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

I see the ACR's on eBay all the time for less than $100. I want to buy them and resell them on the forums, but would rather people got the great deal themselves.

OH!, and, uh... Looks like you have a little extra internet time tonight

 

Okay. I'm glad to hear that, being the ml-acr seems pretty popular and inexpensive.

It's my day off and we're supposed to receive lighting the next two days. So. Semi-Sabbatical!

 

Nice. I take it you have a nice piece of property in the middle of nowhere and you are either building it or converting to an off the grid setup?

You mentioned your solar person. Limited time accessible to the internet too.

 

http://www.batteryfaq.org

read more on his site.

 

Ha. That'd be nice. But unfortunately no. A girl I'm seeing is off-grid. Hence me not having me enough interwebz. And busy with work/etc...
I'm a tech for some solar powered relay stations. We were supposed to ground one of towers, I don't get paid enough to do that when we have a forecast for lighting.

About that CTEK charger. Were you referring to this one?
http://smartercharger.com/products/dcdc/ctek-d250s-dual/

It says that it's a dual dc fed charger. Either solar or by alternator.

This is a nifty setup:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjqcOAjT4W4

Can maintain a huge batt bank with that setup. 80A. Although the system shuts down at 12.4. Which is kinda of a put off.

Curious what the amps you would need from solar to power that setup.

 

Oh and reading a little on the 100AH Odyssey's needing a 40 A charge; It's only needed it your battery has been severely discharged.

 

That makes sense. Appreciate the clarification. I was researching and was coming up with very little info.

 

I've got this thread subbed, but admit you guys are confusing the hell out of me.

What is the simplest route to a dual battery setup with in-cab monitoring? I'm talking "plug and play" as much as possible, because I know nothing at all about electrical and hate working with it more than anything.

I need something to run an ARB fridge and eventually some lights / winch.

 

You can get the overland dual battery tray. Or one of the other guys selling them here on TW.

Easiest out of the box with no graphical interface monitoring is the Blue Sea ML-ACR. It is just the box and an in can switch with blinking LED's as to battery state.

Then the next would be the national Luna. Big paddle dongle with no real easy way to mount it. However, there is an audible signal and graphical interface with dual gauges on it.
IBS would be the next one. Couple mounting options for the dongle. Either a recessed panel mount, or a similar setup to the National Luna, with a lose dongle.

The IBS and National Luna were designed for off road vehicles. Whereas the Blue Sea was designed for large vessels.

-----****give me a sec, switching to my computer****-----

 

Here is the ATO Dual Battery Tray - If it is an image, click it and it will take you to the respective site or thread ->



Columbia Overland version



Or do Like I did and just get some hose clamps -




- The columbia overland had that huge side plate you might be able to screw some accessories to, Like the Battery monitoring or switching device.



--------

Now for the monitoring systems. I'll go in order of made of vehicles to what I prefer. Listing some quick pro's and con's.

National Luna -> http://www.nationalluna.com/intelsol.htm

These suckers are BIG



Pro-
1. Audible TOne
2. dual monitor
3. paddle is a switch also (con too)
4. used by overlanders/offroaders all over the world
5. This one is huge, they make a MONITORING DONGLE that does not have to be plugged into their proprietary Intelligent solenoid.
6. they apparently make a recessed Dongle now too!



Con

1. Dongles are HUGE and do not really go anywhere in our vehicles.



2. Solenoid system is actually a HYBRID and not really a 'smart' solenoid.



3. Huge con for me, not really a sealed system. Whole thing could have been enclosed.
4. Price - $395 - WOW!
5. Weire wiring and solenoid setup. Whats up with all the large nodules on the solenoid ?
6. Looks like someone garbled a few components together, not really a polished finished product.



IBS---



Pro -

1. Designed off road use
2. Smaller setup than the National Luna (con too)
3. easy install
4. Audible tone
5. dual visual gauges for the battery
6. dongle is also a switch


Cons

1. Size, 200amp relay
2. not waterproof/ sealed
3. plastic relay -> Mounting and heat issues hypothetically.



4. Price - At almost 500 with options, Most expensive option by far http://www.sierraexpeditions.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=2074
5. wiring is all over the place


Blue Sea ML-ACR




Pro

1. Sealed
2. Full sized switch with built in blinking LEDs for battery states
3. PRICE $261.63
4. Easy to connect Leads for battery 1 and 2
5. easy harness with options of a tinned leads or deutsch connector
6. Manual shutoff/ isolation of batteries at the relay itself.
7. Small form factor
8. From start to finish, a truly thought out and well designed product. It is actually a BUSSMANN/ Blue Sea product.

CONS

1. No tone
2. No graphical interface (although some have used small monitors that are still SMALLER than the dongles above - I am working with a company to make the Blue sea switch with the integrated monitor function)



What I am trying to get made at a reasonable cost.

 

I see the ML-ACR on eBay all the time for the ~$100 mark - OS by far the most economical system to cost ratio. These are mass produced for the Marine industry and are rated to 500amps continuous and some ridiculous burst rate.

Between all the 3 systems mentioned, they all have OFF, ON, and AUTOMATIC switching options built in.

If you LOVE the dongles, get one of the National Luna Dual Monitors(LINK, and recessed LINK), pair it with a Blue Sea, and you are ready to go. That will give you all the features of the National Luna/ IBS and none of the cons besides the SIZE of the dongle.

The switch I re-designed is strictly a MONITOR/ switch/ etc. Could be used as an addon to any system. Hopefully a 2015 production.

 

The NL & IBS both have setups to where you set your alarms for the batteries also. Meaning once they hit a specific 'LOW' they sound.

 

I've got the diehard platinum marine battery and it looks a lot larger than the (primarily Optima) batteries in the picture. I know it was a snug fit running horizontally and wonder how you would get two in there without removing the existing fuse tray (pic 3?).

 

What Diehard is it? Group 31 like Mine? or is it a 35, 34, etc. GO look on the battery, it will say on the label.\\


For my install, pic 3, I cut off the battery holder tab on the wheel well. Then moved the fuse block back to the next spare hole, about 3"-4" back. Once I did that, I drilled 2 holes in the wheel well, and 2 in the engine bay fender wall. That is so the Hose clamps could provide tension on the batteries and hold them in place.

 

At the time, I didn't have the $200 for the Columbia Overland battery tray or even the $135 for the ATO- I did have $10 in my pocket and got some awesome hose clamps. Have had no real issues with them yet. Held tried and true in the spots I put them.

Besides, I knew that they were NOT designed for the group 31's, SO I was in uncharted territory/.

 

Hey Doug, you know that Box Turtle was laying eggs right?


Terrapene carolina

 

^^^^ WTH??

 

Look in his sig. From his build thread on the nissan.

 

99% sure it's a group 31.

 

We didn't know at the time, but figured that might be what was happening when we looked at the pictures later. I'm just glad we dodged her on the trail, as it wasn't easy seeing her.