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

I don't leave my truck in a garage or go to developed campgrounds, but sure they can work.

 

Don’t get it, you never said word 1 about camping, you said the truck sits. If it just sits, which is what you said, a battery maintainer is the popular opinion.

Those of us lucky enough have extravagant things like extension cords we can plug into wall outlets. Mine is in my barn for instance, where the truck sits for long periods of time because it’s no longer a daily driver, when it’s not being used to go to areas a bit more remote than the developed campground you’re alluding to.

When out, I was using a single 100watt panel and a potted GoPower PWM charge controller and it works efficiently enough to not just charge the house battery, but when the Blue Sea MLACR latches both batteries together, it tops off the starting battery.
Renogy doesn’t have the best reputation from what I’ve heard. You can cheap out on the panels, but I’d go for Victron or Go Power, others might have some other suggestions.

They might have charge controllers that have multiple channels to charge multiple batteries. You’ll need to do your research or figure out a way to link both batteries

 

I ended up getting a 170w panel for the roof and a batteria 20a mppt controller.

just like you said it will charge the house battery and the. The relay will latch and charge the starter battery

 

Very cool, I’m going to 2 or 3 100 watt panels in the future and want to keep the charge controller in the same location so want it to be waterproof, haven’t seen the one you used, but looks really good for my application

 

I did a lot of research and wanted something pretty simple. This one has good reviews and was less than $50

 

got the solar hooked up and it’s working great even with the fridge running all day

 

Does the plastic panel fit over this setup, or did you remove yours?

 

I’m not sure the previous owner trashed them but I highly doubt it lol


Btw the solar charger is working awesome even in the rain both batteries are 100% charged even with the fridge at 32

 

Dang, I like the pockets they have.

That’s awesome. The wiring looks pretty clean too!

 

Does my 2015 v6 tacoma have a smart alternator? Going to be installing a dc to dc charger and trying to find out if I need to attach the acc wire.

Tried searching but so many pages to go through.

Thx

 

Yes.

 

I thought the smart alternators didn't hit until 3rd gen trucks in 2016?

@thebaker, I didn't connect the acc wire on my dc-dc charger.

 

My 2015 has one.

I am using the "smart alternator input" wire (not called acc) on my DC/DC charger, and it works fine.

 

The alternator on the 2nd Gen is not a smart alternator. There is no shunt on the battery that monitors the voltage. I've been running a dual battery setup without an acc wire for 4+ years now.

https://youtu.be/Yzss1DmMXr4?si=lebkBV6vkSw-xTr6

 

Self heating LifePo...

I have one LiTime 100ah Group 24, non-heated, and I was planning to get a second one for a 200ah system. Currently built into a HF tool box that gets mounted in the bed. I'm starting to regret that decision based on feedback from a buddy who always ran into charge/discharge issues from 20-30 deg temps, even when insulated. So now I've been looking at self heated batteries, but not liking having to buy two of them at todays prices to get the 200ah I want.

If I just buy one heated battery and have them side by side wrapped in insulation, would just one heated battery provide enough ambient heat to keep a second battery thats not heated warm enough in temps down to 20ish deg? I'm assuming not, I can't imagine they get warm on the outside.

 

So having had a refrigerator and dual battery system in a previous vehicle, I came to really miss the absence of having a refrigerator in my Tacoma. I've been working to correct that issue while at the same time trying to put together a system that was a bit more efficient than what I previously had.

Probably the scariest part was drilling a hole through my contour canopy to get solar into it.


Then I cut a piece of Baltic birch to cover the bed floor and provide a mounting base for the refrigerator and aluminum extrusion.

Since i want to add some storage, I mounted extrusion to the base then will build up from there.

So this is where I'm at so far, its a time consuming process but I'll get there eventually.





Framed up and ready for panels..

 

That's a clever out of the way spot for the charger plug.

 

It just happen to be in a convenient spot.

 

@trezpass How did you secure the plywood to the bed? In case of a rollover will everything stay in place?

 

Well the extrusion is mounted with countersunk bolts from the underside of the plywood... 2 sections, the front upright portion of the bed then the bed bottom. so i got longer m6 bolts for the upright sheet of wood at the front of the bed which sits on top of the bottom section and is fastened with corner gussets. once completed the bottom piece of wood will be tied in at the front as well as the side rails, I originally planned to run bolts through the bed but the farther I got along in the build i came to realize its not budging.