Battery change

Bas + Eve · Senior Member

Battery change

patrol03 · Senior Member

to be on the safe side Iwould isolate the start battery.

PeterD · Guru

Check to see if there is a device to disconnect the house battery from the vehicle electrical system when the motor is not running. The batteries should be installed that way, if not you can be left without a way to start your motor if you run all the batteries down.

Cruising Cruze · Guru

@ B&E

Maybe install an DC-DC charger as well ( I know $$$ )

Cheers John

macka17 · Guru

Hi.
Normally a rig will have one Starter battery. and several(to suit) house battery's
Set up separately.

I'd have a separate starter batt.(85-100 a Extreme or similar.)
with the two Golf buggy etc 130a Housebatt's on completely separate circuit.
Mayb an electronic splitter under bonnet.

I also carry a Generator and 40a Smartcharger in tray and 25a charger in van
that can link to ute if necessary.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Is there a relay or contactor between the house and motor battery ? Tape or use red paint to ID + terminal . Best done with no load ..

Tony Bev · Guru

Hello Bas + Eve

I am not an electrician

If there is a mechanical isolation switch between the Engine and House Batteries, then always turn it off

When you remove the house batteries, always remove all the negative leads first, before you remove the positive leads
When fitting the new house batteries, always fit all the positive leads first, and the negative leads last

Then switch on the isolation switch
Hope this info helps you out

oldtrack123 · Guru

Cruising Cruze wrote:
@ B&E

Maybe install an DC-DC charger as well ( I know $$$ )

Cheers John

WHY???

His batteries have lasted 6 years ,so I doubt he has a charging problem!!!

All that a dc /Dc charger will do is limit the max charge current to it's rating,20 or40A ,instead of the full alternator amps being available

To the OP ,do as others have said ,remove the neg lead from the crank battery

Connect all new l battery pos together, then connect the pos cables load & charger ,etc cable , next all the neg including load etc cables,

then the house battery earth cable finally refit the crank neg cable ,

that reduces the chances of some big sparks if you accidentally earth something

-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Monday 29th of August 2016 11:43:47 PM

Murraman · Senior Member

If you have solar panels either do it when it is dark or throw a blanket over them when connect/disconnect the house batts, I do the latter to be sure.

robol · Veteran Member

Hi Allan.
I connected a couple of High Current DC Circuit Breakers from Jaycar. One for the negative cables and the other for positive cables coming from solar panels, before the regulator. These are switchable on/off, so saves me the trouble of covering panels if I need to. Only around $23 each and have come in handy so far, much easier than climbing up on the roof.
Cheers Rob.