Dual battery setup?

[RichardT]

I have a couple of projects lined up to get done on my truck this summer, one being hooking up some lights, getting a HAM radio, etc, so I've been thinking about putting in a dual battery setup to be safe.

Has anyone here done this on their Monty yet? What was involved? Any tips or advice?

Thanks


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[off-roader]

I have a couple of projects lined up to get done on my truck this summer, one being hooking up some lights, getting a HAM radio, etc, so I've been thinking about putting in a dual battery setup to be safe.

Has anyone here done this on their Monty yet? What was involved? Any tips or advice?

In the Gen II, I'm kinda pressed for real estate in the engine bay so I began looking for alternatives and that's when I saw Grasscat coming up with a low tech KISS setup. I'll be copying his as well.
1) Mount a small but powerful AGM battery in back.
2) Charge it off the rear driver side 12v power outlet while wheeling
3) Disconnect from outlet and use it to power my freezer fridge @ night while sleeping.

No fancy schmancy multi gazillion dollar isolator charger needed either.:sombrero:

Alternatively there's a cheap $50 battery isolator system you can build yourself being discussed on the Power Systems forum (http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...ke-a-cheap-isolated-dual-battery-setup-for-50). Worth a read.

 

[rxinhed]

Read the read. You could also use a lawnmower battery, depending on your instrument needs. I mocked this up in my Ramcharger, but I'm not pressed for space in the engine bay.

Alternately, you may have enough room for a Group 27 battery, slightly larger physically than a Group 24.

 

[scrubber3]

I was lucky to not have the ABS in my way. Leaves a whole lot of room on the passenger side wheel well under the hood. Still deciding on of I need a dual battery setup or not though. I typically just charge my other optima and take it with me in case I need it. But that's only if I go waaaay out there.

 

[RichardT]

Alternatively there's a cheap $50 battery isolator system you can build yourself being discussed on the Power Systems forum (http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...ke-a-cheap-isolated-dual-battery-setup-for-50). Worth a read.

I think I might go that route

I typically just charge my other optima and take it with me in case I need it. But that's only if I go waaaay out there.

I'd like to be able to camp out somewhere for a week, be able to run some lights, small appliances like a coffee maker or something, and not have to turn on my truck to power up and charge my battery, which is why I want to get a nice deep cell, I was hoping to also get a small solar panel that I could set on top of the truck that week, that would provide a small charge so that I replenish a bit of what I use up during the day, and then when I go to leave, no need to swap batteries, just turn on the truck and go. Of course, there's still the obvious chance that I'll deplete my 2nd deep cell during that week, but I'll be able to go a lot longer without having to use up fuel to recharge it every day.

 

[off-roader]

If you're talking about running strictly off of battery for a week w/out regularly running your engine to recharge the batteries, then you ought to consider solar panels w/ a charge controller to charge your battery(s) instead.

Otherwise, if you do drive your rig around for a few hours each day, that may be enough to charge 2 deep cycle batteries but you'd have to confirm based on your battery capacity/charge times.

 

[scrubber3]

I think I might go that route



I'd like to be able to camp out somewhere for a week, be able to run some lights, small appliances like a coffee maker or something, and not have to turn on my truck to power up and charge my battery, which is why I want to get a nice deep cell, I was hoping to also get a small solar panel that I could set on top of the truck that week, that would provide a small charge so that I replenish a bit of what I use up during the day, and then when I go to leave, no need to swap batteries, just turn on the truck and go. Of course, there's still the obvious chance that I'll deplete my 2nd deep cell during that week, but I'll be able to go a lot longer without having to use up fuel to recharge it every day.

For coffee, I just heat the water over a flame and pour it slowly over the grind. I don't really need a coffee maker. Just hot water and coffee. As far as light, I just use the trucks lighting system to set up camp in the dark. I just use a flashlight or lantern after that. I don't need a fridge due to the commodities that I use not needing one. Makes life simple and less to mess up. Thats also why I carry a fully charged spare marine deep well. Optima blue and yellow top. .

 

[RichardT]

If you're talking about running strictly off of battery for a week w/out regularly running your engine to recharge the batteries, then you ought to consider solar panels w/ a charge controller to charge your battery(s) instead.

That's precisely what I had in mind, though only one deep cycle hooked up for the accessories, and the regular battery under the hood isolated from the system except for being able to receive a charge from the solar controller


I posted that on the other thread, it's what I'm hoping to do.

For coffee, I just heat the water over a flame and pour it slowly over the grind. I don't really need a coffee maker. Just hot water and coffee. As far as light, I just use the trucks lighting system to set up camp in the dark. I just use a flashlight or lantern after that. I don't need a fridge due to the commodities that I use not needing one. Makes life simple and less to mess up.

I know what you mean, typically, I would just bring instant coffee, and heat up some water, which is what I do when I go backpacking, but I'm wanting to set up my truck for "car camping" where we can bring some little amenities that will make things more comfortable, especially for my wife, and 2y/old son. And I'm not saying I would be doing things all the time that would require constant juice, it would just be nice to be able to have the peace of mind that I'm not going to run down my battery, or go through the motions of remembering to pack a spare whenever we go out etc. It would be nice to just be able to set it up, and not have to mess with it much once it's done.

 

[Honu]

I have a ARB 45 fridge its one of the engel models

this last weekend I ran it off a 125 amp hour deep cycle old fashioned wet battery
not hooked up to the truck so I can move the fridge into the tent if I want ? not sure if we are going to keep doing this though ? its nice but heavy to move !

it lasted from Fri super early morning to Tue morning when I unloaded the fridge the outside temps varied up to about 85 degrees the fridge was full but with kids got opened about 10-15 times at least during the day I keep the fridge at about 1. C so quite cold but that way frozen stuff stays frozen for a few days without a problem not sure how much was left ?

for lights I use a goal zero setup that I did not need to recharge we had 4 of the hanging lights at night also ran a breeze boat fan for about 3 hours a day easy
I do have solar panels for both but did not need them
the battery for the fridge I have a 60 watt panel figuring that should keep my fridge going constantly without a issue !

reasons I like the goal zero are light to move around if I want the fan is nice on hot days !!!! I can look up the model its a endless breeze or something ? boat fan about 12-14 inches across and really puts out a ton of air ! and has 3 speeds nice when cooking or just lounging etc..

coffee I have a espresso setup that is quite over the top but I am kinda a fanatic about my espresso but a good pour over might be nice like others mention

next week I am going to test the solar more though since my solar for my fridge is new to me since selling our trailer I cant say to much about its performance in real world yet only played with it in the yard etc..
when I had the trailer we had two 105 amp hour batteries that lasted quite long ! forgot how long the longest was ? I think over 6 days with no issue before charging back up ! did not have solar though just used a generator every few days for a hour or so ! the Honda Generator on super quiet mode is so quiet at 30-40 feet you cant hear it ! so I would do that in the afternoon when nobody was around I can say we spent two weeks on the Oregon coast through Sierra Nevadas and solar would have been tough to get enough as we were in the trees most days and had over 4 days of bad weather so having at least 4 days before charge is handy if you go out longer

I think I might go that route



I'd like to be able to camp out somewhere for a week, be able to run some lights, small appliances like a coffee maker or something, and not have to turn on my truck to power up and charge my battery, which is why I want to get a nice deep cell, I was hoping to also get a small solar panel that I could set on top of the truck that week, that would provide a small charge so that I replenish a bit of what I use up during the day, and then when I go to leave, no need to swap batteries, just turn on the truck and go. Of course, there's still the obvious chance that I'll deplete my 2nd deep cell during that week, but I'll be able to go a lot longer without having to use up fuel to recharge it every day.

 

[off-roader]

That's precisely what I had in mind, though only one deep cycle hooked up for the accessories, and the regular battery under the hood isolated from the system except for being able to receive a charge from the solar controller
View attachment 103236

I posted that on the other thread, it's what I'm hoping to do.

it's not isolated based on how you've illustrated it.

The wire where you questioned having an isolator shouldn't be there if you want to just charge the 2nd battery using a solar panel.

 

[RichardT]

I have a ARB 45 fridge its one of the engel models

this last weekend I ran it off a 125 amp hour deep cycle old fashioned wet battery
not hooked up to the truck so I can move the fridge into the tent if I want ? not sure if we are going to keep doing this though ? its nice but heavy to move !

it lasted from Fri super early morning to Tue morning when I unloaded the fridge the outside temps varied up to about 85 degrees the fridge was full but with kids got opened about 10-15 times at least during the day I keep the fridge at about 1. C so quite cold but that way frozen stuff stays frozen for a few days without a problem not sure how much was left ?

for lights I use a goal zero setup that I did not need to recharge we had 4 of the hanging lights at night also ran a breeze boat fan for about 3 hours a day easy
I do have solar panels for both but did not need them
the battery for the fridge I have a 60 watt panel figuring that should keep my fridge going constantly without a issue !

reasons I like the goal zero are light to move around if I want the fan is nice on hot days !!!! I can look up the model its a endless breeze or something ? boat fan about 12-14 inches across and really puts out a ton of air ! and has 3 speeds nice when cooking or just lounging etc..

coffee I have a espresso setup that is quite over the top but I am kinda a fanatic about my espresso but a good pour over might be nice like others mention

next week I am going to test the solar more though since my solar for my fridge is new to me since selling our trailer I cant say to much about its performance in real world yet only played with it in the yard etc..
when I had the trailer we had two 105 amp hour batteries that lasted quite long ! forgot how long the longest was ? I think over 6 days with no issue before charging back up ! did not have solar though just used a generator every few days for a hour or so ! the Honda Generator on super quiet mode is so quiet at 30-40 feet you cant hear it ! so I would do that in the afternoon when nobody was around I can say we spent two weeks on the Oregon coast through Sierra Nevadas and solar would have been tough to get enough as we were in the trees most days and had over 4 days of bad weather so having at least 4 days before charge is handy if you go out longer

The Goal zero is nice, but the price isn't....

Thats amazing how much time you got out of the battery, but also, as you mentioned, it's heavy, and a pain to move around, which is why I want to have a more permanent set up in the back when I do my storage system/sleeping platform.

 

[RichardT]

it's not isolated based on how you've illustrated it.

The wire where you questioned having an isolator shouldn't be there if you want to just charge the 2nd battery using a solar panel.

I was hoping to be able to charge both with the panel, that way in case I run my primary down a bit somehow, it'll keep charged, but the primary reason for the solar panel, will be to hell trickle a charge to the secondary deep cycle/2nd battery. How could I isolate the primary? Wouldn't just having solenoid in that line connecting between the controller and the primary battery do it? one that only activate say, when the voltage drops below 12v?

 

[Honu]

Yeah the moving is a pain but at least it was nice to have in the mainmliving area as a option I think in the long run we are going to leave the fridge in the rig but I plan on doing a setup I can take out as a option
Most likely with anderson plugs to take in and out and I have a national luna dual setup still sitting in the garage

 

[Cruisn]

If you want to get a little fancy you can do what I do, which is run a second battery about 100-120amp/hr which is isolated by a redarc 1220 controller which also doubles as a dc/dc charger allowing for maximum charging of the second battery.

once the voltage drops below 12.7v i tihnk, will have to check, the controller stops charging the second battery and isolates the starter battery so you can always start in the morning.

Another step up is the 1240 controller that has solar input if you want to get fancy.

 

[motoz]

CTEK D250s is another great dc to dc charger that has solar input as well as being an isolator.