Dual Battery Into VY Ute

[Bundy_Wal]

Anyone put a dual battery system into a VY ute before? I had one in my VS which I recently sold, had a big Anderson plug in the tray so I could remove the battery when I was just cruising in town, mainly used it weekends to run the beer fridge in the back. Ripped all the wiring out when I sold the ute and recently installed it in the VY ute I replaced it with. This time I built a tool box in the back, under the back window. This lets me keep the battery in there all the time, heaps less stuffing round! To wire it up I just used a big solenoid which switches using the ignition wire, so when I start the ute it starts off both batteries, and while driving it is also charging both batteries. When I turn the ignition off, it isolates the second battery, with just the fridge running off this one. Should probly have a charge equalizing circuit on it to make sure each battery is charged evenly, but this works fine for now.

 

[Tasmaniak]

Both batteries will naturally charge equally.

Becareful that the solenoid doesn't burn out from continous use. You won't know when it happens.....