Auxiliary battery systems are nothing new in touring 4x4s.

The premise is simple: A second battery powers accessories such as camp lights and a fridge while remaining isolated from the vehicle’s starter battery, eliminating the risk of draining it and becoming stranded.

Just as the number and type of electrical accessories people carry in their vehicles have changed over the years, so too have auxiliary battery set-ups. What once involved simply adding a second lead-acid battery, isolated from the starter battery by a solenoid or even a heavy-duty switch, has evolved into far more sophisticated systems.

Assorted Projecta product boxes on a dark display box, featuring IQD2 smart display and multi-channel smart relay packaging.
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Today’s 12V set-ups can include DC-DC chargers, solar inputs, AC chargers, smart shunts, relays and large inverters capable of powering 240V appliances on the road. Many set-ups have one or two display panels for monitoring and controlling the system, while others allow you to do so wirelessly via a phone or other handheld device.

There are plenty of products available to do the job, but getting everything to work reliably and in harmony is the real trick. When it came time to install a 12V system in our 2026 HiLux, we chose Projecta because the company had some new technology we were keen to try. Projecta calls this system its Intelli-iQ Power Hub (↗). It is a fully integrated package of components designed to work together for the best result.

Our Projecta Intelli-iQ Power Hub set-up

Our Projecta set-up starts with a pair of 100Ah lithium batteries.

We chose two 100Ah units rather than a single 200Ah battery for packaging reasons, tucking them into what would otherwise be wasted space behind the wheelarches. They are mounted in MSA 4X4 battery boxes alongside the MSA drawers. Battery charging is controlled by a 50A DC-DC charger with solar input. This unit manages charge from the vehicle’s alternator and the 155W solar panel mounted on the roof rack, while the system is monitored and configured via a 50mm touchscreen.

While the screen might sound small, it’s a clever inclusion that saves space inside the vehicle. All set-up and monitoring functions can also be accessed through the Projecta Intelli-iQ app. The touchscreen can still be used when needed, but the app is generally easier and more convenient, provided your handheld device remains within Bluetooth range of the system.

A 2000W IntelliPower pure sine wave inverter supplies power for appliances such as electric cooktops and microwave ovens, as well as battery chargers and other high-draw devices.

Close-up of a hand pointing at a PROJECTA installation with blue status indicators on a perforated panel inside a vehicle.
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Smart relays and app control

While the auxiliary battery and charging technology is similar to what we’ve seen before from Projecta and other brands, the new part of this system is its use of smart relays to control accessories through the Intelli-iQ app.

Not only does this allow users to switch accessories on and off via a phone, but if the phone is connected to the vehicle through Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, the Intelli-iQ app appears on the multimedia screen, putting all the controls within easy reach. We’ve fitted two iQ smart relays to the HiLux: a multi-channel unit for the lights and accessories in the canopy and a single-channel relay for the Ironman Raid light bar on the roof.

As well as switching the canopy lights and accessories on and off, we can adjust the light brightness, switch between amber and white modes and set the reversing lights to operate either manually or automatically when reverse gear is selected. It’s clever stuff and, at a time when new vehicles have next to no space in the cabin for additional switches or control panels, it places everything on the factory multimedia screen where it can be operated by the driver or front-seat passenger.

I and others have been critical of manufacturers moving commonly used vehicle functions into multimedia screens, but I’ve had no problem selecting and using the Intelli-iQ app through the HiLux’s display. The accessories managed through the app aren’t ones we need to switch frequently anyway, and most are set-and-forget.

Close-up of a hand holding a rugged automotive battery tester in a car, showing 13.7V and a green battery icon.
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Installation

All the components of our Projecta Intelli-iQ Power Hub (↗) are mounted in a side storage compartment in the Ironman Raid canopy, where they are easy to access. We can also leave devices in there charging from the inverter.

The Intelli-iQ Power Hub is a comprehensive collection of components designed to work together and provide reliable power when we’re off the grid. Better still, it’s simple and intuitive to use.

The system was expertly installed in the HiLux by Sean Pinder at Pro Charge Performance & Tuning (↗) in Bayswater, Victoria. The workmanship is top-notch and the installation is beautifully laid out. Look him up for auto-electrical work and vehicle tuning in Melbourne.

Technician wires red and black cables into a rack-mounted test panel inside a workshop.
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Pricing (RRP)

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