Dual Battery System Killed Main Battery

Hey all,

So I've had my DBS installed for a few months now and as of yesterday my main battery isn't holding a charge whatsoever. I've attempted to start it 3 different times and I had to jump it with my aux battery each time in order for it to work.

When I was reading up on doing a DBS I vaguely recall reading something indicating that if you didn't use the same type of battery you'd risk ruining the main battery. So, if I recall correctly, that may be what happened here. Before I diagnose any further I was hoping someone on here would be willing to confirm or deny this?

For what it's worth I have a 2014 Taco, running an IBS DBS with a stock main battery and an Optima Blue Aux battery.

Thanks in advance!

 

Any pics of your set up I can't help you with your dilemma but I would like to do this to my truck and might follow your idea minus the different batteries

 

Here you go...

I put my aux battery in the bed because I had some extra space next to my drawer/under my bed slide.

That's down the side of the bed obviously.


Opposite side of the inverter from pic 1


Battery pic - My terminals match now.


The outside view. You can see the 110 outlets on the left next to the on/off switch for the inverter

I don't have any pics under the hood (it's sloppy under there right now haha) or of the controller just yet, but like I said I have an IBS DBS. Where my toolbox/gas can are sitting slides out the full length of the bed as well for easy backloading. Things get cramped under that shell.

 

Mine would probably end up in the engine bay but how exactly do you hook both batteries up to each other and only run the certain batteries as needed?

 

I personally use the IBS DBS http://ibs-tech.ch/en/products/dual-battery-system.html. My understanding is it is one of the more expensive on the market, but I think it's totally worth it. What this system does is unlink the batteries when your truck is off and link them when it is on. If you buy the relay booster module, which I did, you can jump-start your main battery with your aux battery, which is how I've been able to keep the truck running with the main battery not holding a charge.

 

that link was to a wiring diagram, but you can poke around the website and see the controller/solenoid/RBM

 

Well that sounds pretty awesome then I'll give that a look through and do some research on here to see if it's something I wanna do or just run am expensive fuse block

 

First off, I would check to see what exactly is going on with the battery. Playing Devil's advocate here, but how do you know for certain it was the DBS that caused the main battery to go bad? How old is the main battery? There is no real support for the claim of having to use the same type of battery. I have some customers who have used my DBS for a couple of years now, with a lead-acid primary battery, and an AGM second battery, with no issues. In my system I have a red top Optima primary, and a yellow top Optima secondary battery that I have run since I built the first Stage 4 Kit in my truck and both batteries are functioning just fine. So their theory that you have to run the same battery is false.

Have you tried to remove the main battery and bench charge, then test it to see if it really is bad? Have you tried to bypass the DBS temporarily to see if the alternator can keep the primary battery charged on it's own? I would check those things before condemning the primary battery as bad. It could be that the DBS system just isn't properly charging the primary. Food for thought.

 

Btw nice truck and build you have and I noticed your only 2 hours from me at most gotta get a meet in OC or something so all of so cal can get together and mob

 

I have the same setup, after 3 months, my factory "main" battery shit the weenie, and i was linkin to start. I have an optima red top for aux. I havent heard of different brands causing issues, my buddies landcruiser has had diff batteries for 2.5 years with no issue. I put in a fresh battery, and everything was good. My old one jus had a dead cell. Hope this helps

 

This guy is legit ^^

 

What tray did you use here? ?

 

One of my own design, simple but effective

 

You had to relocate anything ?

I want

 

Just the small module that mounts on the firewall, took it off its bracket and zip tied it to a secure spot. The location is perfect size, u can see the module in the engine bay pic above the optima

 

Wouldn't this eliminate any problems between the two batteries? Both would get a balanced charge but wouldnt discharge into each other

 

That is, in a nutshell, what my system is that I build and sell. But I also include a control switch and solenoid so that one can jumpstart their own truck just in case the primary battery is dead.

 

You should make these for us

 

Lol i would, but i dont work at the fab shop anymore. Gt me one of those easy money jobs haha. There are 2 bolts already there, not too much imagination and i bet ud figure out a better way than me. Hell, a 6x2 with some holes would work excellent lol

 

Still need to get you them measurements for the wire.........if a GB is started for a stage 2 can I get a discount for a stage5? @BamaToy1997
@ramonortiz55