Next Project - Inverter and Dual Battery Setup...few questions.

[Jesse]

Next project……Power inverter and dual battery setup.

I have done a little reading on the site and have found a few people that have installed inverters and dual batteries.

I would like to know if anyone can share their own experiences and how they handled these options.

Inverters – I am thinking something like 900-1500 watt or possibly a 600-800 watt true sine wave inverter. I tailgate a lot and we run TV’s and satellite dish on the setup.

Dual Battery – I have found one company that makes a kit – Wrangler NW. But it seems you only have one option for the batteries that it works with. I am thinking that the Optima yellow top batteries are the best option. Anyone have any dual setup with optima batteries? Are there any other kits out there on the market? Also – has anyone else installed a 2nd battery in any other location?

I would appreciate any feedback.

Thank you.

[Jesse]

Next project……Power inverter and dual battery setup.

I have done a little reading on the site and have found a few people that have installed inverters and dual batteries.

I would like to know if anyone can share their own experiences and how they handled these options.

Inverters – I am thinking something like 900-1500 watt or possibly a 600-800 watt true sine wave inverter. I tailgate a lot and we run TV’s and satellite dish on the setup.

Dual Battery – I have found one company that makes a kit – Wrangler NW. But it seems you only have one option for the batteries that it works with. I am thinking that the Optima yellow top batteries are the best option. Anyone have any dual setup with optima batteries? Are there any other kits out there on the market? Also – has anyone else installed a 2nd battery in any other location?

I would appreciate any feedback.

Thank you.

[NJ H2]

kodiakz has a dual Optima set-up

[PARAGON]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by NJ H2:
kodiakz has a dual Optima set-up
</div></BLOCKQUOTE>How did I miss this. NJ where did he discuss this setup?

[DRTYFN]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Jesse:
I would appreciate any feedback.

Thank you. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Only because you said thank you. Learn to use the find feature.
http://elcova.com/groupee/forums/a/tpc/f/6706011751/m/7.../728105866#728105866

[DRTYFN]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by PhilD:
Dretynfn has a dual setup, but not sure which one.

If you don't have air, then there is plenty of room to mount a battery (or two) in the air compressor area. Run power to the charging circuit and you'd have a good power soure at the rear of the vehicle. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

You'll have to make sure the battery is completely protected from the elements. I've seen even Optimas vent after they've gotten wet. I had one do that after washing the engine bay on another vehicle.

[ree]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by PhilD:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by DRTYFN:
You'll have to make sure the battery is completely protected from the elements. I've seen even Optimas vent after they've gotten wet. I had one do that after washing the engine bay on another vehicle. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Always someone quick to put down my ideas

... </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Phil,
It's a fine idea...that I hope to implement one of these days.

To avoid the elements buy a small pelican case, drill holes in it (voiding waterproof warantee), put battery in it, run cables, seal with silicone and check seals regularly.

[Jesse]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by DRTYFN:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by PhilD:
Dretynfn has a dual setup, but not sure which one.

If you don't have air, then there is plenty of room to mount a battery (or two) in the air compressor area. Run power to the charging circuit and you'd have a good power soure at the rear of the vehicle. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

You'll have to make sure the battery is completely protected from the elements. I've seen even Optimas vent after they've gotten wet. I had one do that after washing the engine bay on another vehicle. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I have air suspension - so I guess this is not an option.

[Jesse]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by PARAGON:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by NJ H2:
kodiakz has a dual Optima set-up
</div></BLOCKQUOTE>How did I miss this. NJ where did he discuss this setup? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Are there more pictures of this setup? Did you have to build a custom tray? I have seen some setups where there is an isolator installed. Even a switch in the cabin for which batter to use. Looks like there is nothing like that on this setup. How would this setup work and benefit me?

The idea for me is that I tailgate a lot and I don't want to run down my battery to where I can't start my truck.

[Klaus]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Jesse:
Are there more pictures of this setup? Did you have to build a custom tray? I have seen some setups where there is an isolator installed. Even a switch in the cabin for which batter to use. Looks like there is nothing like that on this setup. How would this setup work and benefit me? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I was thinking the same thing... It appears all you get with a parallel battery setup would be more capacity. You would still have the danger of draining both batteries and no reserve.

Still, an isolator could be added to this setup. Looks good.

[PARAGON]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by DRTYFN:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by PhilD:
Dretynfn has a dual setup, but not sure which one.

If you don't have air, then there is plenty of room to mount a battery (or two) in the air compressor area. Run power to the charging circuit and you'd have a good power soure at the rear of the vehicle. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

You'll have to make sure the battery is completely protected from the elements. I've seen even Optimas vent after they've gotten wet. I had one do that after washing the engine bay on another vehicle. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>I'll have to disagree. You can dunk an optima and keep going. Even regular batteries work fine when left to the elements. We have old pieces of equipment with exposed battery boxes that just sit out in the weather all of the time.

As far as the optimas are concerned, they are sealed. If it vents, then there is a breach in one of the cells. The other thing with optimas is that you can mount them sideways, diagonally, just about anyway you need and they are fine, since they are sealed.

[PARAGON]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Klaus:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Jesse:
Are there more pictures of this setup? Did you have to build a custom tray? I have seen some setups where there is an isolator installed. Even a switch in the cabin for which batter to use. Looks like there is nothing like that on this setup. How would this setup work and benefit me? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I was thinking the same thing... It appears all you get with a parallel battery setup would be more capacity. You would still have the danger of draining both batteries and no reserve.

Still, an isolator could be added to this setup. Looks good. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Yeah, he just has extra capacity but you could easily add the wrangler setup Drty has or something similar and use the larger capacity optimas he has in there.

[ree]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by PhilD:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Jesse:
I have seen some setups where there is an isolator installed. Even a switch in the cabin for which batter to use. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>I have a similar setup on my boat, one cranking battery and one deep cycle with a switch (1 - 2 - Both). Something like that would work better for you and allow you to isolate the cranking battery and use the deep cycle for running your stuff. A few leads and a switch/isolator added to the above setup would work fine. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

And I've looked into some voltage sensing relays that route charge to both batteries when you have charging current going to the main batter, but disconnect the relay when the charging current goes away. There are some fancy (somewhat pricy) variants of this which add a manual override to connect the backup battery to the starter battery even if charging current is absent so that you can leave all your accessories wired to the main battery, have a second battery getting charged all the time, and beable to use the second battery in a pinch.

I think the vendors call these battery combiners. West marine has one but it isn't rated for starting current. Xantrex makes one called the PathMaker. You could surely wire up something from cheaper components if you wanted to save your money.

[Jesse]

Here is what I would like to have happen - I am not sure if this is possible.

When we tailgate - we always have our satellite dish hooked up to a portable dish. With one battery we run the dish for about an hour then start the truck and let it run for 20 minutes. We have on a couple of occasions lost track of time and did not have enough juice to start the truck. I am hoping I can have a dual battery setup that can help avoid this. Now here is problem number 2 – when starting the car – the ignition cuts off the current for everything else or at least kills the power to the inverter so that it has to reset. This causes our dish to lose signal and also reset. When this happens the satellite receiver needs to re-acquire all the guide info. This takes 10 minutes and we don’t have 10 minutes.

I am sure any football fans can understand the huge stress this puts on all us tailgaters.

I am hoping the dual battery setup will prevent this from happening.

[NJ H2]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by PARAGON:
NJ where did he discuss this setup? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>


KLINK HERE!

[ree]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Jesse:
Here is what I would like to have happen - I am not sure if this is possible.

When we tailgate - we always have our satellite dish hooked up to a portable dish. With one battery we run the dish for about an hour then start the truck and let it run for 20 minutes. We have on a couple of occasions lost track of time and did not have enough juice to start the truck. I am hoping I can have a dual battery setup that can help avoid this. Now here is problem number 2 – when starting the car – the ignition cuts off the current for everything else or at least kills the power to the inverter so that it has to reset. This causes our dish to lose signal and also reset. When this happens the satellite receiver needs to re-acquire all the guide info. This takes 10 minutes and we don’t have 10 minutes.

I am sure any football fans can understand the huge stress this puts on all us tailgaters.

I am hoping the dual battery setup will prevent this from happening. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

It sounds like you want to:
- add a deep cycle second battery that you can rundown and recharge often
- use an isolator/switch/combiner/relay to prevent simultaneous discharge of both batteries when the alternator's not charging
- run the inverter and dish off of the second battery
- don't run anything off of the main battery withut the truck running as that would compromise the ability to start the truck

[PARAGON]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by NJ H2:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by PARAGON:
NJ where did he discuss this setup? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>


KLINK HERE! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Thanks, I have aked for some more details from him.