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

I'd definitely consider a high output alternator. Mine is 250A

 

Will a higher output alternator also charge at a higher voltage? I got a quote from Mike Singer for a 180A alternator that was recommended -- do you think the 250A is worth it?

 

The link I posted above describes some of the potential issues with the voltage boost method. Looks at the chart to see how a quality battery charger should maintain an AGM. Initially high voltage, but then floats at a lower voltage.

I havent spent a ton of time looking into the voltage boosting method, but for me it seems like a better solution to keep the charging system stock, and just top them off once in a while with a good AGM charger

 

And of course that's subject to change as my power needs change. As is the case with most people and probably you too

 

Mike Singer makes plug-and-play voltage boosters. But if you prefer a separate battery charger...there are certain models that you can install in the truck and just run an extension cord to once a month or so. This would also be helpful if you glamp at sites with AC outlets available

 

I'm planning to install an off-grid engineering side by side setup with two group 35 AGM batteries. The aux battery will power a fairly basic upgraded stereo and a few accessories (fan, lights, outlets) through a blue sea fusebox in the camper.

I've culled through these 113 pages and don't think I've found a good answer to this question...Is the in-cab contura switch for the ML-ACR worth an extra $50? If I ever kill the starter and need to link the batteries for a jump, I can just pop the hood and do that manually. What, if anything, am I missing?

 

100%.

Instead of popping the hood, opening the door, getting out, opening the hood, pressing down the manual latch, shutting the hood, walking back to the cab, crawling in, shutting the door, then starting the truck all you gotta do is press a button.

 

Finally got the pos. lead extended for the starter motor which means my install is finally complete.

For future reference: I can confirm the factory pos. and neg. wires to the starter are 2 gauge. Factory pos. wire to the fuse box appeared to be 4 gauge.
Cut off the factory battery terminals and crimped new lugs on everything. Re-did the chassis ground in 4 gauge and added a neg buss bar right there. Added about 5 inches of 2 gauge to the factory pos. lead. Big butt splice, some adhesive lined heat shrink, and loom cleaned that up. Actually used the 0 ga. jaws in my HFT crimper cause it seemed to crimp the splice best. A high quality crimper should really be on my list of things to acquire..

Anyway, some pictures of the process and final product

2 gauge

A three handed job


Done and done!

 

Convenience and control like others have said. But also you do get very limited feedback via the LEDs. Failure of the relay to change state, under & over voltage lockouts, and maybe one or two other conditions that I cant rememberer

 

How often, if ever, is anyone killing their starter with a dual battery setup?

Isn't a major perk of the dual battery setup that you are running all your accessories on an aux battery, thus not draining the starter at camp? I ran a similar setup in my van for years and never once killed the starter, even while living out of it full time in AK.

 

At first glance it looks like you're curious if anyone killed their Starter... Motor.. Not their starting battery

 

Sorry, definitely not what I was trying to ask. I was just trying to avoid writing the word battery 15x in three sentences

 

Go to the boat vernacular. Cranking battery and House battery. That's the only way I keep them straight. And it makes you remember that the 'CRANKING' battery has one VERY important purpose....

 

Cranking/starting battery and house/aux battery works well. I get it though this is a battery thread talking about multiple batteries so saying the word battery too many times you might want to assault someone with battery...

 

I’ve never killed my starter battery with my dual battery setup using a ML-ACR.
And my solar keeps the second battery pretty well charged up when sitting for multiple days at a time and using all accessories.

 

I drove around for 2 weeks with a bad main battery. The battery was on its way out and finally crapped out the first cold spell we had this fall.

I was too busy doing whatever to stop and get a new one so I just relied on the house battery for 2 weeks to start the truck.

 

How is the ML-ACR mounted? Is that a piece of aluminum that comes up that the battery sits on?

 

Yup. It mounts on a piece of aluminum welded to the main tray on the front side

 

You second gen's with your fancy battery trays, mounting solutions, and space for both... Looks very clean, when I finally go dual, I might run that tray in the bed.

 

im looking for a solution, i am planning on running a second battery in my truck bed behind the cab. Im looking for a place to run the 0g wire through to the rear that would be most efficent. I do go offroad and go through my fair share of water so i really want to avoid drilling up through the bed because i dont want water to come in under my drawer system. I also have a camper shell so over the side wouldnt work
preferably under the wheel well line