My Defender Td5 has two original 110 Amp batteries fitted. To the second, a fridge is (normally) permanently connected. Sometimes I run a 1000-W converter, mainly for the laptop. While parked, even for a short time, I switch out the second battery manually.
The first battery died after 4 ½ years from new. The second one, which had been fitted and in use for maybe 3 ½ years, died at very nearly the same time. Thus I fitted two new original 110 Amp batteries. They have been in for exactly three years.
My vehicle stood for a long time through a cold winter and the batteries became flat, I believe. I say believe because although at the time I assumed that the engine wouldnt start because of a flat main battery, there was in fact another problem which prevented starting. (In other words, the batteries may well have been flat, too.)
At present starting is fine and trouble free. (At the moment, the second battery isnt being used at all, just kept charged through being connected in circuit with the first one while driving.)
I will soon be taking my LR to South America. I expect to be there two or three years, spend long periods in remote areas and perhaps be in cold or very cold conditions. Im not at ease about the batteries. A flat main battery could be a most undesirable occurrence. Im going to buy a solar charger and am wondering about carrying a spare new battery. I would secure it very well somewhere on the rear floor (this includes making sure it cant move in case of an accident, for example, and making sure it cant tilt) and would cover and insulate the terminals so nothing can cause a short. This way I would have a new battery when either of the others fails, as they will. Is this a bad idea?
The first battery died after 4 ½ years from new. The second one, which had been fitted and in use for maybe 3 ½ years, died at very nearly the same time. Thus I fitted two new original 110 Amp batteries. They have been in for exactly three years.
My vehicle stood for a long time through a cold winter and the batteries became flat, I believe. I say believe because although at the time I assumed that the engine wouldnt start because of a flat main battery, there was in fact another problem which prevented starting. (In other words, the batteries may well have been flat, too.)
At present starting is fine and trouble free. (At the moment, the second battery isnt being used at all, just kept charged through being connected in circuit with the first one while driving.)
I will soon be taking my LR to South America. I expect to be there two or three years, spend long periods in remote areas and perhaps be in cold or very cold conditions. Im not at ease about the batteries. A flat main battery could be a most undesirable occurrence. Im going to buy a solar charger and am wondering about carrying a spare new battery. I would secure it very well somewhere on the rear floor (this includes making sure it cant move in case of an accident, for example, and making sure it cant tilt) and would cover and insulate the terminals so nothing can cause a short. This way I would have a new battery when either of the others fails, as they will. Is this a bad idea?
