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

Man, theres an overwhelming amount of info on here that Ive been trying to absorb.

Im kicking around the idea of doing a dual battery set up for camping after killing mine this past weekend.

Currently running a newer single 27F battery. Id like to keep this battery since its new. It appears its all but impossible to run dual 27F batteries in the stock location.

Looked into adding a smaller deep cycle battery to run all the auxiliary lighting and gadgets but Im not finding much info on this. Seems like everything I keep seeing says to run matched batteries so they charge/discharge evenly.

I skimmed over this thread and google and only found a tiny little bit of info about running mismatched batteries which leads me to think its not a good idea.

Which brings me to my next question.... How many people run dual 27F batteries? My truck is a TRD OR 6MT, so there is a buncha space where the ABS pump normally sits on other trucks. It also doesnt have the smog pump. That space is currently occupied by a compressor, but not at all opposed to moving it.

The Iggy Corp bracket appears to hold a 27F battery but Ive only seen a few pictures.

Ive also kicked around the idea of doing a small solar panel.

Unfortunately, I dont have the best grasp on all of this shit yet, but Im working on it.

 

I'm running the IBS dual battery systems and the batteries can be mismatched with that system. Also, I'm not sure the Iggy bracket is still being made, but I could be wrong on that.

 

Cool.

I'll have to look into that system.

As for the bracket, that's no issue as I can easily make one. In worried more about having the room for the 2nd battery if I use another 27F.

 

You could always locate the Aux battery behind your seats or in the bed.

 

Curious question for the folks that know more than I...

I have access to 12v UPS batteries, sealed led acid 12v motorcycle sized batteries. (I can get the exact specs later if needed) I am trying to figure out if I could use them in my truck safely. The small size has some obvious advantages and disadvantages. If I did use them I was thinking of using a DC-DC charger and multiple batteries. Then run a fridge and a few other accessories off them. There are some obvious potential issues, uneven charging across the battery bank being one. Any thoughts on what I should watch out for or suggestions? It seems pretty strait forward but I may be missing something.

 

I thought about up under the bed side but I'd like to keep everything under the hood since the auxiliary fuse panel is there already. I need to do some measuring.

I plan on doing a simple solenoid setup without all the fancy monitoring system mostly due to cost. So I would need to use 2 of the exact same batteries so they charge properly, correct?

 

Welp, I have a basic understanding of electrical systems and how normal automotive batteries work, but start throwing around terms like AMG and deep cycle and dual batteries and I start to feel lost. Ive never messed with any of that stuff before because Ive never had a reason, but now I do. Im attempting to scrool myself on as much as possible

Ive been researching and I think I came up with a potential parts list to do my set up on a budget.

Im basing my set up off of this -

http://forums.exploringnh.com/showt...-Wiring-Diagram-and-Parts-List-DIY-for-50-100


- 150amp? 200amp? isolator solenoid or Blue Sea SI-ACR?
- Dual Bussmann 150amp? 200amp? circuit breakers
- Group 27 deep cycle or AGM battery
- 4 gauge wiring
- Dual readout voltage gauge
- On/off/on switch. Possibly a Blue Sea 2146

Am I better off running an AGM or a deep cycle battery for the house battery. Or is a deep cycle an AGM battery?

The starting battery is a flooded battery.

The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of the second battery being on the passenger side to balance some weight out.

I know the Piranha Off Road dual battery kit locates the second battery to the passenger side next to the washer reservoir.

Has anyone DIY'd something similar and relocated their washer bottle to accommodate a larger battery right behind the passenger side headlight? I like the idea of it being symmetrical to the drive side battery. Stupid little stuff like this makes me happy. I know 4th gen T4R's use a washer bottle that sits down in the inner fender well so only the filler neck is exposed in the engine bay.

After reading most of this thread, Ive seen a few people mount a Wirthco battery tray to the passenger side inner fender on a TRD OR. Any better pics or info on this? I have a TRD OR so I have a ton of room there. I currently have a compressor mounted there, but I can relocated it.


Im having a hard time understanding the difference between the Blue Sea SI-ACR Automatic Charging Relay and the ML-ACR Automatic Charging Relay with Manual Control. The only difference Im seeing is the ML-ACR gives you more control and lets you link the 2 batteries via a switch inside or via the yellow switch on the unit for jump starting

The SI-ACR does the same job as the isolator solenoid, correct?

EDITED for more questions.

 

Piranha off road is out of biz, and I was talking with a guy who has seen one and the weight of the battery cracks that fender since it's not streignthened to support it.

 

What is the disadvantage to running the BlueSea SI-ACR with a

$48 Blue Sea Systems 6011 m-Series Battery Switch Dual Circuit Plus, Red

switch vs the ML-ACR??

 

More space, more wire, larger form factor

 

thats it? just space? the ML is ~$70 more than the SI + switch. are the functions the same? seems like you might have more options with the SI setup

 

One huge difference is how many amps they are rated for. The ML-ACR has a continuous load rating of 500 amps compared to the 120 amp continuous rating of the SI-ACR

 

Main difference is there's no switch, remote or on the unit. Which means no jumpstarting yourself

 

Ah didn't realize that. Glad I didn't setup my 2nd battery to be able to jumpstart.

 

but does the ML-ACR turn off access to the aux battery after the engine has been off for a while? I want to be able to run the AUX battery when the car has been off for extended periods of time

 

Yes. It separates the batteries when there is a voltage drop on either one.

 

can you recombine them even after it senses the voltage drop?

 

Yes, the in-cab switch allows you to lock the batteries together. It is the setting you would use to start the truck if the starting battery were dead.

 

wellllll i guess you leave me with no choice but to spend the money.....thanks for the info

 

Good info. That clears up the ML-ACR for me too. C


Can I mismatch my batteries? I would like to run a flooded battery as the starter battery and a deep cycle as the house battery. Both group 27f's