Beginner question - 24v double battery accessories connection

[nachohj61]

Hi guys,

newbie question here, about simple connections.

I have a double bat 24v system, which in my head it´s just complicating things but I want to get it right somehow. In this case I want to add either a lightbar on the roofrack front or either 2 LED headlamps on the front bumper of my ´88 HJ61, but I have the same doubt for any other add on like, winch, compressor, etc.

If i want to hook any of this directly to the battery, I don´t want to drag power unevenly so I don´t know to which battery I should connect this. What´s the trick?

In the engine bay there´s the original connection box with fuses 1x 20A and 2x 10A connections. I was thinking about running the lights through that box instead.
But anyways, if I´d connect this direct to the battery, which one should I connect to or how should the connection be done so power would be drawn evenly from both?

Thanks!

 

[drenmaster]

Do you have a factory fog light switch on your dash? If you do there should be factory wiring for fog lights in the engine bay. If you follow the harness from your headlights there should be connectors going to nothing. You could use that for the lights you want to wire in.

You don't want to hook directly to the battery they will not charge correctly.

Sorry I can't find a picture at the moment of the switch I am referring to.

 

[60Works]

Most LED lights or light bars will run unaltered on 24V. 24V winches are highly desirable. JBL makes 24V marine stereo amplifiers. Blue Sea has 24V USB outlets. Try to build your truck up with full voltage components.

Some items will require 12V. Run a 24V to 12V converter for the few remaining pieces. An equalizer is also a potential option. It allows you to tap off the low battery without imbalancing (and ruining) the pair.

Go to the diesel section and search for Solar Converter Equalizer by a mudder named Stone.

An experienced electrical engineer told me that sharing grounds between 12 and 24V with a converter is not a good way to design a system. Other mudders have shared grounds without problems for years.

Stone also has a trailer lighting solution.