Anyone familiar with sPod switching device used in vehicles?

[nycgags]

Taking solar out of the equation to keep this simple which is the better configuration?

A. Connect 8-switch sPod to main OEM battery of my Jeep Wrangler and then attach a Deep Cycle battery in parallel to OEM battery?
B. Connect 8-switch sPod to Deep Cycle battery and then attach this Deep Cycle battery in parallel to OEM battery used to start my Jeep Wrangler?
C. Connect 8-switch sPod to Deep Cycle battery - make no connection to OEM battery used to start my Jeep Wrangler and manage charging of Deep Cycle battery separately?

Assume a Deep Cycle battery that is either 12v 220Ah or 24v 110Ah, they have the same kWh, is one preferable over the other?

What other devices do I need to make this a safe configuration?

I have omitted solar for now to simplify this setup, but feel free to comment on that as well in terms of what it does to the configuration to increase complexity.

 

[nycgags]

Appliances:

(Amp draw)
(5.5) Dometic CFX-65DZUS Portable Electric Cooler Refrigerator/Freezer - 61 Liters
(5) RV Motorhome Solar Battery 12-Volt Evaporative Swamp Air Conditioning Cooler
(2) weboost Drive 4G-X OTR Truck Edition
(4) Bearcat 980 SSB
(56) 50" LED
(14) 12" LED
(7) 6" LED
(55-465) Warn Zeon Platinum 10-S
(20) NuWave PIC Pro Highest Powered Induction Cooktop 1800W

I am also looking to upgrade the stereo with a Elite Series 1700W 5 Channel Amplifier that requires a 150 Amp fuse.

The first 4 above would get the most useage (~16.5 Amps - switching CB off at night brings it down to 12.5 Amps), the rest would be on demand. The Swamp A/C may not even happen, but I wanted to create a list of possible appliances. The bottom 5 are all on demand and will be in use while the Jeep is running (except for the induction cooktop, that might not even be the most efficient I just threw it in there as an example).

There's a chance I will want to run all 8 of the first appliances all at once (except for the 6" LED since that is a reverse light). This load I assume would bring the JEEP OEM/Alternator to its knees. Of course if its my only option, I would shut down all non-essential appliances and just run the winch with possibly a single LED (12" for example) and possibly the Bearcat for comm with others involved in the recovery.

 

[nycgags]

So given the appliance list in my previous post please recommend a setup, what components am I missing? Battery Isolator? Inverter? Do I need a hybrid inverter? Generator to top off battery, if I get a 12v 200Ah or a 12v 400Ah would a 3k watt generator be a decent pairing? If I want to connect to shore line would I be able to create a 50A outlet? What does this feed into to safely operate/charge battery? What if I am at a park with only 25A service, do I just use a step-down cable or do I need something else to accommodate like a separate dedicated 25A outlet?

Is there a (hybrid) inverter that can manage loads from:

* Battery
* Solar
* Shore Line
* Power supplied by running Jeep (OEM battery/alternator/running engine)

Would it make sense to setup 2 separate systems, 1 for while the Jeep is running, to run exclusively off of Jeep battery / alternator and upgrade each if necessary and a 2nd system to manage off-grid appliances like fridge/Swamp Air Cooling/4G Boost/Cooking/etc...? I am trying to avoid having to tackle this from 2 ends of the candle burning.

 

[Chris Boyd]

B.

All aux loads go off house battery, smart solenoid ensures you don't crash the start battery and keeps them both charged. If something goes wonky, the bias is always to protecting the start battery.

I used the National Luna smart solenoid. Kit comes with everything you need including the fuses and heavy duty battery wiring. One and done!

When you add solar, two options:

connect the controller to the starter side and the solenoid will connect when the voltage coming in from solar is better than 13.5.

Connect to the aux side, and it'll keep the aux stuff running as long as battery is getting voltage and the panels are producing - but you won't have the benefit of getting the starter battery topped up. Depends on how long you're sitting.

In my case, I use solar to keep both topped up when I leave the vehicle sit between adventures, as it is not my DD.

 

[nycgags]

B.

All aux loads go off house battery, smart solenoid ensures you don't crash the start battery and keeps them both charged. If something goes wonky, the bias is always to protecting the start battery.

I used the National Luna smart solenoid. Kit comes with everything you need including the fuses and heavy duty battery wiring. One and done!

When you add solar, two options:

connect the controller to the starter side and the solenoid will connect when the voltage coming in from solar is better than 13.5.

Connect to the aux side, and it'll keep the aux stuff running as long as battery is getting voltage and the panels are producing - but you won't have the benefit of getting the starter battery topped up. Depends on how long you're sitting.

In my case, I use solar to keep both topped up when I leave the vehicle sit between adventures, as it is not my DD.

Sounds too easy! Thanks!

I like the idea of solar going to the starting battery as well, it is the most important to make sure it can start (I could obviously always jump it if needed but this setup should negate that).

 

[nycgags]

B.

All aux loads go off house battery, smart solenoid ensures you don't crash the start battery and keeps them both charged. If something goes wonky, the bias is always to protecting the start battery.

I used the National Luna smart solenoid. Kit comes with everything you need including the fuses and heavy duty battery wiring. One and done!

When you add solar, two options:

connect the controller to the starter side and the solenoid will connect when the voltage coming in from solar is better than 13.5.

Connect to the aux side, and it'll keep the aux stuff running as long as battery is getting voltage and the panels are producing - but you won't have the benefit of getting the starter battery topped up. Depends on how long you're sitting.

In my case, I use solar to keep both topped up when I leave the vehicle sit between adventures, as it is not my DD.

A couple of quick questions after looking into this more.

Q1. Since a winch is involved I read all fuses are out the window since the winch will just repeatedly keep tripping the fuses, make sense?
Q2. Additionally I read somewhere the winch should be attached directly to the starting battery for the Jeep since the alternator helps with the Amp draw, does this mean I shouldn't have the winch switched through my sPod?
Q3. I have started looking into the Lunar Power Portable Pack which seems to use the same intelligent solenoid technology with the added benefit of having a portable case to store the deep cycle battery. This is attractive to me for a few reasons (1) I do not need to hood mount the deep cycle. (2) when/if I move out of the Jeep and into a trailer this can easily be transported to the trailer out of the Jeep with little (none) wiring to undo, just use a longer length of cable to start with possibly. I assume I can still use the sPod to connect directly to this Portable Power Pack, my question is where exactly? (probably my biggest question). If you go to youtube and search for "National Luna Portable Power Pack .mov" you will find a nice video describing its features. Any input would be appreciated, plugs available on the portable power pack include a:

"Hella" plug

and a:

"power takeoff"

which can be used by a power inverter.

I have not heard of either of these connectors before, is there a wiring harness or plug I could use to install an sPod against either of these plugs, or should I look to invest into an (hybrid) inverter that would simplify this sPod installation?

Watching an install video, it might be as easy as just connecting the positive and negative cables from the sPod to the battery terminals inside the power pak.

 

[Chris Boyd]

I'd agree, for most applications for parallel application under the hood, you wouldn't fuse it. Also, you would winch from the starter battery, but "connect them" using the controller during winching operations.

Since you're talking about using the power pack and extending beyond the engine room, I would fuse with a 500 ANL as Verkstad mentions. The risk is much higher passing through the body that something could go wrong. That's potentially a lot of amperage straight to ground or somewhere else. Think welder! Here if you do blow the fuse, the winch is still functional from the starter battery (and a shorter run for the winch; which is equally important).

 

[4RunAmok]

The national luna kit comes with a 100 Amp fuse for the purposes of charging the rear battery, and it's still enough to jump the vehicle with the aux battery if you have to. There's a reason national luna chose a 100 Amp fuse to protect their system, and its probably not a good idea to change it.

Follow the simple rule of "Never winch without the engine running" and you will not have to worry about damaging the national luna system via winching. You do NOT have to combine the batteries to winch. ALL winches winch just fine off of a stock battery with the engine running, whether a second battery exists or not.

 

[nycgags]

Doing install next week, I will have my mechanic do the solenoid and wiring for the new starter battery (Odyssey) and using the OEM 70Ah battery as the accessory for now. He is also installing winch w/ 500A fuse I picked up

I will do the sPod install on Saturday with my club, my question is, everything I have read is you need to start the vehicle for the sPod to recognize itself, not sure if this just the first time or every time. If I have the sPod wired directly to my accessory battery (as Chris Boyd suggested above) will I have any problems getting the sPod to turn "on". I also ordered the bluetooth kit, not sure if that makes things easier or not.

 

[4RunAmok]

The Spod will not awaken until it senses voltage exceed 12.9 volts.

If your batteries are separated by a solenoid, the aux battery will not see voltage above 12.6 until the batteries are combined, and voltage is received from the alternator.

 

[nycgags]

The Spod will not awaken until it senses voltage exceed 12.9 volts.

If your batteries are separated by a solenoid, the aux battery will not see voltage above 12.6 until the batteries are combined, and voltage is received from the alternator.

That sounds like a problem if I want all of my accessories running off of my deep cycle battery right? Meaning not only do I need my Jeep RUNNING but I need to combine batteries every time too, any suggestions?

 

[dstock]

Not sure what kind of Jeep you have but if it's a JK you might want to re-think the NL system. A couple of us have had issues with them on the JK platform.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/135771-National-Luna-Split-Charge-System-Charging-Issues

 

[Scramblin_Jim]

I have a 2010 JK Rubicon with a dual battery set up. I use two yellow top Optima batteries. They both charge off the vehicles alternator while I am driving. Between the two batteries "+" terminals I have a solenoid which acts to isolate the two batteries when I have the Jeep off. The solenoid is nothing but a relay with heavy duty relay contacts to handle the high amperage. It is energized when the vehicles key in on. This places the two batteries in parallel and they both charge off the alternator. When the vehicle is off, lets say for the night, the second battery is then isolated from the first battery as the solenoid is not energize. I run all by auxiliary devices (frig, two radios, 2000 Watt inverter, misc chargers, aux lights, etc.) off the secondary battery. This way I always have the main battery unaffected by the draw down of power during the night and have a good main battery for starting. The reason I run both batteries with the same model is due to the float voltage of the batteries. Dissimilar batteries may have different levels and the charging into them shall be different I'm told. (read the literature at the Optima website). I had problems with my stock battery not allowing my Optima auxiliary battery to charge properly when I first had used the stock battery. When the stock battery died, I got the additional yellow top and now no problems. It is also nice having the second battery there to jump start my main battery when it went dead that first time.

As for the SPOD I have not gotten one yet but would like one. I currently have a small fuse block sitting on top of my fuse/relay box lid in the engine compartment. All the auxiliary circuits are feed by this fuse block except the inverter which has its own 120A fuse. In series before the fuse blocks main input lead coming from the Aux battery, I have a circuit breaker which I use to act as a switch and turn off all power to the AUX circuits when my Jeep sits for long periods of time (weeks at a time) to avoid running down the battery. I do use battery tenders to keep the batteries trickle charged when not in use.

 

[dstock]

Not to be a naysayer but I and others have had huge issues with the NL dual battery system and the Jeep JK 2012+.

I have since switched to a Blue Sea ACR 7622 and my sPod is hooked to the aux battery and works with zero issues.