Lights and Sound...can i keep it running?

[Kirk]

Ok well the plan is to have a mass of speakers of all types, with a 22inch flat screen and ideally i want some kind of light show (dont ask me how...cause i dont know), now im sure these use alot of battery power, and id like them to be able to run when the car isnt going, atleast for upto say an 1hr or 30mins minimum.....Now ive heard someone throw the word "deep cycle battery" around, will they do the trick? is there a different trick? it must be possible cause caravans and even other vehicles have this kind of think done....how do i?

[ShaneJ]

Get yourself a small main battery for starting and a deep cycle(100-120ah) to run everything else. You should be able to fit this combination in the factory battery compartment.

I'll do up a circuit diagram when I get a chance to show the best way to wire them up.

[Kirk]

Get yourself a small main battery for starting and a deep cycle(100-120ah) to run everything else. You should be able to fit this combination in the factory battery compartment.

I'll do up a circuit diagram when I get a chance to show the best way to wire them up.

Awesome, it currently seems to have a massive battery in there, ill look around for 1 of these "Deep Cycle" batteries, anywhere know a place?

[ShaneJ]

Any good battery shop will be able to help you out.

[strez]

run all your sound system/lights/tv off the deepcycle battery and link the two batterys with a low voltage cut out switch . when the voltage drops below a certain voltage it splits the batterys so you normal battery doesn`t go flat , once you start the engine and the voltage goes back up it`ll automaticaly link the two together so the deepcycle recharges . don`t have to wory about turning the battery isolator switch on and off

[ShaneJ]

run all your sound system/lights/tv off the deepcycle battery and link the two batterys with a low voltage cut out switch . when the voltage drops below a certain voltage it splits the batterys so you normal battery doesn`t go flat , once you start the engine and the voltage goes back up it`ll automaticaly link the two together so the deepcycle recharges . don`t have to wory about turning the battery isolator switch on and off

This is a good idea in theory and a lot of auto electricians do this as do 4x4 accessory shops, but it just doesn't work that well in practice.

When I get a chance I'll do a drawing showing the best way to run dual batteries.

[ben]

ill be interested in your plans too shane..

cheers
ben

[ShaneJ]

I'll see if I can quickly do something in paint.

[ShaneJ]

Here we go.

[Warren]

So Shane, the relay switches the earth to the main battery on when the ignition is on, and the second battery is live all the time? seems like a simple solution.

Warren