Simple dual battery setup

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Lots of good info on Blue Sea ACRs. The cheapest/simplest version starts at $45, then you just need to wire the batteries together. So, it depends on if you want to buy a kit with the wiring or grab a inline fuse and some 2 guage wire from Home Depot.

I popped for the version that has a self jump push button. Hoping to install it next week.
 
shanester said:
Do you guys see anything wrong with this kit?

HEAVY DUTY DUAL / AUXILIARY BATTERY ISOLATOR W/ CABLES - COMPLETE KIT! 150A | eBay

My Slee dual battery tray has arrived and I'm wondering if this setup would work if I'm trying to keep it simple. I'll eventually be running an led bar, winch, etc.

Pros? Cons? Thanks
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I don't really like that set up. It divides the 12 volt loads....you don't really need to do that. A good battery isolator is all you need and then install a battery selector switch.

The unit you are looking at is rated at 150 amp but that is 'surge' not continuous. It is rated 80 amps continuous. IF your vehicle has a 100 amp alternator, then you would already be taxing it (under certain circumstances). Although the cables are nicely made, they are likely longer than necessary. Better to just measure up what you need and have some made.

Since you intend to add accessories (winch, lights, etc) a battery selector would make sense. You can select your primary battery, your auxilliary battery or both.
 
Simple set up would be tie both batteries together and use the money you save on dual battery controls on a jump box. You end up with a set up easily understood, double you available AH output and have back up starting power if ever needed.
 
LandCruiserPhil said:
Simple set up would be tie both batteries together and use the money you save on dual battery controls on a jump box. You end up with a set up easily understood, double you available AH output and have back up starting power if ever needed.
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I like this idea. In general, the advice I have read on batteries, is that if you want to tie them together, you should start with two brand new, identical, batteries. I believe this is to reduce risk of over/under charging one or the other.
 
Get a good single battery and a micro start jump pack.

Unless you leave your truck with cooler running for 2 days you don't need all that.
 
hello everyone :) this is my first post but have been lurking for a few weeks after i bought 2003 LC100 UZJ :) I'm looking for CHEAP way to setup dual Lead acid starter batteries. can i just directly connect the 2 batteries if i can, will the alternator work harder to charge them both at the same time? can you provide simple cheap solution to manually switch between 2 batteries under the hood? I'm on tight budget so brand named smart chargers or relays out of my reach. also deep cycle battery is quite expensive where i live. whats the cons of directly connecting the 2 batteries together? PS: i have factory toyota winch, a led bar, VHF radio as well as i live in cold climate so this is the main reason that im looking for a solution to set up dual batteries. Thankd in advance
 
@Bovka - I went about as cheap as possible to have an easy to control dual battery set up. You can see what I did in my build thread:
 
hey there sorry my English is bad :D I read through your thread and it is complicated for me but really nice set up i must say ! I'm wondering if my 2003 LC100 UZJ has non smart alternator? what the capacity of the alternator 100amp? im thinking i should just wire 2 lead acid batteries together for now and monitor the charging voltage on one of my after market usb ports which have voltage indicator. should i use heavy duty wires like jump cable to connect the 2 batteries if i proceed to wire them directly?
 
gil12 said:
I like this idea. In general, the advice I have read on batteries, is that if you want to tie them together, you should start with two brand new, identical, batteries. I believe this is to reduce risk of over/under charging one or the other.
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yessir..always use two batteries from the same batch or lot numbers..sometimes there's a misconception that by adding a new battery to an older one that the new one will help gain back some performance to one in the vehicle but the exact opposite occurs and the old battery will drag the new one down ..i found out the hard way putting together my solar system years ago for my diggins in northern baja california before an old timer expat straightened me out.....
 
Bovka said:
hello everyone :) this is my first post but have been lurking for a few weeks after i bought 2003 LC100 UZJ :) I'm looking for CHEAP way to setup dual Lead acid starter batteries. can i just directly connect the 2 batteries if i can, will the alternator work harder to charge them both at the same time? can you provide simple cheap solution to manually switch between 2 batteries under the hood? I'm on tight budget so brand named smart chargers or relays out of my reach. also deep cycle battery is quite expensive where i live. whats the cons of directly connecting the 2 batteries together? PS: i have factory toyota winch, a led bar, VHF radio as well as i live in cold climate so this is the main reason that im looking for a solution to set up dual batteries. Thankd in advance
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www.expeditionportal.com

How to make a cheap isolated dual-battery setup for $50

So there are a lot of kits you can buy to have truly isolated dual-battery setups. Those are VERY NICE kits. They are also very expensive. I try and replicate those kits without spending as much money, while still having a similar level of quality and/or reliability. There are constantly...
www.expeditionportal.com www.expeditionportal.com
This would likely do what you need. I did a version of it, with a somewhat better solenoid, 0/1 ga wire, and a manual fuse. but still is relatively simple and cheap.
 
Sorry to bring this back, I have battery isolator but I know I need to connect it to a ignition source, we're is that at in the engine bay?
I've searched and no one has talk about that at all.
 
TMoney10 said:
Sorry to bring this back, I have battery isolator but I know I need to connect it to a ignition source, we're is that at in the engine bay?
I've searched and no one has talk about that at all.
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Better to bring something back than create a whole new one unnecessarily. Do you mean so it tells it which position the key is in (ACC, RUN etc)?
 
Simple-dual-battery-setup-L.webp


Something like this I had on my Tahoe
 
TMoney10 said:
Anyone? I herd you don't need to hook up a ignition source
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What do you want to accomplish? My isolator is wired to a 3 position switch inside (on-off-on). One position is wired to an ignition source (from the interior) and the other position is wired directly to the 2nd battery (allows me to self jump start).
 
Well I'm going off my old set up I had on my tahoe, just not sure if it will be the same setup, to power the isolator I just need to hook it up to a 2nd power source correct or ignition source?
Screenshot_20201230-200942.webp
 
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