Single battery set ups

Is anyone running a single battery ie like a deep cycle marine battery or big amg? Doing this instead of a due battery set up? I would like to see pics of any if anyone has some.

Just curious cause I would like to put a bigger battery in my Tacoma but I don't really have a need for a secondary one. I will prob never run a fridge or anythin that would require a duel. Just would be nice to run a couple aux led lights off of the roof rack I'm getting at night went camping.

Thanks appreciate any help.

- coby

 

You should be able to run just off road lights on a single battery. They aren't going to draw a lot of power, so you should be fine.

 

Thats a group 31 commercial battery I put in mine with relatively minor modification. 925 CCA, and more reserve capacity you can shake a stick at, and they are cheaper than the OEM group 27Fs if you go to the right source.

 

When did they redefine the numbering system?

When I worked auto parts in the 80s, a Group-27 was the huge fugger for a Cadillac or Buick... about 50% larger than the standard Group-24 that fit "regular" cars like the Chevelle (about the same size and shape as our stock battery.

Most imports (and newer Fords) had tall, skinny batteries, numbers were in the 30 series, and they typically cost 50% more for 20% lower CCA.

Edit: BTW, the "F" after the group number referred to "Ford", and had the terminals reversed. Terminal position was important when part of the battery was held below the edge of the fender lip and any movement in the tray could bring the terminal into contact with the body.

 

Sub'd for info because I am looking to run a fridge next camping season, and would like to keep a single battery and not worry.

 

Would not recommend running a single battery with a fridge.

Deep cycle batteries were designed to run long, but not at high current (except for the big golf cart batteries). They are not designed to start engines.
The other problem... running the fridge all night, you won't be starting the truck in the morning.

A large single battery is cool for big lights (only on when the truck is running) and stereo systems (not running for extended periods without the truck running), but for something that's drawing power all the time like a fridge, electric heater, or water pump, you really do need a separate battery with a proper isolator.

 

Here is mine.

http://shop.odysseybattery.com/p/pc1700-a

 

I'm not aware of any changes to the battery group numbering system - the 27F is the battery for tow package tacomas, also any Canadian V6 tacomas, otherwise, yes, the 24F is the standard OE battery. A 27F is a decent size, but a group 31 is about 3/4" taller, 1 1/4" longer, and a fair step up in capacity. Group 31 is (and has been for a long time now) the standard for heavy commercial trucks, typically 3 or 4 of them in parallel. The main reason I installed it, my OE battery was failing, and I had this perfectly good specimin sitting and waiting for a home. I have a winch waiting to be installed as well, so the extra capacity will be a bonus. That said, a "dual purpose" group 31 will replace it some day, same dimensions, but reduced to 700 CCA and in exchange more forgiving of deep discharges.

Remember, the standard electrical loads have hugely increased over what was the norm in the '80s too, electric fuel pumps, electronics for everything, and creature comforts out the wazoo. And yes, the "F" still means reversed polarity on the terminals.

 

Looked it up... only about 2" longer, I seem to recall them being on the order of 3-4" longer, but maybe not.

 

I have a pair of 6-led flood lamps mounted on my bed rack facing rearward for camping. They are just 15 watts each (draw 1.2 Amps). I use both for cooking and such, then leave one on for up to 6 hours for lots of light in camp and no problem starting the next morning. Have the towing package and original battery. But I always carry jumper cables just in case.

 

Ya I think I a going to go with a single group 31 diehard platinum

 

Cody, please see Section 7.1.10 in the Car and Deep Cycle Battery FAQ on www.batteryfaq.org, but I agree with Rich about running a dual battery set up so you will be able to restart your engine. Please see Section 7.1.9.

 

The state police here in Maine are running single 200 amp hr AMG hybrid batteries and their Ford alternators are 260 amp. They are not cheap over $200.

 

i honestly am only going to need to run one. im going to add a small solar charger into the mix as well as a battery level gauage. i just want a single larger battery so i can run two small aux led bars off of my topper for a couple hrs at night and the light inside my sell when camping/hunting. i have no plans to get any fridge or anything else that would really make me have to get a duel battery set up.

prob going to do a set up like this on post# 164
http://www.expeditionportal.com/foru...-DC-TRD/page17

 

Big draw, but the engines are normally left running so they are recharging.

 

This I find interesting the newer stuff has huge alternators and far less power consumption then they did 10 years ago. They now use LED's for all the emergency lighting no more strobes or high power take down lights, 50 watt instead of 100 watt radios the radar units are far more efficient yeah computers now but they use very little current guess they know something I don't know. Stuff like cell phone chargers don't use any real power flash light chargers yeah the power goes down the charge rate goes up go figure. Yeah a big alternator will make more power at idle and it did once did make a difference with an idling cop car but that seems to be a thing of the past with the modern gadgets.

 

Finally got my pelfreybilt battery tray and got it all painted up. Going to install it next week once I get my group 31 diehard.

Got to love having a paint booth

 

I know it's been a while but I finally got my battery. Thanks again to pelfreybilt and Benbacher for helping me with shipping.



Waiting for a couple more things to finish up wiring in my blueseas aux fuse box

 

SO I mounted my National Luna single battery monitor to keep an eye on my group 31. Mounted it in my sunglasses holder and the best part is I can still fit a pair of shades in there



Truck off

Truck on and charging

 

I got this in the mail yesterday, it was a Xmas present from my family. Got it to back up my group 31, gives me a better piece of mind.