[450 DUDE]

Here is another dual battery install.......


This is a little different due to the cramming them both in one tray.
I went this way because I didnt think I needed a full size # 2 battery.
I was just looking for something to start with if I managed to kill the main.

Main players:

Optima D31M
Odyssey 680 MJ
Hellroaring BIC
Custom mount for the Odyssey.

So far so good , I do need to tidy up a bit and secure some of the wire.

ken

[450 DUDE]

And more......

[badmuthatrucka]

This is interesting. Never seen this before. Let us know how it goes if you ever use it!

[SF80]

Hmmmm... looks like a good solution if you're not planning to bond two batteries for winching, etc. Truly a "back-up" starter implementation.

[Beowulf]

Describe the gizmo for mounting the Odyssey.

Where did you get those battery cables and how are they made?

You'll love the Hellroaring unit.

-B-

[dfmorse]

Nice work!

Mine:
Battery,Fuse, Winch Project : BattsInstalled

site hasn't been updated in years; but is basically the same.

...

[sprocket3]

That is pretty cool. I had thought about doing that as well. But then went with a full size dual setup as i got a fridge.

I had a small Odyssey in a sports car i had for a while. It was a huge weight savings and started the car fine (3.0L motor). I don't know if it is the same one you have or not, but it looked about that size and was the only battery in the car.

FYI: You can get terminal adapters that screw down on the small posts if you or anyone else wants to run the standard SAE style battery cables. Your install looks great!

[TrickyT]

Very clean install, Ken. That 15 lbs Odyssey has some nice specs. As a test, have you tried disconnecting the main battery and then starting your truck (preferably when cold) and running it for a few minutes? With a capacity of 280CCA I would not expect any problems.

For those of us that subscribe to the philosophy of connecting all loads to the main battery, I think this approach makes great sense. I have advocated for some time using a single deep cycle battery for everything, then carrying around one of those portable booster battery units if you need to jump yourself. One popular version of the booster uses the same Amp-Hour rated battery as your Odyssey, so your setup is effectively the same. It makes good use of the empty space in front of the main battery and saves the whole hassle and expense of adding a second battery tray on the opposite side.

Tell us more about the mount for the Odyssey and where you got the cables and connectors. I like braided sleeving; did that come from Wrangler?

[450 DUDE]

Originally Posted by SF80

Hmmmm... looks like a good solution if you're not planning to bond two batteries for winching, etc. Truly a "back-up" starter implementation.

The BIC allows for combination for wiching or full separation.

But the main purpose for me is seamless backup.

ken

[450 DUDE]

Originally Posted by Beowulf

Describe the gizmo for mounting the Odyssey.

Where did you get those battery cables and how are they made?

You'll love the Hellroaring unit.

-B-

(gizmo):

The mount is an aluminum tray that is made for the 680 and some fabbed 6061 1"x1/8" angle and 6061 1-1/2"x1/8" flat bar to attach to the vechicle.

The #2 tray sits on the oem tray for full support but for full security is attached to the 2 bolts on the top rad support and one bolt (threaded hole) on the driver front 1/4 panel.

The cables are locally available marine cable with marine tinned crimp connectors.
For the svelt "cool guy" look its covered with 1/2" "Clean Cut" PET anti fray sleeving. available @ good electronics stores or McMaster #2837K32
The ends of the cable on top of the sleeving is heat shrunk ?? word?

So far I am enjoying the BIC
I hope that answered the ????

ken

[Beowulf]

You have done an excellent job with the wiring. I need to get some wire braid and replace the main battery body ground as you have. Neat.

Be sure to use some good battery terminal covers. I would like to see what you come up with on those. My dual battery setup uses the military terminals with covers donated by a generous 'Mud member. Karma all around.

Are you planning to secure that big Bussman fuse?

Like TrickyT, I am a fan of having all loads to a single battery and having a fresh, unloaded battery in reserve. This is an excellent way to do that and keep everything in the stock location. That deep cycle Optima is HUGE.

-B-

[450 DUDE]

Originally Posted by TrickyT

Very clean install, Ken. That 15 lbs Odyssey has some nice specs. As a test, have you tried disconnecting the main battery and then starting your truck (preferably when cold) and running it for a few minutes? With a capacity of 280CCA I would not expect any problems.

For those of us that subscribe to the philosophy of connecting all loads to the main battery, I think this approach makes great sense. I have advocated for some time using a single deep cycle battery for everything, then carrying around one of those portable booster battery units if you need to jump yourself. One popular version of the booster uses the same Amp-Hour rated battery as your Odyssey, so your setup is effectively the same. It makes good use of the empty space in front of the main battery and saves the whole hassle and expense of adding a second battery tray on the opposite side.

Tell us more about the mount for the Odyssey and where you got the cables and connectors. I like braided sleeving; did that come from Wrangler?

I did run a full test on the system I wasnt able to get real low temps for a #2 start ( 40* f ).
( battery no charge out of the box)
At 40* it started very strong and ran perfect with the #1 disconnected.




Thanks everyone for the complements! , I cant take full credit , this was a 2 person 2 truck install the other member will hopefully post up with his install pics ( a little different))

ken

[450 DUDE]

Originally Posted by Beowulf

You have done an excellent job with the wiring. I need to get some wire braid and replace the main battery body ground as you have. Neat.

Be sure to use some good battery terminal covers. I would like to see what you come up with on those. My dual battery setup uses the military terminals with covers donated by a generous 'Mud member. Karma all around.

Are you planning to secure that big Bussman fuse?

Like TrickyT, I am a fan of having all loads to a single battery and having a fresh, unloaded battery in reserve. This is an excellent way to do that and keep everything in the stock location. That deep cycle Optima is HUGE.

-B-

The Bussman fuse is was kind of an issue , I wanted to mount it on the tray but its Maxed out on space. so right now its held down with HD velcro and the 4 ga wire. The plan is to leave it that way , it is working well as of now.
Yes the Optima is defnitly huge , I really dont think I will be able to kill it.

ken

[alvarorb]

Very nice.
I want one of those....

Alvaro

[CaliCruiser]

Nice work dude

Dylan

[NicksFJ40]

Can you post a wiring diagram? What is the small black box with the switch for?

[450 DUDE]

Originally Posted by NicksFJ40

Can you post a wiring diagram? What is the small black box with the switch for?

This page as a basic drawing : http://www.hellroaring.com/4wheel.php

The black box is the "remote module" this switch allows you to change the battery config in cab.

Its a 3 position switch

1- combine (winching)
2- auto normal charge and isolation
3- off , total sepration

HTH

ken

[TrickyT]

Originally Posted by 450 DUDE

(gizmo):

The mount is an aluminum tray that is made for the 680 and some fabbed 6061 1"x1/8" angle and 6061 1-1/2"x1/8" flat bar to attach to the vechicle...

...The ends of the cable on top of the sleeving is heat shrunk ?? word?

Ken, what's the source for the aluminum tray?

"Heat shrink tubing" are the words you're searching for. Available at Radio Shack, electronics stores, and places like West Marine.

[450 DUDE]

Originally Posted by TrickyT

Ken, what's the source for the aluminum tray?

"Heat shrink tubing" are the words you're searching for. Available at Radio Shack, electronics stores, and places like West Marine.

I believe any place that sells the Odyssey product will have the mount.

The Odyssey batteries are super cool in that you can custom order different configs and accessories . The Odyssey product is top notch and is a big comfort factor that it will have my back when needed.

ken

[NorCalSam]

Nice, very clean work. Looks great!

[alia176]

It's always the nice touch that really sets of a project. Nice job dude!

[BooKilla]

Let us know how it's working...very interested

[450 DUDE]

Originally Posted by BooKilla

Let us know how it's working...very interested

Update :

So far the only real test was the rattle test AKA Death Valley for 5 days.
I think to really test the big blue top I will need 3 days and no vehicle run time.
With the fridge , dual bander and my 5000 lights on for 3 days that should be a good test.


But its been great and I really like the added security , plus the chicks dig it.

ken

[Skillet]

I have had the blue top as my #2 for about three years.

Rarely do I get more than 2 days of run time out of it with fridge, music, inverter, etc.

Then I just click over to the yellow top for a start and freshen her up.

[ranma21]

Nice and clean install!!! Me fancy one too

[GAS-A-LOT!]

sooo... how much for the kit with bracket?

[450 DUDE]

Originally Posted by GAS-A-LOT!

sooo... how much for the kit with bracket?

I think odyssey tray was 20 - 30 $

The bracket was home grown.
HTH
ken

[FirstToy]

got to check ken's truck out at DV and the battery setup rocks. i plan to go the same way. probably w/o the hellroaring... will the little batt. be ok if it just sits unconnected for the long term? or do i need to wire it up?
i really like the use as just a starter batt in case the main one drains out.

[450 DUDE]

Well I finally left the lights on and killed the main battery

This gave me the chance to really test this thing out . In previous tests I started the vechicle with just the #2 hooked up to see if it would work.
But I did not have a totally dead #1 in the system to do a real world test.

So after I remembered what direction to flip the switch , a turn of the key resulted in a nice strong start.

This was repeated 5 minuets later with the same results.


ken

[450 DUDE]

Originally Posted by FirstToy

got to check ken's truck out at DV and the battery setup rocks. i plan to go the same way. probably w/o the hellroaring... will the little batt. be ok if it just sits unconnected for the long term? or do i need to wire it up?
i really like the use as just a starter batt in case the main one drains out.

Man I must have totally missed this, sorry James.

you could just throw a battery disconnect switch between them, but you would have to remember to flip the switch.
The cool thing about the Odyssey it has a very low self discharge rate, so it can sit for a long time

I was gonna do that but the more I thought about it the more the hellroaring system made cense.
Its an easy install, and the cost is not too crazy.

ken