Auxiliary Battery advice

[Bluerex]

Hey team,
I understand that an Aux battery fitted under the passenger seat is a factory option. Has anyone tried retro fitting one themselves (maybe using the existing wiring?)
Alternately, has anyone a diagram for the mass of plugs and sockets under the front seats?

C

[95vr6]

I have a T5 myself, no wiring large enough to supply the current required to hookup aux battery. it is much easier to run 4awg cable from battery to under seat thorugh original gromet via a smart soleinoid.

[Transporter]

I have a T5 myself, no wiring large enough to supply the current required to hookup aux battery. it is much easier to run 4awg cable from battery to under seat thorugh original gromet via a smart soleinoid.

Hi 95vr6,
I bought smart start solenoid 6 month ago for my T5, but didn't fit it yet. I'm worried that it may have some impact on electrical system of the van. How long do you have yours fitted and did you have any electrical or any problems with the van after installation and do you use the same type battery (lead acid, sealed lead acid or calcium content type)?
Cheers,
MRL T5

[gregozedobe]

...... and do you use the same type battery (lead acid, sealed lead acid or calcium content type)?

I wimped out and didn't connect my aux battery to my T5s electrical system at all. It is a large (210 a/hr) AGM (sealed) battery that can run my fridge for 3-4 days without needing a charge. I charge it from my 240v charger.

I would only put a sealed battery into the interior of any van, unless you are going to all the trouble of installing a sealed compartment that is vented to the exterior. Fumes from a charging/discharging unsealed lead acid battery are noxious, corrosive, flammable and dangerous (I think our ADRs say something similar). I assume the one VW put under the passenger seat is sealed type.

Note that AGM Batteries don't like to be overcharged, especially in warmer temps, so they require more sophisticated chargers, and they are significantly dearer than conventional lead acid batteries of the same capacity.

My advice is to do your homework (lots of useful info on the 'net) and only accept advice from someone who really does know their stuff (lots of people put on a good act, but end up selling you something that won't deliver the goods over the long run). In particular some batteries are sold as "deep cycle" when they are not.

Check with the detailed specs directly from the manufacturer to see what their real performance and lifespan is. The deeper you discharge any lead acid battery the fewer cycles you will get, but some batteries cope better than others (these are usually heavier and more expensive).

To save capacity (and $$$) it is worth designing your "house" 12v electrical system to use as little elecricity as possible (efficient compressor fridge, LEDs/flouros for lights etc, absolutely nothing that produces heat such as toasters, microwaves, jugs etc).

If you are looking at solar panels check carefully the actual delivered current at useable voltages (the wattages they advertise are often significantly greater than the current you can actually use).

Hope that helps.

[95vr6]

Hi 95vr6,
I bought smart start solenoid 6 month ago for my T5, but didn't fit it yet. I'm worried that it may have some impact on electrical system of the van. How long do you have yours fitted and did you have any electrical or any problems with the van after installation and do you use the same type battery (lead acid, sealed lead acid or calcium content type)?
Cheers,
MRL T5

Hi MRL T5,
I have had the aux battery setup in my T5 coming upto 3 years in december. I use a deep cycle wet cell Trojan 130ah mounted in an air tight box vented via a 12mm air hose to the outside of the van through the grommet under passenger seat where the my 1/0 awg cable comes in. No issues with alternater or other body control modules. Still using original battery in engine bay. I use a smart battery controller so it lets the aux battery come on line when voltage goes to 13.8 volts.
Load on aux battery is as follows
40lt Engel fridge
300w invertor
2 12v cordless drill battery chargers
4 11w flouro lights
12v laptop adapter

[Jmac]

Did u fit this up yourself mate? Im thinking of setting up a mobile daignostics and AC repair business and would love to have some stuff running of an Aux.
Do you have some diagrams etc??
Cheers in advance mate

[95vr6]

Did u fit this up yourself mate? Im thinking of setting up a mobile daignostics and AC repair business and would love to have some stuff running of an Aux.
Do you have some diagrams etc??
Cheers in advance mate

I have installed all of the above myself, will be coming out in 01/08 when new T5 arrives. What diagrams in specific do you need?
Are you on Sydney, might be able to show you how to put it all together/ parts suppliers

[Jmac]

Mate thanks for that i live up in brisbane. I would be keen to see how you fitted it up
Cheers
T5 great bus

[Bluerex]

Sealed battery

I have a 650CCA Pulse battery - a cheap copy of the odyssey - completely sealed!!
Like this one , only a little bigger. (check here for the details)


Should fit under passenger seat a treat, just need the switch-gear and a few cables.....

C

[95vr6]

I have a 650CCA Pulse battery - a cheap copy of the odyssey - completely sealed!!
Like this one , only a little bigger. (check here for the details)


Should fit under passenger seat a treat, just need the switch-gear and a few cables.....

C

Are you using that battery for extra starting power or aux battery for fridge etc?

[Transporter]

Hi MRL T5,
I have had the aux battery setup in my T5 coming upto 3 years in december. I use a deep cycle wet cell Trojan 130ah mounted in an air tight box vented via a 12mm air hose to the outside of the van through the grommet under passenger seat where the my 1/0 awg cable comes in. No issues with alternater or other body control modules. Still using original battery in engine bay. I use a smart battery controller so it lets the aux battery come on line when voltage goes to 13.8 volts.
Load on aux battery is as follows
40lt Engel fridge
300w invertor
2 12v cordless drill battery chargers
4 11w flouro lights
12v laptop adapter

I bought Optima Yellow top battery 12 months ago. It is deep cycle and starting battery and since I'm not convinced that it is 100% compatible with T5 starting battery I didn't wired it up. I'm using Red Arc Smart Battery Charger for charging it, once a week. Battery powers only 12V air compressor and inverter when using laptop and printer.
I like the idea of a realy big battery but big battery means more weight and my T5 can carry 850kg of load, so I had to downsize many things and reduce amount of tools in the van.
Does anybody know if VW is using 2 the same battery types in the dual battery set ups in a new T5?

[95vr6]

I bought Optima Yellow top battery 12 months ago. It is deep cycle and starting battery and since I'm not convinced that it is 100% compatible with T5 starting battery I didn't wired it up. I'm using Red Arc Smart Battery Charger for charging it, once a week. Battery powers only 12V air compressor and inverter when using laptop and printer.
I like the idea of a realy big battery but big battery means more weight and my T5 can carry 850kg of load, so I had to downsize many things and reduce amount of tools in the van.
Does anybody know if VW is using 2 the same battery types in the dual battery set ups in a new T5?

Hi MRL T5, the optima will charge ok in your T5, all you need is a smart type relay to control charge. I have used them many years ago but are limited in Ah's, i think they are only 65ah. The optional second battery from factory is a sealed AGM type at 75Ah at $385. I was going to order this for my new T5 but the capacity is to small compared to my Trojan 130Ah at the moment.

[Bluerex]

Are you using that battery for extra starting power or aux battery for fridge etc?

I will cable (big stuff) for starting assistance, but it is mainly intended for fridge, work-lights, inverter etc.

C

[95vr6]

I will cable (big stuff) for starting assistance, but it is mainly intended for fridge, work-lights, inverter etc.

C

The battery you are looking is not a deep cycle battery, you may have problems with it discharging quite radpidly. What is the Ah rating?

[Bluerex]

The Pulse is a copy of the Odyssey PC925. See here for more info.

Just how good a copy? Time will tell but the size and fully sealed nature make it worth investigating. And while the 26AH is not a patch on the Trojan (at 130!!), this will still run my fridge happily between main engine (charging) runs.

C