The Daul batts are in..

[adventureduo]

The Dual batts are in..

First off, i want to thank Kevin (BostonMangler) for helping me with a simple/reliable yet effective way of doing the dual batteries. Using slee's bottle relocation kit, Toyota's battery tray parts, and 12volt guys stud bus, along with Kevins diagram.. it came out nicely.



99% done, just need to install 2 breakers and run the wire loom and cover the post up (ran out of daylight). Some of cables look tight in the pics, but they're not.

We fabbed a bracket that holds the stud and the fuse block from Blue Seas.

 

[Ursidae69]

That's pretty fancy. :smileeek: Looks great, nice job.

 

[Pskhaat]

Curious, why the Group 24s instead of the Group 27s?

 

[asteffes]

Another question... does your radio not forget its memories when you switch batteries? Do you periodically swap batteries to keep them both charged?

 

[rvrfish]

I like the pictures, you did a great job very clean. This is a modification I want to do to my 80.

The first time I went to Baja we had to leave my friends FZJ80 at Bahia de Gonzaga. We accidentally left an interior light on when we left the truck. When we got back the next weekend we drained battery #1 It was so cool to hear the click from a dead battery then switch to battery two and start the engine.

I have a question about the second battery tray, does the gasket seal on the hood insulation or do you remove the insulation above the new battery and the gasket seal directly on the hood?

Woops, My bad. i just went out to my 80 and saw the insalation is already removed and ready for my second battery.

Best,
Matt

 

[adventureduo]

Curious, why the Group 24s instead of the Group 27s?

Already had the batteries.

 

[adventureduo]

Another question... does your radio not forget its memories when you switch batteries? Do you periodically swap batteries to keep them both charged?

The only time it will forget it's memory (Boston correct me if im wrong), is when i switch it in the "OFF" position. I switched it from 1 , started the rig.. 2 it started the rig.. and 1+2 on the way home and no memory was lost.

The selector switch has to be 1+2 for the secondary battery to charge. This is the position that the selector will be in on ALL trips.

 

[RAM5500 CAMPERTHING]

Another question... does your radio not forget its memories when you switch batteries?

If it is wired exactly like mine, the only time it will do that is when it is switched to off! When i switch mine from 1 to 2, i switch it via the 1+2 setting instead of the off setting so that very thing doesnt happen! I ONLY do this when the rig is NOT running! With some switches you can damage the alt if you switch it to the off position while its running! Mine has an idiot safe jumper, but i still dont do it!

I only switch it to OFF when in shady areas and such as a somewhat lame anti-theft device.

They now make a switch that is lockable (key) in the off position as well.

The whole loosing radio memory could be alleviated with a small jumper from the radio to the hot on the fuse box, but i very rarely listen to the radio anyway! My 50gb of music on my iPod is enough!

Also, on the 80's if the truck is switched to OFF for any amount of time the computer will need to relearn itself which takes about 3-4 power cycles

Do you periodically swap batteries to keep them both charged?

Yes, OR they can be charged in the BOTH position, but might be a little skethcy if they arent identical batteries!

 

[RAM5500 CAMPERTHING]

The selector switch has to be 1+2 for the secondary battery to charge. This is the position that the selector will be in on ALL trips.

No!

If you put the switch in the 1+2 position, the vehicle will also possibly DRAIN both batteries as well when you shut it off if you have anything draining them!! Example, you leave your interior light on for 2 weeks with the switch on 1+2, you will most likely have 2 complete dead batteries!

Position 1 = Charging AND Drawing from Battery 1 ONLY
Position 2 = Charging AND Drawing from Battery 2 ONLY
Position 1+2 = Charging AND Drawing from both batteries! This is a possibilty of running both dead and having no reserve. Also, If the batteries arent identical you may not get full charges
OFF = OFF

I do as Asteffes says and run the rig primarly on 2 where all of my junk is installed but switch to 1 once and awhile to make sure my main (which i use as a backup) always has a full charge!

Personally, i NEVER put my switch on 1+2, no need to!

 

[adventureduo]

Dont listen to me, Bostons the man when i comes to this setup. **KISS **********

 

[Grim Reaper]

No!

If you put the switch in the 1+2 position, the vehicle will also possibly DRAIN both batteries as well when you shut it off if you have anything draining them!! Example, you leave your interior light on for 2 weeks with the switch on 1+2, you will most likely have 2 complete dead batteries!

Position 1 = Charging AND Drawing from Battery 1 ONLY
Position 2 = Charging AND Drawing from Battery 2 ONLY
Position 1+2 = Charging AND Drawing from both batteries! This is a possibilty of running both dead and having no reserve. Also, If the batteries arent identical you may not get full charges
OFF = OFF

I do as Asteffes says and run the rig primarly on 2 where all of my junk is installed but switch to 1 once and awhile to make sure my main (which i use as a backup) always has a full charge!

Personally, i NEVER put my switch on 1+2, no need to!

I will be wiring mine the same way except that I plan to also have a Isolator so both batteries charge even if you only have one battery selected. All the add ons will be on the second battery so as to limit the possibility of damage to the factory electrical system. The point of the isolator is I don't have to manually select when I am charging what battery. That way if I am running the fridge on Battery2 to protect the starting battery as soon as I start the truck its charging. When I shut it off the batteries are separate so no chance of them discharging each other if I forget to turn the selector. The only time I will need to change the switch is if I am ganging the batteries for winching or jump starts or if battery 1 fails.

 

[RAM5500 CAMPERTHING]

I will be wiring mine the same way except that I plan to also have a Isolator so both batteries charge even if you only have one battery selected. All the add ons will be on the second battery so as to limit the possibility of damage to the factory electrical system. The point of the isolator is I don't have to manually select when I am charging what battery. That way if I am running the fridge on Battery2 to protect the starting battery as soon as I start the truck its charging. When I shut it off the batteries are separate so no chance of them discharging each other if I forget to turn the selector. The only time I will need to change the switch is if I am ganging the batteries for winching or jump starts or if battery 1 fails.

Yeah, that is another option, i wanted mine as simple as possible!

 

[slooowr6]

in 1+2 position the two batterys are connected, if one battery is significantly older than the other won't this cause the new one tried to charge the old one when the engine is off?

 

[RAM5500 CAMPERTHING]

in 1+2 position the two batterys are connected, if one battery is significantly older than the other won't this cause the new one tried to charge the old one when the engine is off?

That i am not sure of, i never use the 1+2 position, sounds possible though!

 

[Grim Reaper]

in 1+2 position the two batterys are connected, if one battery is significantly older than the other won't this cause the new one tried to charge the old one when the engine is off?

Yes it will.

This is why Diesels with parallel batteries are so rough on them. If one cell gets low on one of the batteries and that cell starts sulfating or drops voltage it can take out the other battery. It doesn't have to be much older at all just not treated the same. The cells all seek to be of an equal voltage so that one weak cell puts a drain on all of them.

If you are going to permanently gang the batteries it is always best to start with two fresh batteries of exact same rating and model.

In our applications where we are trying to protect a "starting" battery and have a battery to supply power over night for fridges and lights its best to make sure they are separated as much as possible. Also this is where you might want to be using a deep-cell for the house battery that will be better able to deal with the extended slow discharge and recover. That different battery type will make it best that the batteries are only ganged for emergency need or while the Alternator is available to provide a charge voltage in excess of the strongest battery.