Dual Battery parts

[Jamescad04]

I'm setting up a dual battery system in my jeep soon an I was wondering if you guys may have had any insight to isolators. I'm looking for the most in expensive way to do this but I would like it to be voltage sensitive. Meaning I want to find something were it will connect and disconnect the main and secondary battery pending on the voltage of the main battery in order to prevent the system from charging two batteries at once. A battery charge level indicator would be nice as well and also being able to override it with a switch in certain circumstances would be cool as well but not absolutely necessary for either.

 

[stumpXJ]

What you want, and keeping it 'inexpensive' isnt going to be easy, unless are really good with electronics and can build it yourself. I use the Xantrex Pathmaker 100, and Xantrex remote panel. It does all of those things and then some, but it wasnt inexpensive.

Here is what I have (didnt order it from there though).

http://www.jmsonline.net/XANTREX-PATHMAKER-100-2-100AMP-2-BATTERY-BANK.htm

The unit:

Here is the remote panel.

 

[stumpXJ]

If you want something cheap, get this.

http://www.yachtbits.com/other_products/battery_isolation_switch.php

 

[RNMedic]

try this

http://www.painlesswiring.com/webcatalog/largeview.php?SearchField=40103

 

[stumpXJ]

try this

http://www.painlesswiring.com/webcatalog/largeview.php?SearchField=40103

Thats simply a manually operated, relay fired solenoid. A very expensive one at that.

It has none of the voltage sensing operation that he is looking for.

It will however connect and disconnect the batteries.

~ James

 

[Jamescad04]

Hey stump thanks for the quick response I figured you had to have a dual battery setup b/c of everything you have in your jeep. On that remote panel how exactly does that switch work I see it say on off and auto but what is it referring to? Does it disconnect the second battery, make it auto connect and disconnect, and then use both batteries for extended winch time or able to jump start the main battery?

 

[stumpXJ]

Yep. everything you just said. It has the manual connect feature that holds the batteries connetced for a 5 minute timer (regardless of voltage sensing) unless I manually disconnect them. Mainly for jump starting with the aux battery, or for winching. Although, I have my front winch on my front battery, and my rear winch on my rear battery. I dont typically connect them for winching just because its only a 100 amp solenoid. With good batteries, its not an issue.

~ James

 

[MELKORsXJ]

haha... never woulda guessed James would chime in on this

on the same subject... am i doing harm to my dual battery setup by running them parrallel? no fancy electronics?

...let me know, as both the XJ and 3B are setup this way; thanks

 

[Jamescad04]

haha... never woulda guessed James would chime in on this

on the same subject... am i doing harm to my dual battery setup by running them parrallel? no fancy electronics?

...let me know, as both the XJ and 3B are setup this way; thanks

From what I have researched running them in parallel is like having a larger capacity battery, it draws more on the alternator and it can take its toll on the batteries as well.

Isolating them is the way to go, they are separated almost all of the time so its a lot easier on the alternator, its a more reliable system, you can still run things on the accessory battery without it draining the main battery while the vehicle is off, you can give yourself that extra boost of battery or jump start yourself.

Those are just some of the things I can think of off the top of my head there may be more to it but that what I generally got from it.

 

[stumpXJ]

From what I have researched running them in parallel is like having a larger capacity battery, it draws more on the alternator and it can take its toll on the batteries as well.

Isolating them is the way to go, they are separated almost all of the time so its a lot easier on the alternator, its a more reliable system, you can still run things on the accessory battery without it draining the main battery while the vehicle is off, you can give yourself that extra boost of battery or jump start yourself.

Those are just some of the things I can think of off the top of my head there may be more to it but that what I generally got from it.

Thats pretty much it. There have been many heated discussion on EXPO about this subject, and both have valid points. However, plenty of people like yourself have never had issues simply running them parallel.

Its a personal thing, do a little searching on EXPo if you are interested in reading more. I just like to have comeplete control of the battery/charging system. It gets even more complicated when I hook up my trailer, then I have 3 batteries on the system...

~ Stump