Thread: Simplest Dual Battery Setup

I am just back from an 8 week trip, My ARK Pak did the job! with some on the trip adjustments! I.e. I had a lot of troubles with my disco 3HSE cig plugs and eventually wired the 240 v charger into an inverter and an Anderson plug that was there at the rear
It would keep the fridge a WAECO cool for 4+ days.

Most deep cycle batteries will not like lots of winching but a long jumper lead would let a rear mounted ARK Pak power the main battery?
Hopze this helps.

Originally Posted by roverrescue

1/ Install second battery.
2/ -ve terminal to a good chassis earthpoint.
3/ +ve terminal to Primary battery +ve with heavy cable.

Use a multimeter to monitor battery vs fridge run time.

voila

simple and probably best for winching too...

S

That's how my 101 is set up and I've been out for 11 days straight now and have had no dramas. When set up for more than an evening, I put a 120 watt solar panel out that charges both batteries. Running a fridge, LED lighting and my ipad and laptop charger. Car has started easily when needed. I was going to put an isolator between the batteries but I don't think I'll bother now as this setup has worked so well.

Just for clarification, I have the cranking battery in its normal home and the second battery in the trailer I'm towing with a permanent 20amp supply running from the first battery. Solar panel connects to the battery in the fridge which keeps the cranking battery charged as well. Happy days.

bacicat,
I too have upped my simple system with a 120W panel and reg.

A few weeks back, went bush and left ute for 3 days. I got back to ute at 930 batteries were at 13.5V engel and beer was at -1. Perfect!

And that is with panel just facing north at bout 45degrees, no chasing the sun.

So a little less simple but perfct for me

S

Well I reckon the best dual battery setup has a dual alternator as well.

Attached my circuit for dual batt/dual alt setup.

2nd alternator is from a Mitsubishi L300 55 amp, from a wrecker coz the
front shaft and bracket mounts means it fits the original D1 TDI 300 position as well.

can do all this with a lot of mucking around and $200 including battery which is a
Caterpillar deep cycle marine "wet" battery. Runs the 30 litre engel for over 24 hours.

regards
OZ