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G8MNY  > TECH     18.06.05 23:50l 157 Lines 7797 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 50328_GB7CIP
Read: GUEST DG4NAU OE7FMI
Subj: 2nd Car Battery for /M & /P
Path: DB0FHN<DB0MRW<DB0RGB<OK0PPL<DB0RES<ON0AR<GB7CIP
Sent: 050618/2136Z @:GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EU #:50328 [Caterham] $:50328_GB7CIP
From: G8MNY@GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EU
To  : TECH@WW

By G8MNY                                                      (Updated Nov 04)
Here are 4 options to consider when adding a 2nd battery for /M or /P work etc.
N.B. diode charging steering is not usable due to the voltage losses.

1/ NON SWITCHED SYSTEM
                   300A start wire (eg 60A mains tails)
   ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ»
 Start       ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄĶ
 Relay       ³50A wire                          ÌÍÍÍÍÍÍ» Fuses
   º         ³         ign   ign   Fuse   50A   º      ÇÄoÄoÄÄ> Rig
   º         ³ ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ0ÄÄÄÄo\ÄÄÄÄoÄoÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄĶ      ÇÄoÄoÄÄ> PAs
Starter  Alternator   lamp   sw    Box   Wire ÄÄÐÄÄ  ÄÄÐÄÄ
   ³         ³                                 °°°    °°° 2nd Start
   ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÁÄÄÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ»              Start  º      º  Battery
     Engine      Earth   _º_           Battery _º_    _º_ 30AH
     Earth       Strap  ////             30AH ////   ////
                         Chassis Earths

There is a problem when joining batteries, as the start battery voltage drops
to 10V or less on starting, any paralleled battery & wiring must be capable of
the start currents, if left connected during starting. Indeed there is some
merit in just going for an identical start battery as a 2nd battery...

Advantages:-
a) Easy to replace/swap start battery as they age
b) Doubles discharge capacity
c) Aids starting, so both batteries can be run flatter & they will start OK
d) Shared starting current gives longer battery life
e) Simple no switching
f) Second start type battery easily charged from alternator than a deep cycle

Disadvantages:-
g) Leaving a small load on the system will eventually exhaust both batteries!
h) Thick paralleling unfused lead needed
i) Battery failure detection a problem

2/ CHARGING SWITCHED SYSTEM
                        300A start wire
   ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ»      charge
 Start      ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄĶ 30A  relay
 Relay      ³50A wire            ign  ign                ÇÄoÄoÄÄo\Ä¿ Fuses
   º        ³                    lamp  sw   Fuse  50A    º Fuse    ÃÄoÄoÄÄ> Rig
   º        ³ ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÂÄ0ÄÄÄÄo\ÄÄÄÄoÄoÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄĶ         ÃÄoÄoÄÄ> PAs
Starter Alternator         ÚÄÄÄÄÁÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿   Box  Wire  ÄÄÐÄÄ     ÄÄÁÄÄ
   ³        ³              ³charge relay³               °°°       °°° Aux
   ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÁÄÄÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» ÀÄÄÄÄÂÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ         Start  º         ³  Battery
     Engine     Earth   _º_    _³_              Battery _º_       _³_ 100AH
     Earth      Strap  ////   ////                30AH ////      ////
                         Chassis Earths

This system needs a method to operate the charge relay only when the battery is
being charged. Using the above circuit the alternator function needs to be
checked to see if relay affects exciting action (it should not).

Advantages:-
a) No high starting currents over charging lead
b) Thinner paralleling charging lead
c) Paralleling lead can be fused
d) Large Deep Cycle Aux battery shown here
e) Relay only operated once per engine start cycle

Disadvantages:-
f/ Electronic Control box may be needed if the relay upsets Alternator 
g/ No starting aid, but jumper starting possible if leads are thick enough
h/ Deep cycle Aux battery will be difficult to charge up with long thin lead

3/ VOLTAGE SWITCHED SYSTEM
                        300A start wire
   ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ»            voltage
 Start      ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄĶ 30A         relay
 Relay      ³50A wire   ign  ign                ÇÄo-oÄÄÄÄÂÄÄÄÄÄo\Ä¿ Fuses
   º        ³           lamp  sw   Fuse  50A    º Fuse   ³        ÃÄoÄoÄÄ> Rig
   º        ³ ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ0ÄÄÄÄo\ÄÄÄÄo-oÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄĶ    ÚÄÄÄÁÄÄÄ¿    ÃÄoÄoÄÄ> PAs
Starter Alternator                  Box  Wire ÄÄÐÄÄ  ³Voltage³  ÄÄÁÄÄ
   ³        ³                                  °°°   ³ Relay ³   °°° Aux
   ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÁÄÄÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ»               Start  º    ÀÄÄÄÂÄÄÄÙ    ³  Battery
     Engine     Earth   _º_            Battery _º_      _³_      _³_ 100AH
     Earth      Strap  ////              30AH ////     ////     ////
                         Chassis Earths

The relay here has an electronic voltage detector that operated it when the 1st
battery is @ 13V & also releases it below 13V! eg there must be no hysteresis.

Advantages:-
a) Very simple to connect
b) No high starting currents over charging lead
c) Thinner paralleling charging lead can be fused
d) Deep Cycle Aux battery

Disadvantages:-
e) Electronic Control box is needed to drive relay, with special attention to
   the problem of relay oscillation when the Aux battery is connected. 
f) No starting aid, but jumper starting possible if leads thick enough
g) Deep cycle Aux battery can be difficult to charge up on long thin lead
h) Relay prone to pitting as it will be often switching current

4/ IGNITION SWITCHED SYSTEM
                         300A start wire (eg 60A mains tails)
   ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ»  Ign on
 Start       ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄĶ  Relay
 Relay       ³50A wire                                  ÌÍÍÍo\Í» Fuses
   º         ³         ign           ign   Fuse   50A   º      ÇÄo-oÄÄ> Rig
   º         ³ ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ0ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÂÄÄÄÄo\ÄÄÄÄo-oÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄĶ      ÇÄo-oÄÄ> PAs
Starter  Alternator   lamp   ÚÄÄÁÄÄ¿ sw    Box   Wire ÄÄÐÄÄ  ÄÄÐÄÄ
   ³         ³               ³relay³                   °°°    °°°
   ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÁÄÄÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ»  ÀÄÄÂÄÄÙ             Start  º      º  Aux
     Engine      Earth   _º_   _³_                 Bat _º_    _º_ Bat
     Earth       Strap  ////  ////               30AH ////   //// 100AH
                        Chassis Earths

This system has some of the advantages of the above ones:-

Advantages:-
a) Aids starting, so both batteries can be run flatter & still start
b) Shared starting gives longer start battery life
c) Fairly simple high current contactor switching
d) Second battery slightly easier to charge from alternator (less lead loss)
e) Large capacity deep cycle aux battery can still aid starting OK

Disadvantages:-
f) Thick paralleling unfused lead
g) High current contactor type relay needed (200A peak rated)
h) Battery failure detection a slight problem

REFRESH CHARGING
With the switched battery systems if the vehicle is not used a lot, & if the
second battery is a deep cycle type, then occasional charging with a regulated
mains charger for at least 24 hours is recommended to keep the batteries tip
top. Check acid specific gravity with a battery hydrometer to see condition of
the batteries.

SAFETY
a) Make sure the battery polarity is correct!
b) Disconnect battery earth to make +ve connections, as this is safer if using
   spanners in confined areas where they are liable to short out. Reprogram car
   radio eg. make sure U have security Numbers before you start! The same goes
   for some type of engine management systems, read handbook.
c) For your garage, put a sign by the car battery that there is a 2nd battery!
d) Use short runs of suitable gauge wire, remember @12V volts are easily lost.  
e) Protect wire though bulkheads from chafing damage with suitable grommets.
f) Use suitable fuses. (no nails/ally foil).
g) Make sure 2nd battery fastenings are secure (eg in case of accident).
h) Be aware of explosive hydrogen build up on batteries, always "blow away" 
   gases before risk of sparks from connecting leads & crock clips etc!
i) Acid maked holes in clothes, wash any spashed immedtiately. 
j) 12V Electrical fires are best stoped with a pair of cutters!
k) Molten copper is HOT & stays hot. Use water on red hot leads.
l) Use RCDs mains on outdoor leads for charging/soldering etc.


Why Don't U send an Interesting bul?

73 De John, G8MNY @ GB7CIP


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