Blue Sea add a battery kit, arkpak or national luna

[Mo4130]

I have been researching and going between national luna split charge system, arkpak and this http://www.westmarine.com/buy/blue-sea-systems---add-a-battery-dual-circuit-system--8646275

The benefits of the national luna is obvious with its ability to monitor the battiers, but around $400

The arkpak 730 bbasically a plug and play and has a built in converter and assorted plugs, however you still need a battery isolator if you want to run the anderson correct? Again around $440

Which leads me to the add a battery idea. $130 available on amazon.

It has everything you need, and from what I was able to research the Nissan Frontier alternator only puts about 110 amps. And the isolator included with the blue sea kit can handle burst 1100 amps for emergency starting. Am I missing something here? Are you really spending the coin for the auto feature on the other two options? I will also be running two blue sea fuse blocks with neg bus bar, one up front for lights, and add on usbs in truck and one in the back for the fridge and cap lights and what not.

 

[DiploStrat]

I will leave others to address issues with National Luna. I would only note that a simple voltmeter doesn't tell you that much of interest; a tiny bit like trying to compute fuel availability from the speedometer and not a fuel gauge.

I like the Blue Sea ACR, especially this model: https://www.bluesea.com/products/7620/ML-ACR_Automatic_Charging_Relay_-_12V_DC_500A Will handle any load you could ever put on it, including starting and, probably, winching. Simple dash remote switch and tell tale. The Add a Battery kit has lower capacity and a big manual switch that you don't need. $175 with Amazon Prime: http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Sea-Systems-Automatic-Charging/dp/B001C7CJHC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1442599362&sr=8-2&keywords=ML-ACR+Automatic+Charging+Relay

Free advice is worth what you pay for it.

 

[AndrewP]

The add a battery kit is excellent and will be perfect for your needs. It's even fun to install.

I can put up some pictures of my install later if needed.

Realize too, that you can get all the functionality minus the self jump start with just the 7610 ACR (which is the heart of the add-a-battery kit).

 

[Mo4130]

So it really looks like my suspicions are confirmed. I think I will go with the one of the two blue sea options.

 

[DiploStrat]

Get an adult beverage and dig around on this forum for a bit. You will find most of the issues associated with dual battery setups beaten into the dirt. As long as your truck alternator runs at 14v or more, a relay based system is probably your best option. I like automatic ("intelligent") relays, especially if you have, or will have, a charger connected to your camper battery, as in shore or solar power. With an automatic relay like the Blue Sea or the National Luna, a charge on one battery is a charge on both.

 

[expedition4x4]

I went with the Blue Sea MCR relay and the national luna single battery monitor

 

[Mo4130]

i looked around the fourms, but there was no specific mention of the blue sea setup. And by the looks of it, it looks like it will be the set up that works the best for me.

 

[MummifiedCircuitry]

The add a battery kit is excellent and will be perfect for your needs. It's even fun to install.

I can put up some pictures of my install later if needed.

Realize too, that you can get all the functionality minus the self jump start with just the 7610 ACR (which is the heart of the add-a-battery kit).

I'd be interested in seeing your install pics, I'm considering this setup for my dual batteries.

Also, what do you think about this kit:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HEAVY-DUTY-DUAL-AUXILIARY-BATTERY-ISOLATOR-W-CABLES-COMPLETE-KIT-150A-/151177241380?hash=item2332dda324&vxp=mtr

 

[Mo4130]

When running either system in my truck there is no need for a battery switch correct?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[AndrewP]

No need, but you do need to fuse (or breaker) the power leads at or near the batteries.

Also, with the add a battery kit, installing the switch is optional. It will work fine as a dual battery system with just the ACR.

 

[Mo4130]

Yes I was gonna add a breaker like I did for my fuse block. never mind I can't read

 

[DiploStrat]

Remember, you really need to fuse at each end as the cable is live from each battery. Nothing easier than this: https://www.bluesea.com/products/5191/MRBF_Terminal_Fuse_Block_-_30_to_300A

Just buy the proper size fuse and one spare.

 

[Mo4130]

Should 120 amp do it for a dual battery set up. Would that trip if I had to use the batteries to jump the truck? Due to it being over 300 amps? I guess how many amps does it take to start a truck?

 

[texascrane]

I'm certainly not a battery expert and haven't installed my Blue Sea ML-ACR yet. But when I look at the instructions, it says not to install any circuit protection if the relay is going to be used to cross-connect the batteries.

 

[DiploStrat]

??? The batteries are going to be connected whenever the relay is closed.

Reread the instructions: They call for a minimum of 1 AWG and a 175A fuse, at each battery. See Here: http://assets.bluesea.com/files/resources/application_briefs/app_brief_selecting_fuse.pdf

If you are worried about winching or self jumping, then you are going to have to be running some big wires. (Which you want to do anyway.) Long cable runs under the truck can turn into arc welders if they short, as they may due with wear or damage off road. Remember, that cable is live from BOTH ends. Fuse to protect the wire; there have to be tables out there somewhere. I have never looked it up and am probably way low at 150A on a 1/0 cable.

N.B. I prefer the ML series, like this one: https://www.bluesea.com/products/7620/ML-ACR_Automatic_Charging_Relay_-_12V_DC_500A because you can do your auto jump through the same cables that you use for the auto charge relay; you don't have to have a separate set of cables to the manual switch.