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Dual Battery Installation

mrbadwrench
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bdbake01 Senior Enthusiast

bdbake01

Posted
Posted

Use an isolator, but not an electronic one unless your father in law owns an isolator factory and gives them to you for free. A standard Ford starter solenoid will do exactly the same thing and will outlast an isolator 20 to 1.

Not exactly, no. Two completely different devices that don't function the same in virtually any way.

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bdbake01
bdbake01

Don't wanna be "that guy", but a second battery doesn't increase the pitiful capacity of the factory inverter which drives the plug. At only 150 watts you are limited to charging your iPad, or possibl

J-man67
J-man67

Hmm...so I could run a sawzall off the 120 plug with this? I tried the other day and got no power...

mrbadwrench
mrbadwrench

Not sure what inverter you guys are referring to, I don't have it though. Can't run 110 off my truck. The hair dryer/microwave comment was a joke ha-ha.

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J-man67 Senior Enthusiast

J-man67

Posted
Posted

You wont be able to run a microwave by the way, you are going to burn the wires out unless it is on a dedicated wire to a dedicated inverter.

 

 

 

You probably tripped the breaker AND the fuse, I did that when I made the mistake trying to run a mini vacuum.

I didn't burn it out. Still works. Just wanted to try it.
sdeeter19555 Senior Enthusiast

sdeeter19555

Posted
Posted

No, the 2nd battery tray is unused on the 1500. There are dual battery options but are only available for the 2500 and up. It is a mystery why GM includes the tray on the 1500.

I guessed it was a structural piece?

 

Sent from my SM-T350 using Tapatalk

  • 4 weeks later...
JasonAVGuy Enthusiast

JasonAVGuy

Posted
Posted

Here is the start of my second battery setup. All I need now is the cables and thats happening this weekend. Im using a Isolator with remote, Safety hub fuse block, post fuses and 2/0 Cable. Everything but the cable is from Blue Sea Systems. The system will be used for a few things including winch, light bars, and when off grid camping with the RV. The battery im using was one I had around at some point it will get changed to a new one with studs so im setting my cables up for that. For now im using post to stud adaptors to make it work. I have some deep cycle batteries that would be great to use but with out cutting the hold down bracket it wont work. Here are some Pictures.

 

Switch for light bar and dual battery control switch

Battery isolator

Temporary battery

New Fuse Box

  • 2 months later...
Debra in Cali Enthusiast

Debra in Cali

Posted
Posted

Excuse my ignorance, but what would be the purpose of having a 2nd battery?

I am married to a rocket scientist that is related to Tim the Toolman. He installed a second battery with an inverter on my old Chevy Astro van. He did isolate it so that you had to switch it to use it for the main engine. It was able to do amazing things. If I had a dead battery, I flipped that switch and started my van. My sons could use the inverter to run their computer games or watch a DVD on our mini TV. (Only allowed on big trips) I did use a blow dryer to dry my hair and use my hot curlers on camping trips. If the battery died on our RV, He created a umbilical cable so thatwe could jumper it to the RV and use the second battery. ( but remember to pull the fuse on the RV battery to make sure it didn't drain the secondary battery). The battery was underneath, so it wasn't available to use to jump someone else's car. But when we install the second battery on my new truck, we will be able to jump another battery. Hubby will set it up the same way as my old vehicle. We are just trying to figure out where to put the inverter in my DC. We were thinking under the passenger seat. Anyone tried this yet???? We are a bit concerned about air flow and it overheating in that location.

krdeal Enthusiast

krdeal

Posted
Posted

The isolator does what yours does without flipping a switch. It is an automatic device that isolates the second battery when the ignition is off. However, when the vehicle is on the alternator will charge both batteries, allowing for a true automated process. You would still run your invertor off of the second battery, and any device you needed to run. As for the mounting under the seat, I would go by how hot the invertor gets as to whether or not I would install it there. A small one would definitely be no problem.

  • 1 year later...
Impala_98 Enthusiast

Impala_98

Posted
Posted

It's been a few years since this post started any new kit available I am thinking about adding a second battery for my sound system

CharlestonJoe Enthusiast

CharlestonJoe

Posted
Posted

I've been toying with idea myself. I would like to be able to plug in a power tool every now and then when I am working somewhere where a power source isn't available.

I did my own storage set up and would like to add a inverter off a second battery.

The storage set up pictured below I wish I would have done years ago. I love it.

post-148687-0-17571000-1489844562_thumb.jpg

post-148687-0-17571000-1489844562_thumb.jpg

post-148687-0-17571000-1489844562_thumb.jpg

post-148687-0-17571000-1489844562_thumb.jpg

  • 2 months later...
bsprtsgrp Enthusiast

bsprtsgrp

Posted
Posted

I just ordered the parts for installing a second battery if anyone needs the list. I already had the tray so that eliminated 5 of the 12 parts needed including the battery.

Sierra706 Senior Enthusiast

Sierra706

Posted
Posted

I just ordered the parts for installing a second battery if anyone needs the list. I already had the tray so that eliminated 5 of the 12 parts needed including the battery.

How much did it all run you

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

bsprtsgrp Enthusiast

bsprtsgrp

Posted
Posted (edited)

How much did it all run you

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

$325.96 including the battery w/o the tray, support, nut & bolt for the tray

 

$498.68 with those parts.

Edited by bsprtsgrp

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