[Drova]

[3cyl]

Simple, cheap "dumb" relays have worked for me for years, those smarty pants isolators are good for smarty pants cars, not needed for a Drover though. I run the relay off the ignition but like to have a switch in series also so I can isolate a really flat auxilliary battery at startup.

[bohuler]

Redarc isolator. $88.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... 0787854721

Deep cycle battery from Dank, $350ish. Will run your fridge all weekend without starting the car. Cheap insurance against the dreaded clicky clicky oh fuck ive gotta flat battery feeling
Just my 3c worth!
Dave

[89_tintop]

I have always used solenoids for there simplicity, availability, price and durability.

I installed quite a few different isolators for customers before. Quite like the redarc one, they seem to be quite good, never had problem with one failing (also never had a solenoid I installed fail either)

[jimbo_jones]

I have a matson in my cruser and a redarc in my zook and the redarc is a better unit I would choose it over anything again

[royce]

voltage sensing ones are good for when you draw more power running than the alt can handle and you start running both batteries flat

nothing worse than an engine that wont turn over AND a fridge that wont work

[TheOtherLeft]

royce wrote:

voltage sensing ones are good for when you draw more power running than the alt can handle and you start running both batteries flat

nothing worse than an engine that wont turn over AND a fridge that wont work

Are you saying a VSR will prevent the main battery from going flat with a high load on the aux circuit???

[Scales]

+1 Redarc,.
I use it, my whole family use them, many many years reliable service on multiple vehicles.

[royce]

TheOtherLeft wrote:

royce wrote:

voltage sensing ones are good for when you draw more power running than the alt can handle and you start running both batteries flat

nothing worse than an engine that wont turn over AND a fridge that wont work

Are you saying a VSR will prevent the main battery from going flat with a high load on the aux circuit???

What kind of wiring setup would have the majority of engine running load on the aux battery and the frige on the main?

it will stop the aux battery going flat when your have a heap of lights, stereo, aircon fan all running from the main and the alternator cant keep up, I have done this before

[Drova]

Thanks guys, am going to go for the
Simple option here because it's simple,
cheap and the drover does have to put
up with lot of abuse so simple is good!
ATM the only extra load is The fridge and
lights and i run that atm With one battery,
and alt can keep up. Thanks guys

[Moag]

Simple is good with a good understanding of your loads, battery/s and their limitations along with your charging system.

With the above, all you really need is a way to guestimate your SOC and a heavy duty switch.

Has anyone had any experience or knowledge with Dual Sensing Automatic Charging Relay like the one below from Bluesea Systems?