OFF-GRID ENGINEERING Dual Battery Systems

[BulletHead]

Because 4/0 gauge is massive, cumbersome, cost-prohibitive, and overkill for the majority of people's needs.

And while the manufacturer may recommend 4/0 cable to meet maximum specs of 500 amps continuous duty... much smaller cable will suffice for almost everything an off-road or expedition rig will need. You would have to use a very large winch with a completely dead starting battery and manually combine the two batteries to reach the limitation of the 2 AWG.

I am absolutely happy to build a kit out of 4/0 cable if that is what is desired. The cable material cost will be approx. 3 times the 2 awg.

You miss my point. Someone could get misled by thinking this kit is designed to carry a load of 500A continuous could get in trouble very quick using that 2 AWG cable. Either reduce the relay load size or increase the cable size adequately to handle the advertised 500A load. Safety first.

FYI, any winch with 9500 lb rating will be at ~500A at full load.

 

[BulletHead]

The maximum ampacity of a 2 AWG cable with a 90C rated insulation is 130A continuous.

 

[Off-Grid Engineering]

You miss my point. Someone could get misled by thinking this kit is designed to carry a load of 500A continuous could get in trouble very quick using that 2 AWG cable. Either reduce the relay load size or increase the cable size adequately to handle the advertised 500A load. Safety first.

FYI, any winch with 9500 lb rating will be at ~500A at full load.

You do realize that this is a kit that is designed to help ease the complexity of putting together a full system right? One must have some electrical knowledge to install and use it safely. I have never advertised that this kit will get you a full 500 amp continuous duty system. The relay is simply robust enough to handle that load. There are several other weak points in the system... as it should be.

The most popular system out right now comes with 4 AWG cables and a 200 amp solenoid. Even that solenoid could out power that cable. My system comes with double that capacity on both fronts... cable and relay.

The point is... this is a kit. A custom one at that. If you want to add larger cable or circuit protection... just ask.


And about the winch... Yes, any decent winch will pull a ton of amps... But you shouldn't be winching through your solenoid unless you've drawn your starting battery down so low that you need to connect your batteries OR you connected them to begin with. Winches should always be connected to the starting battery for two reasons; it's closer to the alternator and it prohibits you from overloading the solenoid or cable.

 

[Off-Grid Engineering]

The maximum ampacity of a 2 AWG cable with a 90C rated insulation is 130A continuous.

Would you like to buy a kit with upgraded cable?

 

[patoz]

FYI, any winch with 9500 lb rating will be at ~500A at full load.

I have a WARN XD9000i winch mounted in a cradle, which pulls 478 amps at max load. I ordered the WARN 24' Rear Quick Connector Kit for it, and it came with 2 AWG cables which supports what Off Grid Eng. is saying. I was thinking about calling them with the same question, but I think I understand now.

 

[Off-Grid Engineering]

I have a WARN XD9000i winch mounted in a cradle, which pulls 478 amps at max load. I ordered the WARN 24' Rear Quick Connector Kit for it, and it came with 2 AWG cables which supports what Off Grid Eng. is saying. I was thinking about calling them with the same question, but I think I understand now.

I appreciate the support.

I will add a disclaimer when I release my next product and redo the ad. I would hope that most people installing these systems would have done enough research to understand what type of load it can handle. Yes, it's twice as strong as most "kits" on the market... but it is not invincible.

Im always happy to talk to folks on the phone and answer any questions you may have!

 

[BulletHead]

Just trying to help.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[BulletHead]

The part where you describe the ML-ACR misleads me as a customer that 500A continuous load is possible with the kit since that's what Bluesea advertises but they also require you to use 4/0 AWG cable. Either calculate the max load the kit can handle and post it up front and/or have a disclaimer like you mentioned. Last thing you probably want is someone using a big winch from a single battery circuit and causing a fire. I would like to buy a kit but the 2 AWG wires dont work for me. I do like the battery trays however, I might just buy those from you.

Hi all!

.....

The wiring kits will feature a Blue Sea ML-ACR 500 amp, voltage sensing relay with pre-terminated cables with aviation grade lugs, Techflex sheathing, and 3M marine grade heat shrink, and a set of mil-spec terminals.

......

 

[Off-Grid Engineering]

The part where you describe the ML-ACR misleads me as a customer that 500A continuous load is possible with the kit since that's what Bluesea advertises but they also require you to use 4/0 AWG cable. Either calculate the max load the kit can handle and post it up front and/or have a disclaimer like you mentioned. Last thing you probably want is someone using a big winch from a single battery circuit and causing a fire. I would like to buy a kit but the 2 AWG wires dont work for me. I do like the battery trays however, I might just buy those from you.

Ok. I actually do appreciate the feedback. I will be creating an entirely new ad tonight. Also, based on your concern, I will be recommending inline ANL fuses.

 

[Off-Grid Engineering]

Alright everyone. A new, improved for sale thread has been created! Check it out!

This thread can be deleted if the mods wish... Thanks!!

 

[Rabicano]

I like it! You can't go wrong with a Blue Sea Systems ARC at the heart of the system.

Do you have any plans to build a tray for the Ford F250 Super Duty truck, i.e. a 2004 with the V10 Triton engine? I'm mounting a winch on mine now, but so far I haven't found a location under the hood big enough to mount a second battery.

Patoz, have you found a good way to mount the second battery? I have a 2005 Excursion 6.8 V10 and am trying to figure out where to move the charcoal canister on the drivers side and how to mount a battery tray there.

 

[patoz]

Patoz, have you found a good way to mount the second battery? I have a 2005 Excursion 6.8 V10 and am trying to figure out where to move the charcoal canister on the drivers side and how to mount a battery tray there.

No I haven't. Basically, I've thought about doing the same thing because there is no where else, except down on the frame somewhere.

I added a Cold Air Intake to mine, but it really doesn't help at all, so I'm thinking of getting rid of it and using that space. However, the factory filter box uses that space also, so I would need to find some other way to deliver filtered air to the engine if I didn't use that.






I guess the only way left is go to a snorkel (not happening)!

 

[patoz]

Rabicano, if you find a way to do it, please post back here and let me know, or hit me up on my thread.