National Luna Dual Battery install

[dmc]

I don't know if this belongs here or in the Expedition Builds but most of time is in the 80 section.

As part of my prep for my expedition I upgraded my dual battery set up. I went with the National Luna set up from Equipt Expedition Outfitters for 2 main reasons. Primarily for the monitoring ability of the battery level. Secondly because I was told that dumb people, ie me, could do the install no problem.

So I had used some off the shelf isolater from autozone or somewhere (fzjfillmore gave it to me) for about a year. I was never comfortable with the setup. Just didn't trust that I wouldn't show up and have 2 dead batteries. So after about 20mins gettng my truck back to a stock setup I installed the National Luna isolator.

The total install took about 45mins. i was out of heat shrink so i'll need to re-crimp all my connections and clean up the wiring just a bit but I wanted to get it finished before the long weekend. I chose an optima yellow top for my aux battery and still running a basic battery for my main. i'll be replacing it a couple weeks before I leave.

Intsall was very simple. all the connectors, wire, etc were in the kit. the most difficult part of the install was finding a place to mount the isolator. i bolted it to the back of the aux battery tray. i ran the cable under the upper radiator support. second most difficult was getting the cable for the monitor through the firewall. i had to cut a decent size hole in the grommit on the passenger side to get the cable through. the connector is similar to an rj45 connector which as i'm sure you can imagine doesn't pull as easy as plain wire. i've yet to permanently mount the monitor but you can see it in the pic. you can also see that i'm at 10% of my aux battery. my truck has only been driven about 4 miles since monday with the fridge set at 33 degrees. nice to see the optima can handle the drain okay.

i need to take a few more pics of the batteries and wiring but these should work for now.

 

[photogod]

Love the idea of a dual monitor. I have a single in my stereo but not one for the second batt.

Cool set up.

 

[Brentbba]

Nice - I like the monitor.

Is the solonoid an automatic one or manual?

If you don't mind asking - what's the price on this puppy?

 

[firetruck41]

If you don't mind asking - what's the price on this puppy?

Listed as $375 for the kit, at Equipt. You can get it piecemeal too, according to the website.

 

[bugsnbikes]

what type of Aux batteries are you using? AGM etc? what 20amp hour rating?

 

[firetruck41]

what type of Aux batteries are you using? AGM etc? what 20amp hour rating?

...I chose an optima yellow top for my aux battery and still running a basic battery for my main. i'll be replacing it a couple weeks before I leave...

;p

 

[Lucy_FJ55]

Sweet. Thanks for the writeup. I had noticed that kit recently also and am trying to figure out what/how to do my dual battery set-up. I am not very 'electrically-minded' either but that looks like a complete/straighforward kit. Hmmmm.

 

[dmc]

Nice - I like the monitor.

Is the solonoid an automatic one or manual?

If you don't mind asking - what's the price on this puppy?

the solenoid is automatic. ben posted the price below. i know kurt from Cruiser Outfitters has installed a few piece meal into some customer rigs. it's a bit more expensive than some of other options but in my situation I wanted something simple, that worked and most importantly monitored the status of my system so any symptons could be indentified in advance. not a big deal to lose a battery in moab or cali but quite different if I lose one in honduras or venezuela. if i start to see dimished performance from my setup i can anticipate and make arrangements at the next major city.
dmc

 

[dmc]

Sweet. Thanks for the writeup. I had noticed that kit recently also and am trying to figure out what/how to do my dual battery set-up. I am not very 'electrically-minded' either but that looks like a complete/straighforward kit. Hmmmm.

neither am i and that's why i chose the national luna. even i could figure it out.

 

[LIVERUST]

so what do you have running off each battery as far as your aux items. Fridge, lights, winch... Are you draining down the second battery as much as the primary?

 

[ckkone]

I circled a part in your kit, what is it? I was looking through the owners manual on National Luna site and it does not show this piece...It looks to be a mount for the battery monitor, but I could be wrong..

For anyone thats interested here a link to the owners manual:

http://www.nationalluna.com/datasheets/split-charge_manual.pdf

 

[dmc]

I circled a part in your kit, what is it? I was looking through the owners manual on National Luna site and it does not show this piece...It looks to be a mount for the battery monitor, but I could be wrong..

For anyone thats interested here a link to the owners manual:

http://www.nationalluna.com/datasheets/split-charge_manual.pdf

It is the enclosure for the 100amp fusible link. the similar looking item at the bottom of the kit is the enclosure for the 50amp fusible link.

 

[dmc]

so what do you have running off each battery as far as your aux items. Fridge, lights, winch... Are you draining down the second battery as much as the primary?

troy,

right now the secondary battery is just for the fridge and power inverter. i'm going to move the 3 hellas over to the aux this weekend. National Luna as well as people i've talked to, don't recommend running the winch off the secondary so it will stay on the main battery. I am really hoping to avoid the winch over the course of my trip or only sparingly (i'm sure i'll get stuck on a beach somewhere) but long term I'm sure it will get use and therefore I'm leaving it on the main.
dmc

 

[Moody]

Nice...I have one sitting at Kurts waiting to go in...Cool to see someone else install it in an 80. Anxious to utilize the Engel long term...it has just seen short trips so far....

 

[wierdbeard]

Hi Dave, i followed your trip and have to say hats off to you!

I know this thread is old but now that your back what are your thoughts on the National Luna setup? I'me debating going that route. Any problems crop up?

 

[dmc]

Weirdbeard,

Sorry I've pretty much been off the forums since I got home. Transitioning back into the real world, talk to people in my native language and understanding their reply has gone a long way to keep me from the virtual world.

I love the National Luna. As I originally noted the simplicity of installation was a big bonus for me when it came to choosing a 'kit' for my dual battery set up. I only have had one issue and it turned out to be a positive thing. Somewhere in southern Argentina I noticed the indicator light on my second battery starting blinking, not a signal blink, but just random blinking in the green area of the indicator. So i was charging properly but something was inconsistent with the signal. first check was the isolator solenoid but all the connections were tight. then i check the terminals and they were fine. I looked to the primary battery and still everything was fine. Finally i realized my second battery had come loose in the tray. The inner mount bolt had torn a little bit and the bracket had come loose. I tightened down the two nuts on the end of the battery bracket bolt to snug the battery up and the blinking light went away. still not sure why the sensor was picking up inconsistent charge but obviously a bouncing battery on a washboard road would lead to some issues. I recommend the National Luna because of the simplicity and more importantly the monitor. my truck has been in a a container for over 3 weeks and I can't pick it up for another 15 days. i'll be curious to see if i have any juice left to start it.
dmc

 

[wierdbeard]

Thanks, i'm picking up all the other neccessary bits before buying the NL setup. Let us know if it still has juice when you pick it up!