Dual Battery Setups! Let's see them! Multiple Batteries Thread!

You can run all your accessories on the "other" battery and your truck will start every time on the "main" battery

 

Should I run my winch on the main battery? I was looking at this diagram.

 

I run my winch on my main battery because it pulls a lot of amps and the main battery is closest to the alternator. Some people run winches on the aux battery. I think I remember someone saying because if your truck dies, you can still get yourself out of a situation with the winch... or something like that. idk, I thought it made more sense to put it on the main battery, especially bc I have a ton of accessories hooked up to my aux battery

 

Will the stock alt be able to charge both batteries? I want to do a bigger alt but it won't fit due to uca gussets

 

yes

how close are your uca gussets? my 250a alternator isn't thaaat much bigger than oem. Damn I knew I shoulda taken a comparison pic

 

Really close...like almost touching

 

stock alt will be fine then. maybe just do the Big 3 (or 4) upgrade

 

Ya, I have 3 batteries now and a Big 4. My stock Alt charges all of the batteries just fine.

 

Wow that's crazy...I don't use many accessories at one time...I just wanted one so incase I did leave something on and I won't get trapped off road, but I don't wanna spend the big $$$ on a high tech system

 

Eventually I am doing a dual battery but until then I have one of these. $100 and it will start a dead battery between 6-10 times on one charge. You can charge it via cig lighter while you're wheeling on set it up with a $50 goal zero solar panel and never be stranded! Cheap insurance.

The snap on truck sells it so it's good enough for me
http://www.amazon.com/Portable-Powe...r=8-1&keywords=Pocket+battery+jumper+Rockford

 

I have two of these (they were free) never used it on my truck but it doesn't work great

http://www.peakauto.com/products/electronics/jump-starters/600-peak-amp-jump-starter/

 

Sell those and get the Rockford one, it's about the size of an iPad mini.

 

After reading the entire post I have a few questions for our veteran electricians with the 12V system. I plan on placing my second battery behind my passenger seat like a few of the members on here have done. I have a few questions before i start after christmas!!
First:
I have already purchased the ML-ARC and need to know if it matters where I place the system... closer to my starting battery or place it behind the seat with battery and aux panel. Does it matter?
Second:
I have figured on roughly 16 feet from battery to battery. Does anyone think that number to be different?
Third:
Will 1/0 be the most correct gauge o connect the two together?
Finally there has been a long discussion about placing fuses between the batteries. yay or nay?

 

I have spent quite a bit more then I expected but, soon, I will be done and I will be able to do all that I needed. It is understandable to only build it to what is needed by the owner.

I would like to start off saying that I am not an electrician but I have been building my own 12v system myself.

First:
I have already purchased the ML-ARC and need to know if it matters where I place the system... closer to my starting battery or place it behind the seat with battery and aux panel. Does it matter?
I have seen it done both ways. I have mine installed right next to the aux battery because that is what worked for my system but I have seen others install theirs right next to the main battery. From my perspective, it is probably better that it is as close to the Main battery as possible since that is less unprotected wire that could have issues.

Second:
That sounds about right. I had 25' of cable and that allowed extra to jump between the three batteries and start the build of a Big 3 kit.

Third:
This is all dependent on how many Amps you plan to put through the ML-ACR and the distance. I used 2/0 because I plan on using more amps from time to time. The ML-ACR is rated to 500amps but using 2/0 put me at 225amps continuous and 400amps intermittently. The instructions do not use anything below 2/0 so I couldn't say for sure what it would be for 1/0. 4/0 to 2/0 is a 75amp drop so 1/0 might be 150amps?

Finally:
Yes, I didn't know this at first and had to redesign everything while I was building it to accommodate the fuse before and fuse after the ML-ACR. I think it is important to protect the electrical system that you are spending so much time and money to build.

 

What size fuse did you use before and after the ML-ACR. I will probably go with 2/0 then, i picked up the ARB CKTMA air compressor and at full load can pull, i believe 80amps. By placing the ML-ACR closer to the main battery it frees up more space behind the seat for the fuse box and relays.

 

I have all 300 anl type fuses. one before the ML-ACR and one after. There is one more between the battery and the Bussmann fuse panel.

 

Can anyone help me? It's probably been answered here somewhere but I don't have the attention span to read 37 pages to hopefully find something.

I want a dual battery system, one that charges off the truck naturally but the second battery is isolated from the rest of the truck. I wish to charge the battery off the truck but use it only for aux items, i.e. off road lights, winch, shower, etc. Anyone have any diagrams for this specific wiring request? Also, what do you guys suggest I use to monitor the charges of each battery?

 

Does this help?

 

Where did you find this? It looks about right.

 

I think you can find them at bluesea website