aux battery proof read request

[No. 3]

Have been too swamped to work much on the truck or check in here but I am back at it and I am hoping that the aggregate smarts on MUDD can let me know if there is anything outstandingly wrong with my house wiring plan. My experience is with AC electrics and the DC stuff beyond wiring in a light or receptacle gives me pause.

The goal here is an independent house battery to power radio/ reefer/ etc. Total load will be ±12A, no killer radio or winch in my future, just camera battery/ laptop charging & the basics (is a reefer basic?) for camping in one spot for a while without worrying about the primary batteries.

I know that there are other ways to do this but this is the way that I am doing it based on what I have immediately accessible so although there may be better ways to skin this cat I don't want to know- I'm committed! Did I overlook anything major or minor in the system as is?

Thanks as always!

 

[jus cruzin]

I would ground the single 12v battery

 

[cody c]

I would ground the single 12v battery

Its grounded at the other battery.

Im not familiar with the device marked "newmar" but it looks rated for 25 amps and you have it protected with 60 amp fuses?

your inverter is probably internally or externally fused. If it isnt, your protecting it at both sources of power, but the sum of both sources exceeds the capacity of the inverter.

What is the device noco ige90?

Your schematics arent bad, Im just curious about the "NOCO" device, as it looks to have a 24 volt input from the alternator, and it would be good to verify the input voltage at the terminal to be fed from the alt (12-18 or 24-30)

Some inverters run a fan to keep the electronics cool. It looks like yours will be powered when the vehicle is off by the single battery, and by the primary batteries when its running. You may want to run it off a relay to a switch in the dash if you find it draws juice without your laptop or whatever plugged into it, or if it somewhere easily accesible you may be able to switch it on or off via the inverter itself. Mine is in the very back of the vehicle so its a pain to go around and turn it off.

 

[No. 3]

Thanks for the eyes & input Cody (and JusCruzin). Extra eyes nabbing any potential dumb mistakes are awesome. The Newmar device is a voltage converter. The 25 amps are its rated output- I think I recall it being 25 peak & 20 amps continuous, not straight 25A. The input it is rated for I can't recall but it was better than 60A. It is a converter used in 24v emergency equipment so it is built bullet proof and redundant, a radio failure in an ambulance or fire truck is as bad as can be- really life or death. Not like me camping to fish & surf. It was given me by a friend who does work for the local fire dept, they upgraded and I lucked out.

The inverter is internally fused so it should be fine with the 60A system fuses and it does run a fan while it is on but I have rarely used it (Although I did use it to solder a bad brake light socket once in Middle of Nowhere, Nevada, I am sure the inverter saved me a ticket on my way back to civilization. Since I drive an HJ60 I don't worry about speeding tix.), my laptop is powered DC in the car and so are camera and AA battery chargers. It took some time for a MacBook Pro magnetic charger plug to be available and it is total grey market since Apple isn't selling licenses for the magnetic connection which is stupid. It is putting out consistent power though, within 0.2 volts.

The Noco device is a 12-24v diode isolator keeping the systems separate. It is installed in the engine bay as it is wholly potted and probably submersible (one of my rules is not submerging the engine bay though) everything else is or will be in the back. A Newmar tech recommended the isolator go after the converter which seemed strange to me but for all I know he's an electrical engineer while I'm only a contractor so that is how I'm installing it. It means more wire pulling but that's not so bad I guess.

This sort of thing isn't my expertise so thanks again for the review, I'm looking forward to not stressing about the solar keeping the house battery up alone while camping. It was okay if the sun was out and the reefer wasn't set too cold. A couple of overcast days and I was draining the battery past what the panels could recover- especially if I had fish in the reefer. It is also good to be doing this work and pulling out the last of the PO's sketchy wiring- I nearly have the truck's electrical system back to spec, just have to get the 24v lighter working again and gut the improvised 12v radio wiring behind the dash. The lighter hasn't worked since I got the truck which is kind of a bummer. And now I have a circuit to run the turbo gauges! I have to decide if that or the pop top is the next project, I'm just about finished with the cargo area revision and the house electrics are 90% done. The next long trip is going to be deluxe!

Best,
Jeff

 

[cody c]

Oh yeah, you forgot to add a webasto and text (GMS) on/off/timer:
http://www.quantekshop.co.uk/GSM-AUTOinstructions.pdf
GSM REMOTE CONTROL SWITCH | CELL PHONE REMOTE CONTROL

 

[No. 3]

It does seem sort of excessive doesn't it? Back in the days of film photography I traveled with a twin lens reflex, a 4x5 rail camera, sheet film, a Polaroid film back and acetic acid to fix my negatives. None of it took any power. Now my laptop has to travel with me to take the pictures off my digital camera and the images don't really compare to those taken with the old film cameras and I have keep them powered. Progress?

I do like the reefer though to keep fish in and not have to worry about ice- that's progress! I wasn't familiar with the Webasto AC, that's crazy. Fortunately I like it warm. Thanks again for your help!
Jeff

 

[cody c]

It does seem sort of excessive doesn't it? Back in the days of film photography I traveled with a twin lens reflex, a 4x5 rail camera, sheet film, a Polaroid film back and acetic acid to fix my negatives. None of it took any power. Now my laptop has to travel with me to take the pictures off my digital camera and the images don't really compare to those taken with the old film cameras and I have keep them powered. Progress?

I do like the reefer though to keep fish in and not have to worry about ice- that's progress! I wasn't familiar with the Webasto AC, that's crazy. Fortunately I like it warm. Thanks again for your help!
Jeff

I meant for a webasto heater, though you shouldnt really need that at your longitude.

You use your rig for surf casting and taking pictures then i take it?

 

[No. 3]

Surfing, spear fishing, photography and writing. And of course just for goofing off and then more surfing. We are gearing up for a period of extended travel in the next two years with with no firm leaving date yet but will be leaving SF to see where we wind up with no return ticket. Just trying to save money and getting the truck ready now.

I wasn't familiar with Webasto at all, searched and came up with AC units! A heater might be nice, I have been pretty cold in the desert in the winter and avoid the mountains until the thaw. I am originally from Honolulu and am a solid baby about the cold. Tall and thin doesn't help either, give me warmth- even SF is too cold for me. I am miserable every winter and spring (and much of the summer frankly, it's cold here).

 

[cody c]

Surfing, spear fishing, photography and writing. And of course just for goofing off and then more surfing. We are gearing up for a period of extended travel in the next two years with with no firm leaving date yet but will be leaving SF to see where we wind up with no return ticket. Just trying to save money and getting the truck ready now.

I wasn't familiar with Webasto at all, searched and came up with AC units! A heater might be nice, I have been pretty cold in the desert in the winter and avoid the mountains until the thaw. I am originally from Honolulu and am a solid baby about the cold. Tall and thin doesn't help either, give me warmth- even SF is too cold for me. I am miserable every winter and spring (and much of the summer frankly, it's cold here).

If your camping in the crusier in cold (for you climates) then the webasto is your friend. Might even make camping in AK feasable for you.

Im slightly jealous of your lifestyle though. You retired or interdependently wealthy?

 

[No. 3]

Neither- but no kids! I'm a general contractor. I'll check out the Webasto heater, thanks! And, not like you need advice from a total stranger on the internet and I could follow it more myself but, just get on the road! There's a lot that we in the wealthy west think we need, I don't believe that it's all true. As trite as it sounds, we only go around once. I've always wanted to see the Aurora Borealis in Alaska....
Jeff

 

[Ivy4x4]

Hi, having a quick look, looks good. The only question I have is are the solar panels going to be putting a charge into the 12V battery all of the time. I ask this as most 24V - 12V converters only supply up to 13.8V. 13.8V is close but not enough to full charge a battery. From what I can see you won't have too many troubles if your solar can top it off provided that it's hooked up all of the time.

I used a converter in my 24V HJ61 but found that it was not enough so I upgraded to a aux 12V alt. Never look back now. I am a little more hungry on the 12v power side though and didn't want to put a constant heavy load on my 24V alt which are rated at 30A.

 

[cody c]

Neither- but no kids! I'm a general contractor. I'll check out the Webasto heater, thanks! And, not like you need advice from a total stranger on the internet and I could follow it more myself but, just get on the road! There's a lot that we in the wealthy west think we need, I don't believe that it's all true. As trite as it sounds, we only go around once. I've always wanted to see the Aurora Borealis in Alaska....
Jeff

Nine month old daughter, house reno's and a half started hilux project will be taking priority for a little while. But Im gonna get out camping for a couple weekends to some light wheeling and gold panning, and Ill get out for a week of hunting and some exploring in BC.

I think the gold pan run we want to make into an annual run and make it a mall cruiser only run next year.

 

[No. 3]

My folks were taking us camping when my younger sister was about 9 mos, she slept in a hammock hung above the front seats in the VW bus! Get her in a tent now and she won't remember not being in a tent. Gold panning and hunting sound like fun. Have a blast! Juggling responsibilities and getting out is always tough. Best,
Jeff

 

[eleblanc]

Cooooool

I have to go check what is involved to get a fonctionning sim card here in Canada for this!

Oh yeah, you forgot to add a webasto and text (GMS) on/off/timer:
http://www.quantekshop.co.uk/GSM-AUTOinstructions.pdf
GSM REMOTE CONTROL SWITCH | CELL PHONE REMOTE CONTROL