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

Hey all, looking to sub in a dual battery box in my 1999 3.4L I want to put both batteries on the driverside near the current location... any thoughts?

 

Can be done. Check this out:

http://www.columbiaoverland.com/dua...1st-generation-dual-battery-tray-2005-current

 

Finally got around to getting my dual battery set up installed. Dual Yellow Top 35's, Blue Sea ML-ACR 7622, Off-Grid Engineering Plate and Tie-Down. Before tackling this, I completed the "Big 3" upgrade using 4 AWG welding cable and I replaced the alternator with a BNR Parts rated at 200 AMPs that is powder coated red. It took some work getting the plate and tie-down to work in my first gen but Matt at OGE has excellent customer service and helped me figure it out. I'm also waiting on a Peak DBI monitor to arrive from South Africa to install next to the switch.

I had to drill four 1/4" holes for the plate


The width between the all thread tie-downs was a little wider than the fender well allowed. That made the height of the group 35 batteries push the strap up too high, but I made it work. A 13mm stubby Gearwrench made this easier.


Here it is installed, the OGE tie-down strap makes mounting the ACR on top very convenient. I used a universal coolant overflow reservoir instead of the OEM and relocated it to the passenger fender well. I'll clean it up a bit more in the future.

 

This here dual battery set up is with dual Optimas. The dual battery Stage 4 wiring kit and SSCS Kit was purchased from @BamaToy1997. Great products!!!!!

Dual battery wiring Stage 4 kit and SSCS Kit

I didn't want to spend a lot of money for a dual battery tray, I purchased from Ebay for less than 20 dollars a piece. Then they were modified and welded together. So my dual battery tray cost about 50 dollars after welding and paint.

The orange bracket that is supporting the SwitchPro, ProMariner Controller and Stinger Solenoid was fabricated by myself. It bolts to the drivers side fender at 2 places and bolts down at the bottom of the wheel well. So there is no vibration/bouncing of the components.

Dual battery install.

Digital Voltage Meter battery terminals.

I also installed 2 digital voltage meters inside my cab. Top is start battery and the lower is accessory battery.

The SSCS Kit (Self Starting Control System) is used when your start battery is dead, you push and hold the Jump Start switch and turn your ignition to start your engine using your Accessory battery, then release the switch after engine start.

This is my first major write up of this install. Just never got around to doing this. This mod is not an easy thing to do if you are like me and only have general electrical skills. My friend is very knowledgeable in this area and helped out a bunch. Couldn't have been possible without him. I did not want any wiring or components interfering with the removal of the top of the fuse box. As you can see, all the wiring is run around and underneath the fuse box. Easy access in case a fuse replacement is required....

 

Very nice! That is a very crowded space. No room to spare that's for sure.

 

Be forewarned - i placed an order with these guys, but cancelled it and 6 weeks later they still have not refunded my card. I spoke to the guy the day i cancelled the order and he seemed super nice, but he's been unresponsive despite numerous attempts to contact. @ColumbiaOverland if you're listening...

 

Mhmhm that really sucks for you. In my personal experience they were nice, helpful and quick with shipping.

 

Would like to know more about that bracket you fabricated. Very nice!

 

Yeah, that was my experience too, except as noted.

 

PM'd............ Thanks Bill!!!!!!!!!!

 

I asked Columbia Overland if they offered a military discount and they said they did. After about a week of back and forth through email and phone verifying my status and trying to figure out how to order it, I was told they wouldn't do the discount anymore. I don't like getting jerked around so I went with another company. The guy seemed nice and I don't think they'll stiff you, good luck on your refund.

 

Subbed to go through later

 

Got a question about some parasitic draw testing for the electrical gurus

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/parasitic-draw-test-blue-sea-7622-dual-batteries.459415/

Any help would be appreciated

 

I have been reading this thread over the past week and noticed a lot of people are recommending the TMS/Harbor Freight Hydraulic Crimping tool.
I wanted to put my 2 cents in about this crimper. It is not suitable for professional work. The die set is not close to anything standard. It is a cheap tool and will deliver subpar results. I have owned and used one before and do not recommend it.

If you are looking to make terminal crimps that are as good as your factory Toyota terminals and you want them to last as long as everything else on the truck, you need a better tool. If you want to make a crimp that will keep the lug from falling off and the connection solid for 1-2 years, than the TMS/HF crimper will be just fine (vise grip and hammer indent crimps are in the same boat as the TMS/HF).

Here is a good piece of reading which details proper terminal crimps and where the HF/TMS crimper falls short(page 3).
http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/battery_cables

 

Well I've had dual batteries for a couple years now. A group 27 under the hood and some old BS battery mounted in my bed under my tool box. It's a half assed setup connected with jumper cable cables and no solenoid or any other fanciness. Anyhow, Ive walked outside to a dead battery twice this week. I'm assuming the battery in the bed is bad and draining the main so I've disconnected it for now.

Anyhow its time to redo this correctly. Going to pick up two Optimas and mount them under the hood. What's the preferred size to go with? Group 27,31,34?

If I wanna spend $200 or less on an issolator of some description is there a recommendation on what I should be looking at. Eventually I'll be doing this job again on my other 05 Tacoma (SAS truck).

Thanks, slowly going back through this thread, but with my work schedule that could take weeks

 

NorthStar Battery GB going on right now. I figured this is one of the threads that could benefit from me spreading the word. Link here

 

THank you I'll check it out

 

What size batteries are those

 

25 amd 35. same size but opposite posts for mounting
The Odyssey is the 25 and the gray one is a group 35 Die Hard Platinum which is the same exact battery just rebranded