Dual Battery Setups

[tdesanto]

Right, I took a smart pill and called and spoke to John Lee at EE. He enlightened me about the 31, and I have already ordered it. I was thinking of a B/U scenario for startup, but JL said that I should not experience a total drain with the 31, unless I let it sit for many days. He said he has never experienced any problems running the 31 on expeditions. These guys are great, and I trust them completely. My expedition are close, but still a few years off. Once I am an empty nester, I will be taking a few longer trips, for now I am set with a couple of days of camping or so.:bike_rider:

Ehem, someone else told you about the Optima 31M as well.

That's what I run as the primary and a 34M as the backup.
I also use the Hellroaring system and haven't had a single issue with it. It's very compact and has been very reliable.

 

[overlander]

Hi folks

I'm curious if anyone here has the National Luna dual battery management setup and some feedbacks please. I've ran several Optima batteries, yellow/yellow, red/yellow, red/blue and now red/red and I use the Painless Wiring setup. My latest issue is that my aux red top drained and when I start the Rover and flip the switch to charge both batteries - the voltage on the aux side did not "spike" up. I've had my setup for a couple of years now and I just don't feel 100% sure of its reliablity. First I thought the yellow top was the culprit then my blue top toast on me and now this. I've checked for short/draw in the system but can't seemed to oint the finger yet. Anyone running the Hellroaring and why is this a better system. Thanks.

I started with a red primary mated with a yellow backup, and the red died. they just don't survive depletion well. I replaced the red with another yellow, and they are going strong. The yellows have the same cold cranking amps as the yellows, but they can survive depletion recharges better. I'm done with reds for good.

 

[Reata Rover]

Ehem, someone else told you about the Optima 31M as well.

That's what I run as the primary and a 34M as the backup.
I also use the Hellroaring system and haven't had a single issue with it. It's very compact and has been very reliable.

I think I have referred to you as my idol on more than one occasion (sp), and I truly apologize for not giving you the appropriate accolades and praise!!!! You certainly deserve it as YOU ARE MY OFF ROAD IDOL!!!:friday:
and a darned good drinking friend as well!!

 

[rismail01]

[QUOTE]I started with a red primary mated with a yellow backup, and the red died. they just don't survive depletion well. I replaced the red with another yellow, and they are going strong. The yellows have the same cold cranking amps as the yellows, but they can survive depletion recharges better. I'm done with reds for good[/QUOTE]

Well I pulled the trigger and bought one DieHard G34 P-1 Platinum last night. Supposedly, this battery is almost identical to the Odyssey PC1500T. The sucker is heavy much heavier than Optimas due to the design using lead plates vs spiral-wound. Anyway, now I need to decide if I should use the platinum as a primary and Red Top as aux or vice versa. Thoughts?

Ray

 

[khaywood]

Hi folks

I'm curious if anyone here has the National Luna dual battery management setup and some feedbacks please. QUOTE]

I have been using the National Luna system with an Optima red as my primary and a yellow for auxilliaries. So far so good. My biggest and only consistent load is the Engel fridge. My other loads connected to the backup battery (GPS, dual band radio, work light) are not usually energized for any significant length of time when we are camped, but can be and not afffect the starter battery.

I have heard mixed reviews on the Optima batteries, but I have yet to have any problems.

 

[TroutBear]

http://www.surepower.com/separator.html

We installed this separator system into our 80 LC w/ an Odyssey as the second battery. I like the simplicity of the separator - looked at the Hellroaring , called Mike up and spoke w/ him about it, but they prefer you run all toys from the main [not just winch] and save the second for backup. Like some others on MUD, I hook aux interior power and such to the second battery. It becomes a personal preference in the end. Just about all the major systems will have fans.

 

[LC/LR4Life]

Well I pulled the trigger and bought one DieHard G34 P-1 Platinum last night. Supposedly, this battery is almost identical to the Odyssey PC1500T. The sucker is heavy much heavier than Optimas due to the design using lead plates vs spiral-wound. Anyway, now I need to decide if I should use the platinum as a primary and Red Top as aux or vice versa. Thoughts?

Ray

I had one of those and it died. It died not long after I went on a Big Bend trip over a lot of washboard road (heavy vibration. I then switched to Optima.