good option and I'm not about to blow my cash?

[heyasam]

Woops, yeah, can't mount the MF77HRX on it's side. Sigh. Hope I can find a good AGM in Oz, 100+ AH that fits, anyone have suggestions?

Looks like you can get some start / stop AGM's around 90 - 95AH around that size
MF88HSS and Powersonic PLN5

Powersonic PLN5(DIN88HAGM)

[heyasam]

Taking my own measurements, pretty tight but I reckon one on these sizes would fit. Here's another one in a potentially cheaper brand -
KSAGM95 – YHI Power

Be nice to hear if someone else has already done this, any problems with all these wires under there? Shove them out of the way, and did you need to move any of the fuse holders? Also interesting an empty plug was floating under my seat, wonder what that one is for! See the light brown and brown with white stripe?

[Mtwem]

Has anyone got any experiences with these?
EcoFlow Delta 1800W Power Station 1260Wh/105Ah (anacondastores.com)

For someone that usually just weekend camps out of the van, would this save costs and time on setting up the full dual batt DC DC setup? I currently have that now on a 2010, but wondering for the new van if worth the effort setting it all up with correct chargers (smart alternator) compared to this which would probably last just running a fridge/phone charging.

May be slightly limited but keen to hear thoughts, pros/cons if anyone has experience/knowledge here.

[BrianJ]

I have a sealed 100A/hr AGM battery mounted on its side in my kombi beach, the original place was under the passengers seat, standing upright, but that required a DIN sized battery, so you need one that can be laid on its side. The wires have to be rearranged, and I held it in place with wood pieces as a cradle, with a metal bar across the top to hold it down.

To Dubber regarding this question:
'Under the front passenger seat is a loom of red wires that just terminate at a dead end. I've peeled the tape off and there is two smaller looms. One has a 5 cables, one has 3 cables.'

This wiring sounds like the same wiring that was fitted to the kombi beach which came with the factory second battery, There was a couple of thick wires and a few thinner ones from memory.

[timbat]

I'm looking at doing the same thing and will use the Ctek smart charger with solar option. easier to spend more now that have to revisit the job in the future.

12V Bundle Multi Tool Smart Battery Charger | CTEK | Edisons

Thats a high price, look on ebay for a cheaper price.

When I removed my dual seat I found a nice big fat positive cable all taped up under the seat so i hope thats a direct connection to the battery so i don't have to run a new cable. I've replaced the twin seat with a single as i want the walk through function, that means I may have issues finding a home for the second battery.

I would go for a fully sealed battery maybe a AGM around the 80Ah size so it can run your freezer for a while off line, I will be using it for similar uses to you, freezer, lights and power.

Would be interested to see how you go.

Pickle, I am looking to do this exact thing. My T6 has bench seat and 2nd battery options fitted as factory, but want to go to swiveling passenger capt chair. Wonder how I will get on re-siting the 2nd battery.

Cheers TimBat

[drivesafe]

Pickle, I am looking to do this exact thing. My T6 has bench seat and 2nd battery options fitted as factory, but want to go to swiveling passenger capt chair. Wonder how I will get on re-siting the 2nd battery.

Cheers TimBat

If you disconnect the sensor on the negative ( - ) terminal of the cranking battery, you do not need a DC/DC device and the auxiliary battery will charge faster.

I actually have a lithium auxiliary battery and have been running this setup for 18 months now.

[drivesafe]

I forgot to mention, if you disconnect the sense on the Negative ( - ) Terminal of the cranking battery, you will also deactivate the STOP/START function, so you will no long have to cancel it every time you start your motor.

Also note, with the sensor disconnected, your cranking battery should have a longer lifespan.

[Bryn23]

I forgot to mention, if you disconnect the sense on the Negative ( - ) Terminal of the cranking battery, you will also deactivate the STOP/START function, so you will no long have to cancel it every time you start your motor.

Also note, with the sensor disconnected, your cranking battery should have a longer lifespan.

I tried this a few years ago, as stop/start is just a mess on the transporter, dangerous in my view, if you have one you know what it’s like.

This little trick didn’t work on my T6 132kw euro 5. I treated the stop start button like a seatbelt, turning it off before driving off

[drivesafe]

Hi Bryn23, did you by any chance monitor you voltage while the sensor was disconnected.

I have had mine disconnected for nearly 18 months now and the voltage never drops below 13.8v but most of the time, it sits at around 14.1v

PS, What year is your T6?

[Bryn23]

Hi Bryn23, did you by any chance monitor you voltage while the sensor was disconnected.

I have had mine disconnected for nearly 18 months now and the voltage never drops below 13.8v but most of the time, it sits at around 14.1v

PS, What year is your T6?

My T6 is a MY17, i used a scangauge that i installed to keep an eye on the Voltage with it disconnected, i was still seeing the T6 do it's Low Voltage range of 12.1-12.6 volts

I think i might reinstall scangauge, and recheck the voltage with it, i took it off as i had planned on selling the T6.

Since then i have changed over the 30amp DC-DC to a 60amp DC-DC charger and a Vatra 92Ah starter battery.