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

They suck batteries like nobodys business. About 26 minutes of flight time each one.
Zim

 

Here is my latest Dual Batteries Build for my Tacoma. I think its cool and super advanced for a DIY Build. Feed Back is always appreciated.

 

Sorry but you lost me at "No DIY'er has ever attempted anything like this" Congrats and good luck.
Zim

 

I got lost too

 

This is very helpful. Answers alot of questions like where to put the DC/DC charger

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRmadnYU-mE

And this helps too:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FY6dnQAoMzc

 

I like that dude. He talks a little funny but I like him. Simple and straight to the point.
Zim

 

Interesting.

Looks like way overkill. IMHO, you solve problems that don't really exist in the real world (or could be solved with a much simpler design.)

I am a little concerned with all the uncovered +12 points. I would hate for a load in the bed to shift and short out something.

Obviously, a lot of thought went into the design, and proved successful.

 

Nice! Thanks this is helpful. I am referring to ground as earth from now on too

 

Hah! I realized i need to connect my 2nd battery to a ground too. Just not sure where. I guess a bed bolt?

 

A better idea is to run a heavy cable directly to the frame. The bed bolt does go to the frame, but will not give you the best electrical connection - minimal surface area of the threaded bolt to the frame, and an area subject to corrosion.

I used a Blue Sea Cable Clam to seal the wire passing through the bed, and slid a terminal lug under one of my slider bolts to the frame.

Clean the paint from under the bolt for a clean electrical connection.

 

At this point i am gathering info. I need to redo my dual battery setup, but first I need to make sure my bed is water tight, as much as I can. Im in limbo right now, while I wait for my gfc to be built. And its winter, so I don't have the full draw coming from my electrical setup - fridge, lights etc.

I am also planning on changing my battery and solar to something bigger. So there lies another project, but after step one.

Thank you for your input! Its definitely going to be worth it in the end. And I know I will have more questions too

 

How do you like that Cable Clam? I was looking at those the other day as a possible firewall pass through. Im at the point now where I need a dedicated solution for all the wires I got

 

I saw another thread where someone was using a cat5 ethernet cable. One of those going from the engine bay into the cab.. could be a possibility

 

I’ve thought about this for a while. Only down fall is the amount of amperage it’ll carry. And having a lot of relays in line. I wish there was a nice relay/fuse block that wound work but I haven’t seen any.

one day I’ll go switch pro

 

I run a sPod. They use an ethernet cable coming into the cab. Its good because there are 8 wires in one/I have 8 available switches. They built everything into a circuit board that can dim/strobe any light attached. Now I dont have to worry about relays and switches having different number of plugs on the back. Thats the one thing that I never got. Why does the switch have 4 prongs, the relay has 5, and the light has 2. Where do the rest go?!

This kind of shows what I mean. I suck at electrical stuff, so I was very willing to drop some $ for someone else to do it. Im not going to do this with my bed battery setup, but I also wont have the same functionality as what I have with the sPod.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhyuXKw8qHg

 

I found a nice bolt near the spring perch. I'll get a picture when I can. Its within a foot or two of the bed corner too.
Zim

 

I like them. They seal well, and keep the wires from rubbing on any sharp corners.

 

I’d avoid places exposed to wheel debris or could cause build up of rust inducing fust. When shit collects on the frame and you run a current through it bad things happen. I’d favor a vertical surface over a horizontal one.

 

Thanks for the kind words. This was my first build. I agree that some of these things could been much simpler. Its likly just me, i do things this way. lol. i am working on positive exposed terminals as this week. I will be building a cover for all the electronics.

 

I’m in limbo waiting for my gfc too haha. Ordered it august 9th and they moved start dates up cause of increased production but it’s still not until may 2021. There’s so much info in here that I am not too upset I have months to make up my mind completely.

Anyone see those new battle born batteries with built in heaters? Pretty darn cool but very spendy. I’m still trying to nail down what solar I am going to use- I am semi confused about the redarc I got, I know there’s a yellow solar wire from the unit but seems like people also run a solar inverter as well?