1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Off-Grid Engineering Dual Battery System Q&A

Discussion in 'Technical Chat' started by HeliMedic, Jan 5, 2017.

  1. Jan 10, 2018 at 10:01 AM
    #381
    Bob2001

    Bob2001 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2018
    Member:
    #240212
    Messages:
    20
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Bob
    In Transit
    Vehicle:
    2001 Silver Tacoma TRD
    •Toyota 4Runner Limited 5-star alloy wheels (same specification as original Tacoma TRD alloy wheels). Cooper Discoverer SRX tires, 265/70-R16 •Snugtop Supersport cap •Vaca Valley Truck Bed Carpet Kit •Hidden Hitch Class 3 hitch receiver and 7-pin harness with marine-grade wiring, soldered connections and self-resetting circuit breakers, brake controller wiring,, military style battery connectors •Pilot brand auxiliary backup lights installed on hitch receiver •Redline gas-lift hood struts •Weathertech laser-fit floor mats •Pop-out window latch hinges replaced with billet •Cup holders refurbished with rubber flaps •Rubber bed mat •Spray-on bed liner (by original owner, type unknown, excellent shape) •OME 881 coil springs, OME 90004 Nitrocharger Sport shocks •OME 95PF5 Driver side 5mm trim spacer •OME CS046RA/B Dakar leaf springs •OME 60062 Nitrocharger Sport shocks •OME GS12 greasable leaf spring shackles •OME SB88 greasable bushings •OME FK21 tailpipe hanger extension •Wheeler's Off-Road braided stainless steel extended rear brake line (TF Bline 04X 19-inch) •Bay Area Metal Fabrication brake proportioning valve (BPV) relocation bracket •Rear differential free-flow breather extension •Anti-swaybar currently removed
    I very much appreciate your efforts to contact me and the explanation of same however I did not receive a PM, response in this thread or email response prior to your reply in this thread this morning.

    All I wanted to do was send a pile of cash to OGE. :oldglory:
     
  2. Jan 12, 2018 at 12:31 PM
    #382
    HeliMedic

    HeliMedic [OP] Off-Grid Engineering

    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2010
    Member:
    #46096
    Messages:
    616
    Gender:
    Male
    Erie, CO
    Vehicle:
    Constant revolving door of Toyota vehicles
    It is currently on backorder and has been taken off the site. It should be back up within a week.
     
  3. Jan 15, 2018 at 6:01 PM
    #383
    Joe23

    Joe23 Canuckistikian

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2015
    Member:
    #165909
    Messages:
    11,302
    Gender:
    Male
    The Great White North
    Vehicle:
    2017 TRD Off-road DCSB
    So have the kit, won't be doing the install until spring but trying to figure out what I'll be doing.

    So, so far I plan on keeping the OEM battery as my crank (hoping this is fine in terms of the cage) I know its somewhat supposed to be kept the same as AGM AGM or lead acid lead acid but its not in the budget to get two new batteries.

    I was thinking http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/m...p-24-agm-deep-cycle-battery-0102498p.html#srp
    or http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/m...p-27-agm-deep-cycle-battery-0102798p.html#srp

    My sister works for that store in head office and I get 17% off anything. although they might not be as good as an oddyssey or whatever they come with a good warranty, are cheaper and he if it shits the bed in two years who cares I get a new one for free lol. Really for now its only running some lighting. I might eventually add a fridge.


    So my question is which one would be better to go with? These battery things still confuse the fuck out of me when it comes to sizes and what not.
     
  4. Feb 5, 2018 at 11:51 AM
    #384
    Brenden J

    Brenden J Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 15, 2016
    Member:
    #181333
    Messages:
    189
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Brenden
    Vehicle:
    2016 Tacoma TRD sport
    @HeliMedic I understand the pros for having a dual battery setup but if all your running are two sets of LED lights and a winch when needed (rarely) do you think a dual battery setup is necessary? or would you be fine just turning off your lights and not winching super hard to drain your battery and keeping your truck running to keep the single battery from dying on you? It seems like I would only need dual batteries for that overbuilt safety net/peace of mind.
     
  5. Feb 5, 2018 at 2:20 PM
    #385
    Joe23

    Joe23 Canuckistikian

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2015
    Member:
    #165909
    Messages:
    11,302
    Gender:
    Male
    The Great White North
    Vehicle:
    2017 TRD Off-road DCSB
    for the winch alone I wouldn't say you need a dual but I'd say its a good idea to upgrade the Group 27 to something bigger. Winches take a lot of power.
     
  6. Feb 5, 2018 at 3:00 PM
    #386
    Brenden J

    Brenden J Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 15, 2016
    Member:
    #181333
    Messages:
    189
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Brenden
    Vehicle:
    2016 Tacoma TRD sport
    I agree. For sure will be upgrading the battery. And I like the idea of a dual battery set up but its a fairly expensive luxury and I dont know if I absolutely need it on the truck if my only electrical drains are a winch and two sets of led lights
     
  7. Feb 5, 2018 at 4:40 PM
    #387
    Joe23

    Joe23 Canuckistikian

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2015
    Member:
    #165909
    Messages:
    11,302
    Gender:
    Male
    The Great White North
    Vehicle:
    2017 TRD Off-road DCSB
    depends on your use I guess

    As of right now I will only be running lights but still doing dual.
    but i go camping a lot and will be using my lights around camp to set up etc. I dont want to risk draining my starting battery

    another alternative is if you have a dual battery at least this system you can link both batteries to take advantage of both batteries power when winching.
     
  8. Feb 6, 2018 at 7:24 PM
    #388
    kata_batic

    kata_batic Member

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2017
    Member:
    #224762
    Messages:
    24
    Gender:
    Male
    Edmonton, AB
    Vehicle:
    2017 AC OR
    What size/type are the mounting bolts/nuts on the third gen OR? The three that the passenger side mounts to. Thanks!
     
  9. Feb 7, 2018 at 7:51 AM
    #389
    Gunshot-6A

    Gunshot-6A Prime Beef

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2009
    Member:
    #28389
    Messages:
    23,243
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Conner
    Everett, WA
    Vehicle:
    2015 TRD Offroad
    Should be m8x1.25
     
  10. Feb 7, 2018 at 1:07 PM
    #390
    kata_batic

    kata_batic Member

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2017
    Member:
    #224762
    Messages:
    24
    Gender:
    Male
    Edmonton, AB
    Vehicle:
    2017 AC OR
    Awesome, thank you!
     
  11. Feb 8, 2018 at 9:52 PM
    #391
    Rames

    Rames Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2012
    Member:
    #74078
    Messages:
    493
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    James
    Oakland, CA
    OME 3" lift, BAMF sliders, Demello front bumper
    Has anyone run the Odyssey PC1400 with the side by side brackets? I debating going with this or the yellow top for lightweight. I rather the Odyssey but I'm a little iffy about the weight and how it will hold up over time on rough trails
     
  12. Feb 17, 2018 at 4:24 PM
    #392
    SeriouslyJim

    SeriouslyJim New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 17, 2018
    Member:
    #244731
    Messages:
    2
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jim
    Vehicle:
    2001 Toyota Tundra
    Box-stock so far... planning for ham radio installation.
    Hello, HeliMedic...
    Total newbie here... but have checked your Off Grid site and it doesn't show a either a kit or a battery tray for a "split kit" style of setting up a dual battery system for my buddy's 2001 Tucoma 4x4. She wants to do a serious ham set up with the truck and after hours in the field, I want her to be able to start the truck and come home. Not real interested in "jerry-rigging" a battery mount (like I would have to do with something like this "universal" tray ). We're both pretty handy with wiring, so an isolater system like the Hellroaring BIC 95150B won't be too much of a challenge. Long story short... were you ever able to set up a battery mounting solution for the 1st gen Tacoma's?
    Thank you,
     
  13. Feb 17, 2018 at 5:11 PM
    #393
    Tayoflor

    Tayoflor Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2015
    Member:
    #151285
    Messages:
    743
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Taylor
    Woodinville
    Vehicle:
    2013 DCSB MGM
    Leer topper BAMF weld on sliders BAMF LCA skids Icon stage 4 SCS F5s wrapped in 285/75r16 Cooper Stt Maxx
    IMG_20180217_163346.jpg
    Dual battery split system installed today with 2 Northstar AGM. Pretty straight forward install and super quality parts! Thanks @HeliMedic for making the bed quality product out there. Now I just need to get my Spod so I can clean up the rest!
     
  14. Feb 18, 2018 at 2:35 PM
    #394
    Digiratus

    Digiratus Adventurer

    Joined:
    Mar 26, 2010
    Member:
    #34006
    Messages:
    22,948
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Mike
    Roaming the PNW
    Vehicle:
    The RedHead
    2002 XtraCab TRD 4x4 SCv6 AutoTrans With Lots of Mods ADS COs w/Compression Adjusters Camburg Uniball UCAs Whiteline Lower Control Arm Bushings Kartek 7" Limit Straps Plastics Guy Front Bumpstops Custom Alcan Springs +800 lbs +3" ADS 10" Stroke Triple Bypass w/Resi Rear Shocks Custom Rear Shock Relocate All-Pro U-bolt Flip w/Timbren Bumpstops 4.88 Nitro Gears ARB Front Locker ARB Twin Compressor Black 17x8 Konig Countersteer Type X 285/70r17 Falken A/T3w Gunmetal 16x8 SCS Ray10s 255/85r16 Maxxis Bighorns Limited Edition (Relentless) Elite Front Bumper Smittybilt X2O 10K Winch Diode Dynamics SS3 Sport Selective Yellow Fog Lights in the Bumper Diode Dynamics SS3 Pro 4,000 Kelvin SAE Driving Lights with Clear Lenses on the Bumper Morimoto D2S Projectors XB35 Ballasts + 4300K Bulbs Badland Sliders FrankenFab Tire Carrier Swingout bumper w/kitchen BudBuilt Front & Bellypan Skids BAMF Rear Diff Skid Dometic CFX 55im Fridge/Freezer Alpha II Hardshell RTT Badland Custom Bed Rack Denso 210-0461 105 amp alternator Dual Northstar 24F AGM batteries BlueSea 7622 ML-ACR Battery controller Peak DBI Dual Battery Voltage Monitor Magnuson MP62 Supercharger w/2.37" Pulley Haltech Elite 2000 Standalone ECU Denso 650cc Fuel Injectors Doug Thorley Headers Aeromotive Stealth 340 Fuel Pump TransGo A340F Reprogramming Shift Kit Magnaflow Hi-Flow CAT, Magnaflow 18" Muffler w/Vibrant Resonator 13WL Brake Calipers Braided Steel Brake Lines ScanGauge II OBDII Scanner Kenwood TM-71A Dual Band Ham Radio Larson 70CM/2M Antenna Uniden 520xl CB radio 3' Firestik Adjustable tip antenna Pioneer DEH-P9400BH HU Alpine Amps & Type R components (F) and coaxials (R) Wet Okole Seat Covers Weathertech Digital Liners Deck Plate Mod 1" Diff Drop Carrier Bearing Drop
    No split tray was ever developed for our trucks.

    We 1st genners tend to be the red headed stepchild when it comes to stuff like this. Unless you want to run two smaller batteries on the stock location, you will have to rig up something on your own.
     
  15. Feb 18, 2018 at 8:37 PM
    #395
    SeriouslyJim

    SeriouslyJim New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 17, 2018
    Member:
    #244731
    Messages:
    2
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jim
    Vehicle:
    2001 Toyota Tundra
    Box-stock so far... planning for ham radio installation.
    Allright... thank you for responding. I missed this one in the 20 pages on this thread. If I come up with anything brilliant, I'll be sure to post back. Take care! Jim
     
  16. Feb 20, 2018 at 7:14 AM
    #396
    YOTA 4X4

    YOTA 4X4 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 29, 2018
    Member:
    #242780
    Messages:
    2,318
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2017 Double Cab Off-Road
    OME HD Lift all around, SCS SR8 Rims, 255 85 R16 Cooper ST Maxx, Decked Drawers, 30" Rigid Pro Light bar above bumper on Rago Mounts, Rigid Dually Side Shooters on Rago ditch brackets, Hondo Garage Un-Holey Phone Mount X2, Hondo Radio Knobs AR Bolt Face, Garmin InReach SE GPS synch'ed to Iphone for GPS only mapping, Wet Okole Seat Covers, Husky Liner Contour floor mats, 63 QT ARB Fridge on Alu-Cab tilting slide. GoFastCamper (#41), ARB 2500 Awning with Full Room, Mobtown Off-road Sliders and Full Aluminum Skids.
    Sub’d to stay current on this topic, thinking even though i might not “need” it yet, when i install my switch pro and a few smaller LEDs i can be prepared for adding to the system later. Does offgrid offer provisions to run another wire to the bed for a fridge? Thanks

    -Yota
     
  17. Apr 6, 2018 at 11:44 AM
    #397
    BEAR_KNIFE_FIGHT

    BEAR_KNIFE_FIGHT bearly famous

    Joined:
    May 21, 2016
    Member:
    #187524
    Messages:
    2,393
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Alex
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2016 TRD OR 4X4 DCSB Slowsand, 2017 WRX WRB
    Posting my install with a few questions -- I have noticed that the ML-ACR seems to be running basically all the time. I have just left it in 'auto' and it seems to be turning on pretty much every time I drive. I had the batteries checked and they're both allegedly fine -- is this something I should be concerned with? I would have assumed that the aux battery would only turn on if the voltage was low...and I didn't think the voltage ever ran that low during normal use.

    0328181509.jpg
    0328181509_HDR.jpg
    0328181510.jpg
     
  18. Apr 6, 2018 at 12:10 PM
    #398
    RCRcer

    RCRcer Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2015
    Member:
    #159476
    Messages:
    878
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2015 OR DC
    If by "on" you mean the center of the yellow switch is in down position, that's a good thing. It means both batteries are connected and at the same voltage. In auto mode when he ML-ACR senses voltage drop is when it will disconnect and draw on the house battery and leave the starter battery with no drain on it.
     
  19. Apr 6, 2018 at 12:45 PM
    #399
    BEAR_KNIFE_FIGHT

    BEAR_KNIFE_FIGHT bearly famous

    Joined:
    May 21, 2016
    Member:
    #187524
    Messages:
    2,393
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Alex
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2016 TRD OR 4X4 DCSB Slowsand, 2017 WRX WRB
    Gotcha. I was just slightly alarmed that it was activating so quickly and wondered if I installed something incorrectly. I have all my aux stuff run off the house battery [minimal drain -- switchpro/bluesea] and was just surprised that it was turning on so soon. After reading about it a bit more it sounds like I'm okay though.
     
  20. Apr 12, 2018 at 11:46 AM
    #400
    elclem21

    elclem21 Quebeker

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2012
    Member:
    #85551
    Messages:
    287
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Clément
    Alberta, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2009 Tacoma TRD DCLB
    OME 885x front, TC UCAs, OME Dakars rear, 4.30 gears, Eaton Detroit Truetrac (rear diff), HomerTaco Raptor Style satoshi grill
    @HeliMedic, I have been trying to contact you for a little while, once by email, and a few weeks ago by PM here. Are you still in business? It would be nice to get an answer because I am interested at buying a battery tray from you.

    Thanks.
     
    Last edited: Apr 12, 2018
To Top