Camping Jeep XJ Dual Battery Setup / Victron System

[@BFett-ri8kt]

Mike the back aluminum panel which you've mounted to ( gear plate ) is a sufficient heat sink for those units . I'd just vent the top and bottom of the gullwing boxes on the inside of the Jeep to let the hot air rise out and cooler air in by convection. No need for external vents , will just let moisture and dust into the tronics

[@russjowett2137]

Mike I second this. Try this first. Having external vents will be a headache when washing the Jeep. And dust will be a problem over time. Internal vents a better option. 👍

[@JoshArchers]

PC computer fans would be a much quieter option. They’re designed for quiet operation and you can get different styles designed for static pressure or higher volume cfm. Noctua 120mm fans are available in 5v and 12v varieties. They would be my choice for quiet constant airflow in that gull wing.

[@michealmorris3766]

I went to find my phone to leave just such a comment. 120mm or better 140mm high cfm quiet fan. Noctua is best in class, but there are cheaper options too, Arctic is decent, for example.

[@GadgetViper]

Quick Tip for the summer months - Store the Black Mamba in the fridge, it's a great way to cool down at the end of a hot day 😉

[@mathewcombes7470]

You wont necessarily need to add a fan, a couple vents into the cab will be ample heat dissipation for those units, plus being on aluminum its a massive heatsink already.

[@WorkshoptoWilderness]

That's a good point. I will add some vents internally at the top of the box and see how it runs without the fan. Thanks for watching

[@gimme376]

Not sure what sort of spec fan you would need but you can get much quieter ones, from my experience building computors I'd go with Noctua fans. Also I imagine vents in conjunction with a fan would get you the best result.

[@kristoffscuba5466]

AGM makes sense for your setup I think. The cold temps and the fact you are charging off the engine for months at a time, you don’t need the ability of lithium for ultra rapid charging and discharging, or the extra energy density. Lithium has been a game changer for me on my boat, with the ability to run induction cookers and hair dryers (for the Mrs) etc… off a lightweight system. And with a high output alternator I can replenish it quickly when blasting to the next destination. But for your setup I would also have gone AGM.

[@wodgesad]

I disagree purely for the reason that this Cherokee must be running very close to its maximum allowed weight. Some simple low wattage dc heat mats would have solved the temp issues with lithium and retained all the other benefits.

[@kristoffscuba5466]

@@wodgesad I’ve no experience with lithium in ultra low temps, so you might be right.

[@dazzaoutandabout4870]

Carefully with the vents to cool. If they draw in air, they will with water also. No good with electrical. Sorry but I don't have any bright alternatives.

[@cowboy6591]

As for boring, definately NOT!! Your one liners crack me up.

[@north.by.northeast]

As others have said - PC fans, loads to choose from, cheap as chips, use hardly any power, almost silent - bigger fan and slower RPM, and can get them with a little thermal sensor attached and variable RPM depending on air temp. Although it's more of a ballache I'd use something like 2 inch (or whatever you can get away with) plastic pipe so that the air coming in and air going out come from the wheel well because if you take air in from the outside and vent into the vehicle that's asking for wind noise, dust, insects etc. into the boot and hence also passenger area.

[@larry365]

I would personally have a fan on the inside of the wing box, sucking air from the car into the box. Perhaps it could be mounted on the bottom of the box, directly below the charger. Drill vent holes somewhere above the charger, just enough to maintain positive pressure and take advantage of convection. I believe your box is about 80mm deep based on the charger so something like a Noctua NF-A6x25 FLX (12v, non PWM) should be more than enough. A decent quality fan like the Noctua should have no issues running at 15v. The issue is powering it. If you have a handy ignition live wire back there, then relay to that. If not, perhaps you have a voltage sensitive relay kicking about from an old battery setup, you could use one of those. A bit overkill as you only need about 0.1amps, surprisingly hard to find low current, cheap ones. You could go totally mad with it and use a photoelectric sensor on the LED of the charger. I wish Victron and others would put a signal out on these things. I'm almost certain the 'remote' terminals can't be used as a signal wire but worth throwing a multimeter on them to check.

[@farstrider79]

Great video! I have no electricity in my vehicle at the moment but keep thinking about it. One video id love to see is how to build a vehicle tool kit. I think it would be really valuable considering your experience as a mechanic and explorer.

[@lastmanstanding1954]

rain may go into those vents and short out your expensive system. if you do put in those vents , make sure they are rain proof.

[@rastba]

Hei, problem with intake holes is dust and rain, electronics don't like either. For a fan check out gaming computer related fans, they are much quieter and move quite a lot air.

[@TaralgaBushAdventure]

Hope you're keeping safe Mike! I see Mike at TA Outdoors got hospitalised with eColi, then Joe Robinet ran his trailbike into a ditch and was in a coma. Competition in KZbin is crazy 😛. Stay tidy my friend!

[@WorkshoptoWilderness]

Blimy, really!? Are they alright? I'm absolutely fine, although if I wasn't, I probably wouldn't make a video about it personally. Lots of family time at the moment, which is really nice. My son is at that age where he's like my shadow bless him. He helped me swap a bad bushing and wash the jeep this weekend just gone. How's everything with you?

[@TaralgaBushAdventure]

Yeah I’m all good mate, getting into hunting a bit more these days. Mike and Joe seem to both be recovering OK, but as you say - would you make content about that? I guess, at top level subscribers, yes you do.

[@b16crxt]

If you put louvres on it, add a drain to the corner similar to a sunroof drain with a hose off the bottom to the outside. It’s bound to collect water in there if it’s exposed like that. Can’t wait to see the finished setup!

[@brandonasevedo1877]

I think a basic electronic set up video would be awesome even if you would be newly jumping into that world! I have a 92 XJ, I take a lot of inspiration from your videos and would love to watch your process and approach to an “overlanding electronics basics”. A lot of old heads local to me (Utah) are big on their Radios, back up battery systems, solar chargers- stuff like that, all things I wish I knew more about!

[@shaunmccaw2911]

I like all the different shit you get up to aye hopefully get a run down of your mate's rig🤙🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@brodinb]

Hi. Good Video! Why dont you take the cool air from with in the cab? That air is cleaner and no leaking from moister or water. You dont have to put the fan in the box, put it under the seat and then lead the air via a hose to the box. Dont go for the external vents.

[@bradleyboot7417]

Mike, make internal shutter/sliders so you can close the louvers in inclement weather.

[@jamesa7506]

Wouldn't having vents on the outside allow water,snow,mud, etc to gain access and end up damaging the electronics? Maybe place the vents on the backside (inside the vehicle) of the box? Nonetheless, the setup looks good and squared away. 👍

[@vinceess4181]

One of my fav channels. Up there with 4wd 24-7 and TFL etc. love the videos. Was looking forward to watching two batteries fighting. Keep it up and hello from Canada mate.

[@stureah]

Like other have said, computer fans can be quite low-noise. Also a few small holes and a fan that blows into the car. That in addition to the aluminum plate which will sort of work as a big heatsink.. It will work. But generate som airflow in there and it will problaby work quite well.. Noctua fans a quiet.

[@DanRyton107]

‘Black Mamba charging station’ was oddly specific 🤣

[@lenward474]

As always we in the colonies enjoy your humour....learned it well from my dad a boat orphan..heat in DC to DC ..back is heat sink mounted on aluminum box...perfect. put a hole in box behind in and screen if needed. Lots air flow no external intrusion. Fan would suck air into box or die trying to blow out of box. If fan is your desire get a large MTI vane computer fan. Slow and serrated blades are quiet. My two nephews are hockey coaches in sweden....all the best.

[@cotepierre68]

This… It’s the best electric mod you can do. Portable power pack are good for auxiliary power, keep it. A basic, alternator power power setup In a vehicle is the way to go. Glad you’re learning 12v 😜

[@curtisb9424]

Maybe the loud fan is a good idea, then people won’t be able to tell if you’re running the fan or really are just getting it on with a vacuum.😂

[@MrMannakin]

Bigger PC fans (120 or 140mm) should be much quieter. You can put a variable control in line with the fan to control the speed

[@Marcus-bq3ff]

About the heat problem... Get a Noctua pc fan and run it on 5-12V regulator, you won’t be able to hear it at all 👍

[@zZCozzerZz]

hey mike why dont you look at making a heat sink that is part of the lid - so when the lid is closed it sits ontop of the orion like a cpu cooler cheap copper block that way it will be a passive cooling system , i do think the one issue to that would be it could pull heat from the sun into the unit would require a bit of testing the other option could just be a little rad on such a cheap aliexpress 320mm pc rad and have that pull the heat out the unit , couple ideas keep up the content mate

[@WCWilderness]

Nice video as always! It would be nice to see that M57 Navara, i didn’t even know that it’s possible to do that swap in it, i thought only Patrol can take it.

[@binchijacopo]

Get a decent fan: someone duggested noctua, I definitely second that. The bigger the fan, the slower it has to rotate, the quieter it will be.

[@simon-mouse8739]

If you are worried about the seat comfort your lads will be lighter than you and so not press down on the pad so much. However, you could always put seat covers over the bases and have a small piece of memory foam or gell pack underneath for additional cushioning on top of the seat 👍definitely get a quiet PC fan and not external ducts as they will allow moisture in but just vent the space internally with a few holes and you will be fine. Try not to charge the black mamba and blow up doll at the same time. Just saying 😅

[@peterwarner280]

Nice one 👍 add a bit of this and remove some other to get were you won't it ,if it looks good it probably is .

[@buzzboykin9982]

Enjoyed the video. Perhaps a timer on the inflatabe doll switch. Nothing worse than a doll that's too tight.

[@WorkshoptoWilderness]

That's an incredible idea!

[@charlestatem3099]

Switch for the inflatable doll! Lol, man after me own heart. Love the vid as usual. Cheers

[@stlpro2a386]

Where is the video of gullwing rear quarter window install???? Gullwing box vent fan could be mounted in compartment behind interior side panels with intake and exhaust tubing into/out of gullwing box.

[@WorkshoptoWilderness]

I never made one. It wasn't necessary because these chargers don't generate enough heat. The gullwing has some holes top and bottom for air flow.

[@shortbusmj]

Dual

[@WorkshoptoWilderness]

Gotta love dyslexia. Thank you

[@cappaculla]

nice one

[@p3ggy80]

Boring AF zzzz. Lol great as always Mike.

[@HeidiWightman]

Would you have to have vents that close for winter as they would fill with snow in winter?Max

[@Thomas_Bampton]

If you do a scoop vent will rain and snow get into your gull wing?

[@betulaobscura]

Electronic box and air vents in it? What about water and humidity coming in?

[@treykilgore4734]

Did you paint your drive shafts? If so, what was the process?

[@cowboy6591]

Careful of the blowup doll. All those sharp edges in that box may make her fart and fly out the window on next use. 😲

[@WorkshoptoWilderness]

😂 that would be a disaster!!

[@Winter-zv1dv]

I don’t want to be “that guy” and it truly doesn’t matter, but it is “dual” not “duel”.

[@WorkshoptoWilderness]

Honestly, i appreciate it. I have really bad dyslexia and have always struggled with spelling. I've adjusted the title but will do the thumbnail when I get home.

[@grigori-prish]

все приходит к совершенству

[@lenward474]

Obvious question..why no lithium...heated if necessary power density weight price per watt appears better...

[@WorkshoptoWilderness]

AMG deep cycle batteries perform much better in winter conditions which is mainly what I'm in. Also I wasn't comfortable with my kids sitting on lithium batteries under their seats. I'm sure encountering a problem is very slim, but its happened to others. I wasn't interested in heated blankets and things as I want to keep it fairly simple. I think its just sounder tech to have batteries that don't need it and can charge and discharge in extreme cold. Thanks for watching.

[@lenward474]

@@WorkshoptoWilderness agree with lithium bomb absolutely. Not a fan. Again thanks for great videos.

[@olejacobstalesen6558]

Noctua fans makes hardøly any noise and draw very low amperage. What you have there is a server-type fan, no care for noise. Noctua is top notch all around.