Dual battery setup

Thinking of doing the off grid 4x4 setup for 2017 TRD ORDC. I get the battery's and all the wiring. But does there need to be a bigger amp alternator for this setup?

 

It is hard to comment on something so vague. You want to do something but aren't sure if you need to upgrade to account for something else. But you don't want something to happen.

I think something should be sufficient. If not you need to do something.

 

if you're gonna be winching, yes

 

Well it's a 3rd gen so I agree.

 

No no. I don't mind upgrading. I have 12k winch smitybilt. 7 pod lights. Galaxy 98vhp CB radio 200 watt amp uses 50amp fuse to the battery.
@ramonortiz55 should I run the wire from the winch to the Aux battery or the main battery?

 

He asked if he needs to run a larger alternator for a duel battery Off-Grid setup. What's so hard to understand about that?

 

OP gave zero information on his intended uses of the dual batteries. You can setup a hundred batteries on the truck and be able to run them with the original alternator, or you can have a single one and drain the thing. The difference is in how you use them.

 

Sorry about that. I did repost later with what I'm running. And asking if I should run the winch to the Aux battery or to the main. Or does it not matter??

 

It can matter... again, depending on your use case . If you're stuck in a river with a non-running truck, don't want to start it (and risk taking on water) and need to winch yourself out, you'll wish your winch was connected to your aux battery. Then again, if you just spent two days camping, killed your aux battery via your other electronics, and got stuck in a mud hole twenty minutes out of camp, you'll wish your winch was connected to your main battery. Pick your poison.

Mine's connected to my main.

Best-case is to use some

AURELIO TECH Universal 2-4 AWG 175A Battery Connect Quick Connector Plug for 12V Winch Trailer Driver Electrical Devices

quick-disconnect connectors (these connectors are an example - make sure they're appropriate for your guage wiring and current draw) in your winch wiring and be able to easily (tool-free) move the winch power from one battery to the other.

 

Let the 3rd Gen wolves assemble...

@smitty99 ? @BadKitty ? Where you guys at?

 

Nice. I like that. Thanks. Sorry about the first post. I'll try and get better to lay it out better.

 

Just order the disconnects. And thanks again. Should be here on Wednesday.

 

Sorry for the confusion, but those were/are an example, not a specific recommendation. Check the current usage of your winch and make sure these connectors will handle it. According to Amazon, these are rated for 350amps. I don't know what winch you're using, but I do know some have current spikes of up to 500+ amps, which may be more than these connectors can handle. Also consider what guage wiring will be coming from the winch and to the battery, and make sure these connectors will work.

And check the reviews - someone is complaining that despite being advertised for 2-4 AWG, these connectors don't fit wiring thicker than 4 AWG. Basically, do your homework .

If you need to, Amazon orders can be cancelled through the account/orders page.

For what it's worth, I've used these same Aurelio Tech connectors (but the 6-8 guage variant) for my compressor, and I do like them. When I eventually set up quick-disconnects for my winch, I'll almost certainly use them (but the heavier-guage variant, like the one I linked to) again.

 

One more thing - the pins in these connectors aren't crimp-able (at least in the 6-8 AWG version I used), so make sure you're equipped to solder the wiring in. I used a blow-torch to melt a ton of solder inside the pin (it easily comes out of the connector), and then inserted the wire while the solder was still liquid.

 

+1 on the forklift connectors, they can deffinetly save your ass out in the backwoods. Plus if your winch is in a cradle (able to move from front to rear) they come in handy, thats how i did mine also.

 

The X2O winch features a completely waterproof 500 AMP solenoid pack that can be mounted in 2 different locations, depending on your application needs.

 

Uhhh, yes, but that doesn't play into this discussion. On the Smittybilt 9500 X2O that I have, the solenoid can be mounted in the center, off to the side, or completely off the main winch. The quick-disconnect connector will be between the solenoid and the battery.

 

@0210 thing is if he has the off grid engineering one it doesn't matter what battery to a point. One switch and you can force connect the two.

But for OP another thing with winching many articles bring up is of main you'll get more feed in from the alternator vs the aux. But then you risk draining your starting battery. So if you do hard winching then shut down the truck you could be fucked. @0210 put it best basically. Completely depends on your use. I'll likely put mine right to the main and run all other stuff on the other battery.
But I'm really liking that quick connect idea