New Member who just bought a 200 GX

[black200gx]

Hi Everyone
After 55 years on the planet, I finally got the opportunity (i.e. bank loan) to buy a new 200 Series.

Now starts the make over. To start I am adding the basics like a roof rack and some rear drawers with bull bar and rear bar to be added as funds are available.

Looking under the bonnet there are 2 batteries, both so I am lead to believe are cranking batteries.
If they are both cranking batteries can they be combined into one larger cranking battery and if so which side left or right-hand side. NOTE I am in Australia so there may be some difference in the wiring of vehicles delivered here.

If I can install a larger cranking battery what is the best way to set up the secondary battery under the hood and a tertiary battery in the back to feed the fridge etc.

Any advice, like cable sizes, locations where cables can be pulled through, wiring tips, dc-dc units and preferred battery sizes would be greatly appreciated.

Regards
Black 200 GX Anton

 

[pyemaster]

I would think they're both starter batteries, linked together to provide extra cranking amps. Toyota used to do this as it was cheaper for them to supply two smaller batteries than one big one. The problem with this is as one starts to fail it takes the other with it, as in effect they always balance each other out.

What you'd need to do is buy a split charge system, which allows the alternator to charge your remaining starter battery (though depending on your required cranking amps you might need to get a bigger one than you currently have), before allowing the charge to spill across to your auxiliary battery. This is then isolated when the vehicle is off, so you can use that battery without draining your starter.

So:

- Buy bigger starter battery
- Buy an auxiliary deep cycle battery
- Ensure alternator and starter cables are connected to the new starter.
- Run a thick cable from starter battery to a split charge relay.
- From this run the cable to the new auxiliary battery.
- From this battery you can then run your cables through bulkhead grommets down to the back of the vehicle to install 12v sockets. I'd do this via a standalone fusebox though to minimise cabling off the terminal.
- Make sure you earth everything, and fuse all your positive cables close to the batteries.

To be fair most decent split charge systems come with instructions. The above isn't a detailed step by step, just to give you a rough step by step so you get the idea. Obviously if you're not that confident with vehicle electrics, it might be worth getting it installed or at the very least checked by an auto sparky.

Owen