dual battery controller?

[Mattman]

Just getting ready for my winch setup. Have a second battery tray and a battery.

Not sure whether to go with a controller or just have them connected full time with an isolation switch just in case.

Thoughts?

Also where in the kapiti/wellington area is a good place to get some cables made up?

Cheers
Matt

[jonossiksilvia]

I done some research on this before adding 2nd battery with winch and i found that the trouble is most dual battery controllers are not made to handle the amps required on hard winch pulls. Even finding an isolation switch capable of the amps is hard (easier than finding a battery controller capable of amps) but there are some about (people have posted links before) if your happy to pay the $ for one.

I my run the batteries parallel without any switch or controller as this was easier, able to handle the amps, less voltage drop due to less connections and cheapest. Whenever I've been camping I've just undone a battery to use over night with no worries of not starting the next day. This has worked for me and yes does mean i have to pop bonnet and use a spanner.
If I'm camping and only need power for lighting up area (led flood light) and charging phone i just leave both connected due to so little power usage. If I have the fridge with me and the radio is used then i'll disconnect a battery

Hope this helps a little

[Mattman]

Thanks Jono.

Basically the same view I have got to after some research. Finding parts that can handle continuous draw over 250 amps is difficult.

I might just use quick disconnect terminals on the second battery.

Have you linked both batteries directly and have the winch only connected to one?

Cheers
Matt

[jonossiksilvia]

Yeah winch all comes off of the drivers side battery along with most of the loads on in the surf. passengers battery has starter only on it. 75mm cable linking the 2 pos posts. 75mm negs directly to engine off each battery and smaller negs to to body. winch neg off of drivers battery also.

It is the passenger battery that I disconnect if i disconnect to make sure i can still start in the morning

[Mattman]

Cheers for the detailed reply.

[chrome]

Lectric forklift battery connectors

[williamhamilton]

Just getting ready for my winch setup. Have a second battery tray and a battery.

Not sure whether to go with a controller or just have them connected full time with an isolation switch just in case.

Thoughts?

Also where in the kapiti/wellington area is a good place to get some cables made up?

Cheers
Matt

If you know your size/lengths I can prob make you up some cables - I will have to double check what gauge I have in stock at the moment.

W

[Mattman]

Awesome thanks William. I am looking at 50mm leads at the moment.

[williamhamilton]

pm sent