Dual Battery - Do I need it?

[Mudhorn]

Yes, I read all the threads on dual battery setups. The engineer talk was above my level and I’m leaning towards a built kit. But reflecting on some comments about just upgrading the battery, do I really need a dual battery setup?

Daily Driver
-small Domatic Fridge that is only on full time when camping
-Lights (3 E-Series, 4 Duallys, 2 Cyclones, 1 Light Bar)
-Front Camera
-Winch

 

[jhguth]

you don't need it

depending on how often you go camping (i.e. how often your fridge is fully on) you might want to upgrade your starting battery to an AGM so it doesn't mind cycling as much, but AGM isn't without downsides so even that probably isn't worth it if you just need to run the fride for 8 hours a few times a year.

 

[Mudhorn]

you don't need it

depending on how often you go camping (i.e. how often your fridge is fully on) you might want to upgrade your starting battery to an AGM so it doesn't mind cycling as much, but AGM isn't without downsides so even that probably isn't worth it if you just need to run the fride for 8 hours a few times a year.

What size AGM battery do you recommend? I’m slowly learning about the different sizes and the booster requirements.
Would a voltage booster be needed or a good safety net?

 

[85GT-79FJ40]

I'm kinda on the fence about going dual too. I have a winch and would like to do some camping with the truck. Maybe a long road trip around the country as I've never been out west. But I use a c-pap... Thinking if I had a dual setup maybe I could wire the inverter to work all the time off the second battery for that, a small fridge, and have that dedicated pretty much to the winch also. I don't know. Probably don't need it but it would be nice. Of course it would be way cheaper to do such a trip on my V-strom anyhow. Battery pack that charges off a USB for the C-pap and just forget cold stuff. Way easier and probably more fun on the bike anyhow.

 

[nevada]

for me personally, heavy winching was the deciding factor for dual batteries.


assuming you wont need to do a lot of winching, you may not NEED it.


however, with extended trips away from civilization, its not a bad idea. for JUST IN CASE.

 

[jhguth]

What size AGM battery do you recommend? I’m slowly learning about the different sizes and the booster requirements.
Would a voltage booster be needed or a good safety net?

Size just depends on what capacity you want, 1 Ah/h is a good rule of thumb for fridges but if you have a small fridge you may be 0.75Ah/h or less. At its highest voltage shutoff, my 110Ah group 31 battery will run my fridge for 2-3 days in summer, on the medium voltage shutoff I get about another day and the vehicle will still start I just dont like cycling 5he battery that low unless I have a specific need to.

The arclightled charger is what I use, its probably the best option. I also have an HKB and Ebay booster but use the ArcLight.

I run a single 31m, the downside is with a 31m you need to upgrade your battery mount but the positive is i have 110Ah capacity which at the highest voltage shutoff will run my fridge for 2-3 days.

(I run my fridge 24/7 so AGM is worth it for me. My stock battery lasted about 6 months of running my fridge 24/7 before it started dying)

 

[MillerPKA]

I had a National Luna system in my 3rd gen and loved it in principle. But for my 2019 I think I'm going with the Goal Zero Yeti link kit which basically allows you to charge their bigger power stations while driving. Portable, rechargeable power that is much easier to implement.

 

[propain]

You dont need one.

You DO need a dual purpose / deep cell battery, a good one like this.



Pick one up @ batteriesplus

I'm on my 4th year with mine. Cells tested 3 weeks ago and are still good. Been through -0F degree +100F weather, no issues. Plus it sat for a little while too. I run ARB Fridge 24hrs while camping for a few days, Winch, lights, hids, etc.

 

[Mudhorn]

You dont need one.

You DO need a dual purpose / deep cell battery

Did you have to change the battery terminal?

 

[propain]

Did you have to change the battery terminal?

Nope.

 

[Mudhorn]

I had a National Luna system in my 3rd gen and loved it in principle. But for my 2019 I think I'm going with the Goal Zero Yeti link kit which basically allows you to charge their bigger power stations while driving. Portable, rechargeable power that is much easier to implement.

Nice, I got a Yeti 400 from “Santa” so I’ll need to pick up a link kit.

 

[jhguth]

I'm kinda on the fence about going dual too. I have a winch and would like to do some camping with the truck. Maybe a long road trip around the country as I've never been out west. But I use a c-pap... Thinking if I had a dual setup maybe I could wire the inverter to work all the time off the second battery for that, a small fridge, and have that dedicated pretty much to the winch also. I don't know. Probably don't need it but it would be nice. Of course it would be way cheaper to do such a trip on my V-strom anyhow. Battery pack that charges off a USB for the C-pap and just forget cold stuff. Way easier and probably more fun on the bike anyhow.

You don't need dual battery for a cpap, run the cpap on DC instead of with an inverter and they dont use much power (the humidifier function will, but leave that at home or turn that off when camping)

Small, low cost battery packs can run a cpap for multiple days, or if you want flexibility to use it for more than the cpap get something like a rockpals battery pack

 

[jhguth]

I had a National Luna system in my 3rd gen and loved it in principle. But for my 2019 I think I'm going with the Goal Zero Yeti link kit which basically allows you to charge their bigger power stations while driving. Portable, rechargeable power that is much easier to implement.

Goal Zero everything is overpriced, there are better options on the market now

 

[Mudhorn]

Nope.

Looks like my local Battery Plus has them. Would you recommend the Group 24 or 31? I see you have 24 in your pic.

 

[propain]

24. Bonus it has a 5 yr warranty.

 

[15_T4R TRAIL]

Slightly off topic, but while we are on batteries.....what is the proper way to attach aux power off the positive cable? There seem to be 2 different nuts on the lugs. They both seem to work but i can figure out if i should mess with the top one or just add my power wire to the side/tightening lugs.

 

[Krayziekid]

Goal Zero everything is overpriced, there are better options on the market now

What other brands would you recommend? Genuinely curious as I don't know much about these external batteries.

 

[jhguth]

What other brands would you recommend? Genuinely curious as I don't know much about these external batteries.

Jackery, Rockpals, etc...
The DIY Solar Power with Will Prowse channel has good reviews on batteries and solar panels:
YouTube

you should expect to pay about $1/Wh or less

I have a group 31 AGM and 100W solar panel on the 4Runner but still have a small Rockpals (300W 280Wh) for portability around the campsite and to run an apap

(Note for [MENTION=292928]85GT-79FJ40[/MENTION] if you get something for your cpap, make sure it doesn't turn off automatically. The Jackery will turn off the 12V DC port after a certain amount of hours if you aren't pulling enough watts, and most cpaps are below that watt limit so don't get the Jackery. The Rockpals doesn't do this, and can even be used in UPS mode which will just pass through power from 120V but automatically switch to battery if you lose power, good feature for cpaps if you live somewhere that loses power from storms or something. For camping run your cpap on DC, it uses a lot less power that way)

 

[jmf_tracy]

Yes, I read all the threads on dual battery setups. The engineer talk was above my level and I’m leaning towards a built kit. But reflecting on some comments about just upgrading the battery, do I really need a dual battery setup?

Daily Driver
-small Domatic Fridge that is only on full time when camping
-Lights (3 E-Series, 4 Duallys, 2 Cyclones, 1 Light Bar)
-Front Camera
-Winch

Yes, you need it.

 

[MillerPKA]

Nice, I got a Yeti 400 from “Santa” so I’ll need to pick up a link kit.

Unfortunately I think it only works with the Yeti 1000 and higher.

Goal Zero everything is overpriced, there are better options on the market now

Yeah the competition has really ripened the last year or two. I've always been a fan of GZ quality and reliability as I've used their units a TON over the last 4-5 years. Getting a new Yeti just to work with this link kit.

Yes, I read all the threads on dual battery setups. The engineer talk was above my level and I’m leaning towards a built kit. But reflecting on some comments about just upgrading the battery, do I really need a dual battery setup?

Daily Driver
-small Domatic Fridge that is only on full time when camping
-Lights (3 E-Series, 4 Duallys, 2 Cyclones, 1 Light Bar)
-Front Camera
-Winch

I'd argue you don't need it. It's unlikely you'll be using most of this concurrently and a good single battery can easily handle the lights, camera, and fridge.