Off-Grid Engineering Dual Battery System Q&A

WAIT, HOLE UP. @REDARC_Ryan Is this something you'd recommend, in an unofficial capacity? I hear about some Aussies doing it, but have you ran a li fe po4 battery in the aux spot under the hood? Only asking, because I'm thinking of it as an option.

 

My OGE red-arc 3rd gen Tacoma install went super easy. Well labeled precut cables, nice battery trays.

Found it to also be true that a group 65 fits in the secondary tray with just a touch of effort. Not too hard.

 

As a Electrician this is SO NICE LOOKING TO ME!!!!! Nice Hook Up Job!

 

I purchased 2x group 35 s Full Throttle batts from
https://batteryguys.com/

Best service and price on batteries.
First class company!




Getting ready to install my new OGE system as soon as the outdoor temp rises above 32 degrees, currently (-) 9 F

 

Note that full throttle is an off-brand Chinese manufacturer. So yeah, great price because you are buying cheap Chinese batteries.

 

Nice! I love my OGE ... well designed setup. Enjoy the install.

 

After hours of searching the web I finally found this picture. I was concerned about where the red arc gets mounted in this kit. Thank you for posting. Could you tell me is this system still working good?

 

Love seeing everyone still enjoying and using there OGE Dual Battery Systems!
Just As a Reminder!
If anyone has any technical questions or product questions, please feel free to tag me, I am the General Manager here at Off Grid Engineering as well as Sale Manager at our Shop in Colorado Off Grid 4x4. I am more than to answer any questions you may have about our products.
Please feel free to let me know what OGE can help to do power all your needs!

 

@CoWj in the dual battery setups does the aux ground have to go back to the starter or any chassis ground works? Randomly looking at a few setups and noticed this. I have mine on its own ground as its less wires to run and seems to be fine but wanted to make sure.

 

It depends on the Kit. Our Older ML-ACR Based kits did have a 2awg cable that ran from the Aux Battery Negative to the Starter Battery Negative. This was because the batteries were linked together and charged as one, under hard winching and cold starting if the ML-ACR was links there could be 200+ Amps being pulled between the 2 Batteries.
Our Newer Redarc Kits do not have a dedicated ground that goes from battery to battery, they both used the chassis grounds. This is because of the Redarcs Design of charging. Its only going to be pushing 25amps into the Auxiliary battery and being separate from the starting battery completely, there would be no benefit to go to the starting battery as the Redarc itself uses a Chassis Ground for Charging. This Kit works on the idea that both batteries are completely separate systems.
However, If you do a Redarc Kit and add the Jump Start Package, we do add in a 4awg cable to go between negatives, and a Redarc SBI12 to link the batteries for jump starting.

 

thanks I am aware and using the redarc and for all reason that was correct but wanted to make sure. I have a redarc and tbinstalled sbI12. I may need to re think the cable size though. I think I may only have had 6awg.

 

The BCDC is perfectly set for 8awg cable. But if you are doing a SBI12 the positive that runs from the Starter down to the SBI12 then over to the Aux Battery, as well as the Negative should be 4awg or larger just due to the current that can be pulled through it during winching or starting.

 

yah that totally makes sense. I had leftover 6awg I had before I dug further into this. I am currently building out a setup with a manager 30 and Red Vision now so its all getting overhauled. the SBI12 will stay up front and TBD on BCDC up front or run it in parallel in the rear.

 

Looking at the Jump-start add on, it looks like you guys no longer have an option for a full dual linked system (like the og ml-acr). For winching, is it reasonable to just use the starter battery then? I have an old OGE kit with the ml-acr, but would look to upgrade to the redarc system and jump-start add on.

 

We did remove the ML-ACR Kit as it was just getting a little outdated. The Redarc just simply charges the Auxiliary Battery better, but does come at the slight disadvantage of not being able to link the batteries together without doing the additional SBI12 Kit.
For Winching the Starter battery is just fine, that's how everyone without a dual battery system runs a winch. The Starter battery is the one the winch should be attached to even in a dual battery system, the providing the shortest path to the alternator.
If you are upgrading to a Redarc Kit that still applies and the SBI12 can be used in extreme winch situations to provide a larger battery bank to pull from. Just as you could use your current ACR for now.
The biggest benefit comes when you are using the Aux battery for camping, fridges, lights, phone charging, ect, the Redarc will make sure that battery is truly at 100% Capacity after just a couple hours of driving. And the additional benefit of having a build in MPPT solar controller.

 

I wouldn't say you need to rip it out right now, when you are installing the rest of the system I do recommend upgrading it to 4awg.

 

Sounds good. I havent put the SBl12 in yet so easy enough. Any recs for sourcing cable? Way too much crap cable out there.

 

Yes, the system has been rock solid since I installed it. Over the summer of 2022 I helped a friend install one in his Tacoma as well. I have not had issues with any of the components and the REDARC has kept the aux battery topped up.

One thing to note, I kept my OEM starter battery because when I installed the OGE kit my truck was still very new and the battery was perfectly fine. With the new starter battery tray the battery is raised about a half inch higher than it sits from the factory. And due to the lid of the OEM battery the OGE tie down cannot be used. So you need to do a little modification to the OEM tie down. Either grind or drill out the welded on threaded rod. When I eventually replace the OEM starter battery I'll use the OGE tie down.

Since installing I've added an air compressor connected directly to the aux battery and a switch pros running to the aux battery as well.

 

Go to your local welding shop and get 4awg cable from. It will be 1-3$ a foot but you only need about 16-18 feet. It's very flexible and high quality.

 

Second I have had my BCDC connected with an off grid kit for going on 3+ years. For the most part my fridge runs 24/7 and the truck is supercharged and exits warn under the hood. It has performed flawlessly.