Compressor wired to primary or auxiliary battery? (1 Viewer)

[CharlieS]

I'm wrapping up the last of my wiring, and trying to decide whether to run the power wire for the compressor from the starting or auxiliary battery. What's are others doing?

Also, is there a trick to opening the plastic wire protector that runs along the firewall behind/above the engine?

 

[empty80]

I'm wrapping up the last of my wiring, and trying to decide whether to run the power wire for the compressor from the starting or auxiliary battery. What's are others doing?

Also, is there a trick to opening the plastic wire protector that runs along the firewall behind/above the engine?

View attachment 2221823

I currently have my ARB twin wired to the primary battery. Reason being, I will most likely not run the compressor without the truck running, and the twin can draw a decent amount of amperage during operation.

I did not, and would refrain from messing with that conduit. When I had additional wiring ran across that area, I ran it through some of the standard plastic wiring protect, and zip-tied it to the top of that conduit. 1) It is easier that way, 2) it will prevent unintentional damage to the wiring inside the conduit while trying to access and run wires.

 

[619TOY]

No on board air yet but when I do, it’ll be wired to the aux battery. I just like the simplicity of all auxiliary devices wired to the auxiliary battery. I’m not concerned with charging or draw, it won’t have a real world effect in my setup. And all fusing is central and can also be shut down with the switch of a single breaker.

 

[OregonLC]

Similar to the above, however my reasoning was to keep the high-amp leads as short as possible. I have the Slee twin tray so the starting battery is the shortest run.

If you have a straight solenoid dual batt then the alternator should be able to keep up with whichever side it's pulling from. If you're using the BCDC 1225 then you're capped at 25 amps feeding the house side and so you'll briefly start to discharge as you air up. Most of the time though you're airing up before a long drive at highway speeds so this point is probably irrelevant in the real world.

 

[KLF]

My plan is to go to the primary starting battery, exactly for the reason that @empty80 stated.

I concur on that conduit. I started prying it open when I was doing a bunch of stuff under the hood and I got nervous I was gonna inadvertently cause other problems. Some of the spots are tight.

 

[CharlieS]

I stopped prying for the same reason. It would be so much cleaner to route through that factory conduit though.

I guess there isn't a clear choice either way. I guess I'll run the main compressor power to the primary battery and only run the compressor when the vehicle is running. It definitely wins for proximity and short(er) wire runs.

I'm trying for as clean an install as possible.

 

[619TOY]

I would have preferred to get through the factory conduit too, but it just didn’t seem feasible. And the reality is that the conduit only spans 30% or so of the firewall crossing, so you’re going to have visible wires regardless if you choose that path. All things considered, I don’t think many people will notice the wiring running across the firewall and there are plenty of other areas to stray from a “clean” underhood installation...

Dual batteries, multiple breakers and solid state battery contactor:

 

[Fisher23]

I have mine mounted in the engine bay on the driver side using that SLEE kit. ARB dual.

Since it is near the main I wired into the main.

Plus I couldn't think of why I would want to use it without the engine running .. so primary battery.

Aux I use for stuff that I may want to run without the engine running.

 

[CharlieS]

I would have preferred to get through the factory conduit too, but it just didn’t seem feasible. And the reality is that the conduit only spans 30% or so of the firewall crossing, so you’re going to have visible wires regardless if you choose that path. All things considered, I don’t think many people will notice the wiring running across the firewall and there are plenty of other areas to stray from a “clean” underhood installation...

Dual batteries, multiple breakers and solid state battery contactor:

View attachment 2222006

Wow, super clean install!!

 

[619TOY]

Wow, super clean install!!

Thanks Charlie

 

[KLF]

Get some of that webbed loom stuff and a bunch of heat shrink. I love that stuff. Really makes thinks look nice and tidy.

 

[619TOY]

Get some of that webbed loom stuff and a bunch of heat shrink. I love that stuff. Really makes thinks look nice and tidy.

For a real show quality install