[WizudOfOz]

Hi All

I have been investigating installation of an auxiliary battery into my MY16 SDV6 HSE, mainly to conveniently run a car fridge and lighting without having to worry about draining the main battery.

After some online research I discovered that there is a lack information readily available in regard to such installations on my model. I suspect the reality is not many RRS owners are likely to have a need. I did contact one auto electrician which has documented installations but after initially telling me they would sell me a tray, they then said they wouldn't - but would sell me a "kit" with everything but the battery for $1,800.

Based on that I decided to have a crack at fabricating & installing one myself.

This is not intended to be a step-by-step "how-to" guide - it's more a "how-I-did-it" record which I hope some might find useful.

In my car, the existing factory tray behind the RHS cargo trim, which I understand held a stop/start battery on earlier models, is in use with some electrical kit fitted on a bolted on upstand. The only option was to fabricate one to install behind the LHS cargo trim.

I made mine from 1.5mm stainless steel with the main portion of the tray a single piece folded using a pan brake. I've got a separate upstand on the back end which will be used to mount the DCDC charger etc. This is a removable section which can be taken out without having to take the whole tray out.

If I was to do it again, I'd make it a bit narrower. It's nominally 200mm wide but my lack of folding expertise (first use of a pan brake!) meant it's a bit over. I'd mark it at 190mm and by the time it's folded it should be a bit less than 195mm.

The height above the floor will depend entirely on exactly where the tray is mounted, as the further forward the higher it has to be to clear the wheel arch. I wanted mine as far back as I could so it's as low as possible. Selection of the mounting bolt positions is also a factor.

Rather than waffle on here - commentary, dimensions and the like are on the photos.

Hope you find it useful.

Cheers

Craig

 

[leftlanetruckin]

If you add your location and rig details to your signature it will save anyone from asking.
Great write up!

 

[383vett]

Nice fabrication. Will this auxilliary battery tap into the original charging system? If so is the alternator stout enough to keep 3 batteries charged?

 

[WizudOfOz]

Cheers mate - done

 

[WizudOfOz]

Nope.

Ordering a Redarc DC/DC charger (BCDC1240D) which will be mounted on the removable upstand.

I wanted to make sure I could fabricate the tray first as the only other option was buying the whole lot including the charger as a kit.

Cheers

Craig

 

[383vett]

Nope.

Ordering a Redarc DC/DC charger (BCDC1240D) which will be mounted on the removable upstand.

I wanted to make sure I could fabricate the tray first as the only other option was buying the whole lot including the charger as a kit.

Cheers

Craig

That thing looks pretty neat. Solar charging too.

 

[WizudOfOz]

That thing looks pretty neat. Solar charging too.

Yep. And made just up the road too

Sent from my SM-T820 using Tapatalk

 

[skip]

Nice work
I have been toying with putting an additional battery for the same reason. I have a Bushman fridge that uses about half what the regular fridges use, but find that I run out of power overnight.
I put a volt meter in the car and direct wired an accessory plug because the standard accessory plugs all shut down after 3 minutes. I have discovered that the battery will lose 40% of its power without the fridge plugged in while camping - presumably with lights, tailgate up and down etc. We now freeze down milk containers during a drive and use fridge as an icebox overnights, as our big trips have all been done, and I can't justify the battery, cradle, solar panels and other gear at the moment.
Narrow batteries 120mm wide are available from Australian Direct in Qld.
I currently have a much needed bin built into that space