Dual battery systems

[Drew]

Before I get my dual battery setup done (by Pete at www.rustybus.co.uk) can someone clear up a few things for me please?

If I'm running laptops n crap in the back while driving, is the juice taken from the second battery rather than the 'starter' battery?

Also, while driving are both batteries being recharged or just the second?

I'm told I can jam a liesure battery in under my passenger seat as it's not the swivel type. Any reccomendations on which battery to get?

In short, what happens?

[tonytech]

First off When driving I'd recomend sitting in the front rather than playing laptops in the back.


Where the power comes from for your laptop depends on how the system is wired and where you plug in.
Generaly though if you plug in to your leisure battery when driving, both batteries will be connected together via the split charge relay. So your alternator will be charging both batteries and supplying your load.

The space under the passenger seat is quite limited, Many leisure batteries are too big.
Some clever bugger will be along shortly with a list of which batteries fit but my advice is measure up and check size.

T

[Drew]

Cheers for that.

And what of these Zig type units I have heard tell of?

[Hacksawbob]

Some clever bugger
If you just want to split charge zig will be more than you need, if you want to go with external 240 lectric then you'll need one.