IBS Dual Battery System from Slee (1 Viewer)

[Romer]

I just finished installing the dual battery system I bought from Slee. It's an IBS system. I also added the boost module

http://www.sleeoffroad.com/products/products_battery.htm

I had used the Hellroaring system in my 80. It's a nice setup but I wanted one with more features. I wanted to be able to see the battery state of charge in the cab. The hellroaring doesn't give you that visibility.

I was looking at the National Luna, which is also a nice setup. The controller is very similar, but seemed to be a little smaller, giving more options for in cab installation.

I also bought two new Die Hard Platinums

Group 34 for the backup and group 35 for the primary. I saw the posts from people wanting fitting the larger battery in the primary spot, but with two Batt's I shouldn't have an issue. Besides, when I am traveling, I like to put wrapped burritos in the battery tray so I can have a hot snack or lunch when I want it

Here are the shots of the batteries and the IBS control Relay and Booster module

I installed the Slee 2nd battery plate and a Blue Sea Marine aux fuse box.

 

[Romer]

another view of the engine bay and where I mounted the controller. I drilled a hole in the center comsole plate to route the harness up. I didn't want to see the wires and I also wanted to hard mount it with the sticky tape that came with it.

You can see where I routed the engine bay wires across the fuel rails in the back

So far, very pleased.

I hooked my fridge and radioes and other aux items to the 2nd battery and the Warn winch to the primary.

 

[jgray]

Nice work Romer! I've been collecting everything I need for a similar setup. Just need to find time to wrap up the loose ends.

 

[Romer]

BTW, all the crap on my Kimberley is from the storage drawers on my 80. I should have my ARB drawer setup by next week

 

[Bighead]

BTW, all the crap on my Kimberley is from the storage drawers on my 80. I should have my ARB drawer setup by next week

I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the ARB drawer set-up.

 

[RobRed]

Nice work.

Q. Isn't the controller display overly bright? I know you can adjust it but it seems annoying to me - am I wrong?

Getting ready to do mine and heres where I mounted the controller:

 

[Romer]

Nice work.

Q. Isn't the controller display overly bright? I know you can adjust it but it seems annoying to me - am I wrong?

Getting ready to do mine and heres where I mounted the controller:

View attachment 547751
View attachment 547752

The display showing status only lights up for a short time when you press display. Otherwise, its just a green led or two telling you its charging.


It would be bright if it showed the status all the time, but it only does it when you request it

 

[RobRed]

Good to know. I can't wait to start wiring!

 

[jonharis]

Ken-
You are just getting after it my man. Looking great so far. At this rate your rig is going to be "done" sooner than mine. .
Other than Slee being right down the road, was there anything specifically that made you choose the IBS over the National Luna? This is one of my winter projects so I'm starting to do my research.

Feel free to come show it off this weekend in Ouray!

 

[jgray]

I would imagine IBS would migrate to a digital controller display at some point. Still looks like a nice setup. I can see advantages to both display types.

 

[nakman]

Looking good, Romer. And great move putting the radios on the 2nd battery, that way they won't power cycle when you start the truck, can leave the Ham on the whole time while on runs, etc.

Instead of over on the fender, I ended up putting my isolator on that little wing off the battery tray. When you get an ARB compressor you may need that real estate over there on the fender? I guess you can worry about that later, I had a locker before the IBS so..

And I've had mine for almost a year now, better setup than Hellroaring I agree. Only thing I don't like is the low battery alarm.. I feel if my primary battery is low then why use even more of it telling me about it. Just let me be surprised? Maybe that's just me though.

 

[Romer]

Ken-
You are just getting after it my man. Looking great so far. At this rate your rig is going to be "done" sooner than mine. .
Other than Slee being right down the road, was there anything specifically that made you choose the IBS over the National Luna? This is one of my winter projects so I'm starting to do my research.

Feel free to come show it off this weekend in Ouray!

I was debating between the two and nakman showed me his setup and I liked the smaller size of the controller. I liked the booster to help with starti8ng the truck. On the hellroaring, when I needed the backup battery I had to combine the batteries for a bit before I could start it up, not long though

Wont be in Uray, likely will be installing my ARB storage drawers

I sold my 80 and my BMW to buy this and set it up a level I deemed similar to what I wanted based on my experiance with my 80. I will drive it for a while before I start looking at other things

Looking good, Romer. And great move putting the radios on the 2nd battery, that way they won't power cycle when you start the truck, can leave the Ham on the whole time while on runs, etc.

Instead of over on the fender, I ended up putting my isolator on that little wing off the battery tray. When you get an ARB compressor you may need that real estate over there on the fender? I guess you can worry about that later, I had a locker before the IBS so..

And I've had mine for almost a year now, better setup than Hellroaring I agree. Only thing I don't like is the low battery alarm.. I feel if my primary battery is low then why use even more of it telling me about it. Just let me be surprised? Maybe that's just me though.

Thanks Tim, you knmow you were my insperation

My truck is actually at Slee getting the ARB lockers and skid plates. I'll see where he installs it

 

[Greg B]

Hi Romer,
Just curious now that Slee installed the lockers and compressor how the final wiring ended up. I'm going to start wiring all this up soon and was curious if your IBS parts stayed where you originally mounted them or if Slee changed it up at all. Thanks!

 

[Romer]

Hi Romer,
Just curious now that Slee installed the lockers and compressor how the final wiring ended up. I'm going to start wiring all this up soon and was curious if your IBS parts stayed where you originally mounted them or if Slee changed it up at all. Thanks!

They stayed where I mounted them. The ARB Compressor went on the drivers side of the bay

 

[Greg B]

Good to know, thanks!

 

[sleeoffroad]

I thought I would put this out there as well. We now have a dual color changing LED monitor system. The purpose is to show the voltage on both batteries with two simple small LED's that change color depending on voltage. This is not a controller, just a simple display that is easier to mount in newer vehicles. Have had it in two vehicles now and it works great. Green for both, all good. Green on 1st red on 2nd, dual battery system not linked or battery dead.

We have it on a Christmas Special.

Here is the box.

and here is what it looks like installed into a switch blank.

and here is the different states it shows:

GREEN FLASHING OVERCHARGING – Voltage at battery is greater than 14.7v

GREEN CHARGING – Battery is receiving normal charging voltage – 13.1V to 14.6V

ORANGE BATTERY OK – Battery is charged – 12.1V to 13V

RED BATTERY REQUIRES CHARGING - 11.5V to 12V

RED FLASHING BATTERY DISCHARGED – 3V to 11.4V

NONE LESS THAN 3V - NO BATTERY PRESENT (ONLY APPLIES TO AUXILIARY BATTERY HOOKUP) - This enables the 2 LED system to be used without an auxiliary battery present. This prevents a RED flashing LED on the AUX LED. The system will flash the LED during the first second that power is first applied. This is a LED check. After 1 second if the voltage remains below 3V then it assumes no battery is present and stops flashing.

 

[OregonLC]

Resurrection of old post...

Chirsto (or others) why the IBS over the National Luna?

 

[nakman]

Resurrection of old post...

Chirsto (or others) why the IBS over the National Luna?

For me it was the massive display of the Nat. Luna... Couldn't see where I would put that. The controller of the ibs otoh fits great on top of AHC control I don't have..

That, and I am close to Slee's shop in case do future post-purchase support (hasn't happened)

 

[cruiseroutfit]

That National Luna controller is a bit taller (~1/2"?) but it is also quite a bit narrower, far from massive I've installed a handful of both and found the Luna easier to mount overall such as behind the p-brake handle on a Tacoma/4Runner or on the 100 Series right side dash blank. As far as components, I give the NL the edge, better components, tidier install options and HD solenoid options versus the relay. The NL utilizes a nice control wire cord in its own insulated diameter (less than 3/16") versus the loose wiring (needs loom) of the IBS. Obviously both will absolutely work and there is a home for each but put the two side by side and the NL had the edge for me. I've got 3 different battery systems on 4 different personal rigs, when it came time to choose a system for my 100 build .

Can one of you measure your IBS controller, I don't have one here today and I'd love to contribute some numbers to compare them side by side.

 

[OregonLC]

What about control logic? Do both charge the starting battery first before switching over?

Thinking perhaps an option would be to go Nat'l Luna with just the controller and solenoid. Puts the price around $250. Then source my own wire, fuse, and connectors. I see they have a flush mount display, but it doesn't say "controller" even though it appears to have the same buttons. Anyone know if there is a difference to the electronics? I'd think the flush mount could go right in the overhead opener pocket.