I just finished installing an auxiliary battery in my Tundra using the National Luna solenoid and controller. My goal was the use the cranking battery for the stock items and winch, then the auxiliary battery for my CB, ham radio, fridge, etc. The solenoid allows me to connect the batteries when winching or with other large loads. Just off of the auxiliary battery I have a Blue Sea fuse box and 100 A fuse with 4 AWG wire. Running off this is 10 AWG zip cord into the cab to a RigRunner. Now my question is this, the 12.8V at the RigRunner doesn't seem to power anything. My Yaesu 897 cuts off after a second, the same for the Cobra CB, and the USB hub will not charge an iPhone. Where did I mess up? Everywhere I measure shows 12.7-12.8 V as does the NL controller. This includes both batteries, zip cord running into the cab, and RigRunner ports.
A question regarding my dual battery setup
- Thread starter BrianTN
- Start date
4RunAmok
Explorer
Have you tried removing the RigRunner from the equation and temporarily hooked up any of those items directly to the battery (each one separately)??? I've never had problems with RR stuff, but you never know.
The other thing to check: grounds. Do not rely on frame or body grounds. Go directly to the battery for each device or a central ground post that goes back to the battery you are drawing the positive from.
Just like a fuse block that has up to 6 items each with 16 gauge wire attached, you should run 8 or 6 gauge wire to the battery, a ground post should work the same way. A ground post can be as simple as a bolt through the frame or body tightened down, then use another nut to tighten down the device grounds with an 8 or 6 gauge wire running to the battery - post.
The other thing to check: grounds. Do not rely on frame or body grounds. Go directly to the battery for each device or a central ground post that goes back to the battery you are drawing the positive from.
Just like a fuse block that has up to 6 items each with 16 gauge wire attached, you should run 8 or 6 gauge wire to the battery, a ground post should work the same way. A ground post can be as simple as a bolt through the frame or body tightened down, then use another nut to tighten down the device grounds with an 8 or 6 gauge wire running to the battery - post.