Dual Battery Installation Write-Up - Pics - Page 3

sbechtold · 10-25-2006, 07:53 AM

Quote:

mojodog7 previously said:

I agree with everyone - well written, informative and detailed post. I especially appreciate the included photos. The question I have is: how does this aux battery get recharged? I didn't see how it would/could connect to the alternator, and I would think with all the accessories, and especially the power that I imagine the winch would draw when in use, would run this second battery down pretty quick. Am I off base about the power draw of these accessories, or just of the capacity of the battery?

The STARTING and AUX batteries are connected to a 250amp solenoid that is connected to the alternator. Both batteries are charged, at the same time, when you have the system in switch position 1 or 2. The batteries are isolated from one another in position 1, so that the drained AUX battery does not draw current from the good battery. Part of the reason for doing this project is to allow my electrical accessories to draw from the AUX battery while maintaining a good charge in the STARTING battery. The AUX battery will recharge once the vehicle is running. Make sense?

EDH-FJ · 10-25-2006, 01:55 PM

Quote:

sbechtold previously said:

The STARTING and AUX batteries are connected to a 250amp solenoid that is connected to the alternator. Both batteries are charged, at the same time, when you have the system in switch position 1 or 2. The batteries are isolated from one another in position 1, so that the drained AUX battery does not draw current from the good battery. Part of the reason for doing this project is to allow my electrical accessories to draw from the AUX battery while maintaining a good charge in the STARTING battery. The AUX battery will recharge once the vehicle is running. Make sense?

The system I'm installing works a little different. It isolates the batteries and after it detects the main full, the solenoid closes allowing the power to flow to the Aux battery. Once full, they seperate again. Then, as the aux drains below a set voltage, it engages them again. Switching on and off w/ power keeping both batteries full. In addition, the two can be bonded to increase DC capacity for winch loads or providing a jump if the main battery is low/dead. I'm using Sure Power's battery seperator system. It also allows you to put say a solar panel on the Aux battery if your hanging out and camping and it will charge the Aux and then close the solenoid and fill the main battery.

SB...nice job on the project story...like your idea with the switches in the dash box...I was thinking of putting in one of those battery energy meters in there to check charge level of each battery.

mojodog7 · 10-27-2006, 08:21 PM

Quote:

sbechtold previously said:

The STARTING and AUX batteries are connected to a 250amp solenoid that is connected to the alternator. Both batteries are charged, at the same time, when you have the system in switch position 1 or 2. The batteries are isolated from one another in position 1, so that the drained AUX battery does not draw current from the good battery. Part of the reason for doing this project is to allow my electrical accessories to draw from the AUX battery while maintaining a good charge in the STARTING battery. The AUX battery will recharge once the vehicle is running. Make sense?

I get it now, thanks for clearing that up. I completely missed the purpose of the solenoid.

vlives2ride · 10-28-2006, 02:20 AM

sbechtold, GREAT thread...thank you for sharing your intense work and taking the time to document and post it!
Installed the trd Air Box and will see if the AUX batt can still fit. Safe wheel'n!

White Rim · 10-28-2006, 02:53 AM

The position of your battery is an eye opener; I did not realize it would fit in there back by the firewall crosswise to free up space for a winch control box. Thanks again for a great writeup.

EDH-FJ · 10-30-2006, 07:36 AM

I finished my install Sunday and used your step by steps on the fuse box location. Worked perfect...I even printed the picture and sat under there in that tight space and made it look identical as I compared the two. Your right, pleanty of room. I got my extra 12V outlets in the back now swung over to a new wire on the fuse block and my fridge is purring happy.

Now as soon as the Bandi Mounts are ready, I can do my CB install and I'll have easy power access now.

The unit I used allows me some flexibility in that it has some smarts in it. I can plug into an aux battery powered power port a solar panel which will charge the Aux Battery, once full, it will actually charge to the main battery so I can do some extended camping w/o having to run the engine to charge up.

sbechtold · 10-30-2006, 08:04 AM

Congratulations on finishing the installation and I'm glad the fuse block location worked for you. I did have a bit of a problem removing the cover from the fuse panel this past weekend as the bottom of the fuse block is resting on the white plastic parts. I decided to flatten the bottom left side (if your looking at the fuse panel) retaining tab on the fuse panel cover so it would slide off a little easier. I just removed the small raised area on the tab that snaps into the fuse block itself. Works fine now. I like the solar panel idea. Pretty cool feature.

Quote:

EDH-FJ previously said:

I finished my install Sunday and used your step by steps on the fuse box location. Worked perfect...I even printed the picture and sat under there in that tight space and made it look identical as I compared the two. Your right, pleanty of room. I got my extra 12V outlets in the back now swung over to a new wire on the fuse block and my fridge is purring happy.

Now as soon as the Bandi Mounts are ready, I can do my CB install and I'll have easy power access now.

The unit I used allows me some flexibility in that it has some smarts in it. I can plug into an aux battery powered power port a solar panel which will charge the Aux Battery, once full, it will actually charge to the main battery so I can do some extended camping w/o having to run the engine to charge up.

FJNAZ · 10-30-2006, 08:45 AM

congrats! The solar panel charging is a cool option.

INI SLDR · 11-21-2006, 09:54 PM

Just curious, did you have to fab a mount to install the battery tray or could you just bolt the tray to the top of the fenderwell?

sbechtold · 11-21-2006, 11:17 PM

Quote:

INI SLDR previously said:

Just curious, did you have to fab a mount to install the battery tray or could you just bolt the tray to the top of the fenderwell?

I made a small bracket (tray) that bolts to the fender well. I welded that bracket to the bottom of the battery tray that I purchased. Then I bolted the whole assembly to the fender well. I suppose you could just mount the tray to the top of the fender well. Your battery might sit a little lopsided, but it would probably work. I wanted my battery up against the firewall so that I still had room for my winch controls. I'm pretty sure that EDH-FJ made a metal tray for his and FJNAZ made a tray out of hardwood.