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

You are probably fine. I would suspect that you are losing a bit through the frame. I had troubles with my setup when I tried grounding low amperage accessories to the frame. But it sounds like you are charging just fine!

 

Did you add a ground wire from the battery directly to the frame?

 

Hey guys, were getting people together for another batch of Iggy's wonderful battery tray and mounts for MLACR/RTMR. These also fit non-TRD off road trucks, provided you dont have an ABS pump on the passenger side, or a smog pump mounted there. were already at the minimum 5 for the go ahead, but the more people the merrier!

sign up here https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2nd-gen-or-second-battery-mount.419262/page-6

 

Yeah, aux battery ground does directly from the negative post to an 8mm threaded hole on the frame. which i sanded to bare metal before bolting on. Start battery is grounded to the frame by the engine like normal.

 

100% happy with my 2nd battery set up finally.

I got around to redoing the grounds today after putting it off for months.

 

Good choice of beverage...

 

sorry to be so lazy , been reading all around and most of dual batteries setups are for 2nd & 3rd gens...is hard to find 1st gens ones, I don't know why>>
My questions are;
I want a battery to be able to crank a cold start, and the aux one to power subwoofer amp and amenities under camper on the bed, do I need to have 2 same specs batteries or i could use the stock one and add a deep cycle one for the accessories ?
what if I want to feed the aux battery with solar, is it a whole set up or just an add on?
what is needed to avoid alternator to work extra, how can the system get controlled?
Thanks !!!

 

Upgrading from a single 4 gauge ground grounded on the inner fender to dual 2 gauge grounds (1 to the fender and 1 to the chassis) made a difference. The house battery chargers a littler higher now - from low 13v to mid 13v. Glad I did the upgrade.

I do have a question now.

I would like to insulate both batteries now that I have the set up all sorted out. Looking for any info/ideas on a DIY battery "blanket". Everything Ive seen for purchase are all heated wraps. Im kicking around the idea of using foil bubble wrap to make blankets.

 

I'm trying to understand why you would want to insulate your battery. Granted on rare occasions it does drop below zero in western PA, but batteries are more negatively affected by heat than cold, and charging batteries adds heat. I would want to keep mine cool all summer and only consider insulating when below zero.

 

Basically for the mentioned extra cold days we do have here. After having so many colder than usual day this past winter, having the option for a little extra insulation doesnt seem so bad if it can be done for minimal cost.

 

I agree 100%. When I did mine there wasn't much info on TW about how to do it on a 1st gen. I ended up putting my second battery in the bed and isolating it with an ML-ACR. I did use two matching AGM type batteries because I was concerned about being able to fully and evenly charging both.

 

Anyone install/have experience with the Genesis Off-road kit for 3rd gen?

 

The stuff that works on a 2nd & 3rd Gen pretty much works on a 1st Gen. The basics are the same no matter what truck you're working with.

Do the batteries have to match? No, but you have to take that in to consideration when configuring the charging system.

Can you add solar to charge the Aux battery? Sure... Once again you have to figure out how you want to hook everything up.

Avoid working the Alternator? Not really sure what you are going for here...

 

Finally got around to hooking up the rocker switch for my ML-ACR.

What does the led in the switch do? Mine doesn't light up in any of the 3 positions.

I hooked it up per the wiring diagram off the Bluesea website. The switch does function properly, but the LED does nothing.

 

The LED indicates when the batteries are tied together.

Hit the switch on the ACR to tie the batteries together. If the LED does not light, there is a wiring issue.

 

Sub'd

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/mike-singer-voltage-booster-groupbuy-feeler-thread.541223/

A plug and play option to boosting your alternated voltage for dual and agm batteries

 

This is great for the peeps who want a Plug and Play option and don't want to relocate the Voltage Sense Wire to increase the alternator output.

I used this post as guidance to relocate mine.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...batteries-thread.295653/page-34#post-11285698

My cold start voltage is always above 14.4v (verified with the Torque App) after doing the VSW relocate, before it was always at around 13.4 - 13.5v.

 

Mike what batteries are you running? Looking at this one for my main/starting, wouldn't be opposed to it as the second as well:

NORTHSTAR Pure Lead Automotive Group 24F Battery NSB-AGM24F

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GQSBJD...olid=2079LZ8C9DA1A&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

The specs say it should be able to handle slow draw, and starting very well. It will likely be my starting main single for a while till I can afford to go dual. My fridge hits the cut off so easily currently but I have it set to the most sensitive setting. I don't want to be left stranded, even with a jump pack.

 

Mike, I have two of these same ones. They are pricey but solid. Mine are 2 years old now. No trouble whatsoever.

Every once in a while @ramonortiz55 does a group buy on these. I saved about $50 each on them plus free shipping IIRC. Worth it.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/closed-northstar-battery-group-buy-5-0.517933/