Joined
·
14,790 Posts
You carry two batteries because all batteries fail, and a second is a back up.
If you have alot of draw while running then put a bigger alternator in.
How-to: Dual Battery Install - Under the Hood - PBR
61 - 80 of 80 Posts
If you have alot of draw while running then put a bigger alternator in.
Joined
·
387 Posts
Joined
·
189 Posts
Joined
·
254 Posts
I'm looking to start this mod, but the sad thing is my complete lack of fabrication ability as I don't have my own tools (besides the bare basics) or know-how. I'm wondering if anyone has found a decent battery tray yet for this. If not, I'm a huge fan of "build it right, build it once". If anyone who has completed this build could provide some drawn plans of what the perfect tray and all brackets would look like so I can have some parts fabricated by a friend I'd be super appreciative!!
Joined
·
2,572 Posts
Start by relocating your power steering reservoir. If that goes smoothly you should be able to do the rest.
Joined
·
254 Posts
Ok, I'll start there.
Joined
·
189 Posts
I just finished this mod yesterday with 2 of the trays below. I bolted them down to the frame, they hold the batteries down in a pretty solid fashion. It's a fairly snug fit, thus you need to play around a good amount to make sure you get them in the ideal position before drilling the holes in the frame. (As with everything, working in tight space increases the amount of time exponentially. I spent at least twice as much time on it than I initially expected, but at least have a fairly clean and solid setup now.)
https://www.nextventuremotorsports.com/product/3478-optima-battery-box-pc/
Joined
·
14,790 Posts
Good on ya!! :grin:
pics or it didnt happen :dontknow:
pics or it didnt happen :dontknow:
Joined
·
189 Posts
Joined
·
189 Posts
Final setup (without the aux battery positive cable connected, as it turned out to be a bit short, will get it fixed tomorrow, once Amazon gets me a slightly longer one):
Attachments
Joined
·
14,790 Posts
For those of us that have trouble craning our necks around .........
![]()
Joined
·
130 Posts
Going to put this on my laundry list of mods.Here ya go:Good on ya!! <a href="http://thenewx.org/forum/images/TheNewX_2015/smilies/tango_face_grin.png" border="0" alt="" title="Big Grin" ></a>
pics or it didnt happen![]()
What year and model is this in?
Thx, Lucas
Joined
·
189 Posts
2014 X
By the way, I since did a small mod to it, which seems to have worked out well so far. Relating to Step 19 of the original write up: I moved the negative wire of the aux battery from the engine block to the top of the original negative wire, about an inch above the voltage sensor where I had to cut it earlier anyhow and connected a new wire for the main battery's negative post. Prior to this change my voltage regulator dropped the voltage more frequently to the lower end of the spectrum (i.e. ~13.1V), thus reducing the charging of the aux battery. With this change now the charge going to the aux battery is also measured by the sensor and thus the voltage is dropped less frequently. All my extra power sucking devices are connected directly to the batteries (inc. negative connections of course), so the increased amperage on the original negative wire should not be an issue I believe.
Joined
·
120 Posts
Joined
·
254 Posts
Thats a great looking box, but you'll find that you will still need to move the PS reservoir and will need to fab up a lot of support to "drop" that in and it might hit the cooler line. If you've done it, please share the writeup and pics.
A wonderful post and pictorial essay. Thanks for all the effort!
When I did mine years ago I took the opportunity to remove the fusible link 'gooseneck' that is o annoying and replaced it with a small box where I re-routed the wire and fuses to. I also replaced the plastic coolant overflow with an aluminum one and am glad I did. Plastic ages with time, UV and heat so that weak link is gone.
It was not clear to my aging eyes as to your battery placement on the vertical axis. Are they on two separate levels? I am able to use either Group 24 or 34 in my Xterras by placing them on two levels - the aux battery (closest to the grill) is mounted down a level from the starting battery. I bent 14 gauge steel and aluminum sheet to fit each battery's bottom them cut 1/4" top plates of UHDP ('puckboard'?) to reduce the risk of shorting things out accidentally when working around them and tools are scattered a bit carelessly.
When I did mine years ago I took the opportunity to remove the fusible link 'gooseneck' that is o annoying and replaced it with a small box where I re-routed the wire and fuses to. I also replaced the plastic coolant overflow with an aluminum one and am glad I did. Plastic ages with time, UV and heat so that weak link is gone.
It was not clear to my aging eyes as to your battery placement on the vertical axis. Are they on two separate levels? I am able to use either Group 24 or 34 in my Xterras by placing them on two levels - the aux battery (closest to the grill) is mounted down a level from the starting battery. I bent 14 gauge steel and aluminum sheet to fit each battery's bottom them cut 1/4" top plates of UHDP ('puckboard'?) to reduce the risk of shorting things out accidentally when working around them and tools are scattered a bit carelessly.
Joined
·
1 Posts
Honestly i might use this just to have better room for only 1 battery to make working on certain stuff in my engine bay easier
Joined
·
2,133 Posts
This is what I did:
www.thenewx.org
And this is what turned out:
- Photos and directions, cut some vertical sheet metal; buy extra 2 power steering hoses, attach to existing ones
Stainless steel trays welded together, single piece, attaches to stock threaded bolt (above),
and attaches to bottom 3 existing holes with nut serts
![Rectangle Automotive exterior Automotive lighting Electronic device Electrical wiring]()
Dual Battery Install 2021
Here is my dual battery install, based on info from https://www.thenewx.org/threads/how-to-dual-battery-install-under-the-hood-pbr.30100/ Great DIY info there. Mine will be different in some ways. Part 1: relocate Power Steering reservoir. 2 hoses need to be replaced and made longer: 1) Return...
www.thenewx.org
And this is what turned out:
- Photos and directions, cut some vertical sheet metal; buy extra 2 power steering hoses, attach to existing ones
Stainless steel trays welded together, single piece, attaches to stock threaded bolt (above),
and attaches to bottom 3 existing holes with nut serts
61 - 80 of 80 Posts
