Dual Batteries for dummies

[sharp018]

Yes but id rather it be off a seperate battery, forgot to mention that eventually more accessories and fridge will come into play but just for now its lights, and cb. Also if for what ever reason the crank battery goes flat always have the dual to over ride.

[apSlain]

At what point does a dual battery system become the go-to solution for power?

Just wondering this as I start to look into more electricals for the 'Lux. Currently, there's not much running off the starter battery that's bothering me but in the future, I foresee the following additions...

• Winch
• ELocker (Front & Rear)
• LED Light Bar
• Spotties
• Dash Camera
• Additional 12V Sockets
• CB Radio

...amongst other things I can't think of right now. While camping, we run things like the fridge off an ArkPak (Battery Box) and other smaller items off a Goal Zero.

I don't see the fridge or camp set-up ever becoming something I run off the car battery so is it worth moving to a dual battery system or will a single quality dual-purpose battery do the job for me e.g. an Optima D27F?

EDIT: I know I can always run off the single and then move to the dual system later, however - how much work is all the rewiring?

Cheers.

[martynvella]

read the thread, there are 43 pages of answers to those questions. It can be as simple or as complicated as you want to make it.

Only the accessories you use without the engine running is all you need to consider.

How you are doing it is in essence a duel battery system.

Single battery is not good, you will leave yourself stranded if you don't have a geny.

[Talktheroo]

The Roo.

[Richolux150]

Thats cute Roo......anderson plug connector on the other side.....

[fabz]

Ive just finished the install of a Ctek dual with arb tray and a leisure cycle stoaway 100ah agm. It was pretty straight forward with the help of other peoples pictures etc, the hardest part was probably trying to squeeze the battery into the arb tray with the amount of room there is and the weight of the battery. I used 30 amp circuit breakers between the positive in and positive out, I found the best place for me to put them out of the way was next to the main battery against the inside of the guard, I pulled the main battery out to do it and had plenty of room.

I ran a single wire for my fridge through the firewall prior to putting the arb tray and battery in but I'm curious if the only way to run any more wires through would mean I need to remove the battery and tray. Hoping somebody says there's any easier way but I doubt it lol.

[TOYZX]

Ya csn drop wires down the firewall, under the cab and in through grommets in the floor.

Sent from my SM-N920I using Tapatalk

[fabz]

Ok thanks, rather through the firewall, I'll just take it out run some more wires and hopefully won't need to do it again.

[scoter]

Ok, so I've read through some of the previous posts and cant seem to have confirmation that the Smart switches or DC to DC chargers are capable of supplying a full 14.5 Volts to a secondary battery.
Most seem to supply only what the alternator puts out (Only around 13.5 on the Hilux once its warm.)

Can anyone confirm if any units are capable of supplying the 14.5 volts required to maintain a Sealed lead acid AGM style battery?

[TOYZX]

Redarc chargers definitely charge over 14v then will back off to a set voltage depending on what kind of battery you have installed. They have an orange wire which is either left disconnected,earthed or wired to 12v to tell the unit what type of battery it's charging. Cheers Luke.

Sent from my SM-N920I using Tapatalk

[Talktheroo]

Thats cute Roo......anderson plug connector on the other side.....

No, just a set of boobs on a towel. The Anderson plug is on the top, there.
The Roo.

[slice]

Anyone use this charger https://oppositelock.com.au/products/li ... lt-dcc-pro amelec intervolt dcc pro?

[Jacko9]

yep, i do.

[slice]

yep, i do.

What made you choose this over the other brands?

[Jacko9]

yep, i do.

What made you choose this over the other brands?

Honestly,

I can get intervolt products cheaper. I also liked the tidiness of the install and setup compared with the redarc. The Intervolt also came with its own monitor and I also thought the setup of the unit to the required battery type is much easier, the fact that it has a monitor is somewhat redundant as I had a projecta dual monitor already. I am happy so far, intervolt or redarc i don't think you'll go wrong with either, I'm not a huge fan of the c-tek stuff, but I know a lot of people who've got good use out of them.

[slice]

yep, i do.

What made you choose this over the other brands?

Honestly,

I can get intervolt products cheaper. I also liked the tidiness of the install and setup compared with the redarc. The Intervolt also came with its own monitor and I also thought the setup of the unit to the required battery type is much easier, the fact that it has a monitor is somewhat redundant as I had a projecta dual monitor already. I am happy so far, intervolt or redarc i don't think you'll go wrong with either, I'm not a huge fan of the c-tek stuff, but I know a lot of people who've got good use out of them.

Thanks for that, good to know

[Jacko9]

no soldering wires together like on the redarc bcdc, its all lugs and posts, a lot tidier.

[Richolux150]

Thats cute Roo......anderson plug connector on the other side.....

No, just a set of boobs on a towel. The Anderson plug is on the top, there.
The Roo.

Oh yer

[tuls]

Hi All,

am starting to put together a dual battery system and came across this http://www.thunderauto.com.au/dcdc-charger/ anyone got any feedback on them?

Thanks
Guy

[xychix]

Hi All,

am starting to put together a dual battery system and came across this http://www.thunderauto.com.au/dcdc-charger/ anyone got any feedback on them?

Thanks
Guy

Looks interesting for sure.