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

Where did you run the ground to inside the cab and for the solar panel?

 

The power for the solar is run to the DC/DC controller. The ground for the solar was run down to the frame and tucked up and away from anything I may or may not catch. Its 10 awg wire and was relatively easy to run it through an existing grommet in the rear wall of the cab. snaking it down in between the bed and the cab wasn't all that bad either. I had enough space to reach up from underneath as opposed to the side or top.

Current setup:



I have since added the battery monitor hub from renogy so I can not only monitor the charge controller but also the battery itself. I have also replaced the 2 rubber grommets on the ground wires coming through the plastic.

 

What is the advantage of using a smart charger (Redarc BCDC) over a DC-DC charger with built in MPPT? I saw somebody mention they could put it under the hood. Anything else?

I'm going to have a pair of 100Ah batteries (parallel) in the back seat, powering a frige (also in the backseat) and then a long run to a switch & fuse panel at the back of the truck bed (camper) for interior lighting, 12v water pump, and some USB outlets. I was originally just going to get a DC-DC charger and put it right by the batteries in the back seat, but then I found this thread and the smart chargers seem pretty popular.

 

Those of you who are NOT using LiFePO4, what kind of batteries are you running - flooded or AGM?

Brand? Group size? AH capacity? Thoughts?

I know LiFePO4 is the best bang for the buck nowadays but I’m still interested in seeing what else people are using.

 

2 Northstar 24F AGMs. The spec sheet says they are rated at 76Ah at the 20 Hr Rate. CCA is 840 amps at 0°F. Almost 9 years on this setup. I am pleasantly surprised by their longevity.

https://batteryguys.com/products/no...aT9pXjdzwvGtJWWeMCRAB61f2RQiji0fT_koLeVPnmwkr

 

I’ve got two group 34 Optima yellow tops – those are AGM‘s – and the main battery has been going strong since I put it in, but the house battery has died now twice. I didn’t have any kind of supplemental charging aside from the alternator, and I think that’s a bad idea unless you’re really disciplined about putting the battery on a tender. I’ve got solar on there now, so I’m hoping that keeps things topped up!

 

And by “died” I mean fails and needed to be replaced!

 

Primary - Everstart Maxx 24F 750CCA, regular flooded, unk AH, installed 11/19.

Secondary - Weize 48/H6 760 CCA, AGM, 70AH, installed 4/24. Replaced a Deka Intimidator 34F that lasted 7.5 years. I still have this battery, but its current CCA of 105 barely starts the Taco. The Weize is made in China and I got it mostly to see how good it will be. Out of the box, and after a charge cycle, it tested a disappointing 675 CCA, of claimed 760, but it has not gone down from that. So far, not too bad for the price, $123 on Amazon.

 

I'm running 2 Odyssey PC1500R batteries. This is Odyssey's size (and reverse post layout) of the Tacoma replacement battery. My second battery is completely isolated from the main, and is on a CTEK DC/DC charger.

The reason for the same physical size battery is, if the starting battery every fails, I can replace it with the 2nd battery, and go on my way. My refrigerator won't be cold, but I won't be stuck in the woods, either.

And yes, over the years, I have had 2 batteries physically fail while off-road. One, a wet cell, and one was an Optima red top. Rare, but it does happen.

 

Ran an x2power 27f agm as the house battery for a year before going with lithium. For running a fridge and camp lights it was plenty. Charged off alternator with an isolater to disconnect from starter battery.

 

Initial thoughts? I’ve been eyeballing those.

 

I posted a review on the Amazon page with a few more details. So far, not bad for the price. The lower-than-advertised CCA rating of 675 is holding steady through five months. I think I saw a review where the tested CCA was over advertised. To their credit, the vendor saw my review and offered a refund, but I declined cause I knew they would then ask me to change my review. I am satisfied with 675 if it stays steady over the three-year warranty period.

 

If it’s 200W then current output should be well below 10A making 10 awg more than enough and probably more about cable/connector strength than current.

 

Is the battery mounted under the hood?

Their operating temp range seems to be too low to safely run under the hood of our trucks from what I’m understanding.

 

Didn't notice that. What is temp range? Yes, mine is in engine compartment on pass side.

 

Ideally that’s exactly what I want to do.

My lead acid house battery needs replaced again because the batteries are junk and I’d like to upgrade without redoing the whole system.

I’d simply like to drop it in the same exact location as the existing battery under the hood.



I know a lot of people run AGMs under the hood, but I also keep reading that AGMs don’t like the heat.

A 100ah Weize battery is only like 20$ more than a replacement FLA deep cycle from the parts store.

 

@steveo27 That doesn’t show max operating temps, only the ideal operating temps, and max charging temps. The spec sheet that came with my battery shows max operating temp is 158F. I checked my battery temp with an IR gun after an errand - ambient was 84 and the side facing the engine was 125F. The primary battery was 135F. My oil filter was 180F. We just had a heat wave where high was 105F. Would be interesting to see operating temp at those ambient temps, but we are not expecting such highs again till next year.

 

Awesome.

Thanks.

I think I’m gonna pull the trigger and see what happens.

 

Which size you gonna get? They have been out of group 24F’s for a while. My 2nd battery is in same location as yours and many with same setup have installed a 24F, but it seems too high for me. If the hood folds in a bit, I am too scary-cat the bottomside will touch the pos terminal. A group 34F is what I originally had in there but Weize does not carry that size. I got the H6 which was slightly too long for my tray. It fit with a quarter-inch high insert. My primary battery is five years old, and if a 24F is not available when it comes time to replace, I may get the H7.

 

The 100ah.

It’s almost the same size as a group 27, just a hair longer.