Dual battery setup in 1997 4runner

[kobusLifeRemotely]

11300 miles and Going Strong!

Another update on the battery setup. We have done just over 11300 miles and 8 countries, the battery setup is still going strong!

On a side note the fridge we have mounted in Blue is running like a champ. We have the Edgestar 43 quart fridge and in the heat that we have had on the secondary battery will last us up to two days without having the recharge.

We have met quite a few other overlanders that have run into issues with their ARb fridges. The Edgestar is worth the $450, unlike the $900 competitors out there. Check out the writeup about how we mounted the fridge here.

 

[aawolf]

Hey Kobus (or anyone else that knows):

(I know this a years-old thread I'm reviving but I figured it would be better to ask here for posterity, rather than send a private email that only I would benefit from.)

I've just completed part 1 of the battery install following your guide. Thanks for that!

I'm now purchasing the cables for the second phase and I had a question. In your diagram you have the 0AWG ground wire from the inverter and the 10AWG wire from the refrigerator running all the way back to the battery negative post ground. Wouldn't it be cheaper/cleaner/safer/easier to simply ground the fridge and the inverter directly to the chassis under the rear passenger seat? E.g. Dremel off some of the body paint and bolt down the two ground lugs there?

As far as I understand, this would be equivalent to what you have in your diagram with much less wire and potentially a better ground connection to boot.

Thanks!

 

[kobusLifeRemotely]

Hey aawolf,

What's that about hindsight? I am sure you would be OK just grounding the wires closer.

Share some photos when you are done!

 

[MillerPKA]

Looking forward to diving into this soon. Dual batteries are burning a hole in my floor and hope to install soon.

 

[T4R-HOEY]

Hey everyone, I’m new so I’m not sure how to get my questions out on this form. Please feel free to private message me if you have suggestions. I’m looking to add a battery to my 3rd gen t4r for the purpose of running a fridge, water pump and a power inverter for a electric blanket and charging devices while the engine is off , I want the inverter in the back cargo storage compartment area along with the dual battery voltage meter to track battery life . What would be the best way to do this and products I should use?

 

[Fyrmanbruce]

Any cooling problems with this set up?

When cutting the fan shroud, it alters the airflow. Did you notice any changes in how it cools?

 

[JohnMc]

When cutting the fan shroud, it alters the airflow. Did you notice any changes in how it cools?

My wife notched the corner of her shroud when she put in her dual full-sized batteries on her '96. No issues with overheating, even when driving in UT in the summer with the A/C on full blast and 105 degrees outside.

I did something a bit different when I did mine more recently - used a tiny start battery and a full sized deep cycle house battery in the usual spot:

No moving, no cutting, and very little added weight.

 

[Bad Luck]

My wife notched the corner of her shroud when she put in her dual full-sized batteries on her '96. No issues with overheating, even when driving in UT in the summer with the A/C on full blast and 105 degrees outside.

I did something a bit different when I did mine more recently - used a tiny start battery and a full sized deep cycle house battery in the usual spot:

No moving, no cutting, and very little added weight.

Do remember what CCA's those batteries were? I really like the idea

 

[JohnMc]

Do remember what CCA's those batteries were? I really like the idea

I think they're rated at something like 300 - 360? Certainly a bit low for a single battery and year-round use. But with a two-battery setup - if the little battery isn't quite enough, just link and crank with the big deep cycle one.

I finished this up in late Feb this year, so it didn't see any deep winter cold yet.

Works perfectly fine in normal weather, though.

 

[zacharyallott]

Is this the setup you used?

Braille B2015 AGM 425 CCA Lightweight Battery Master Install Kit

 

[JohnMc]

I used a B14115 battery, and a Blue Sea 7622 automatic charging relay. It has a remote switch for inside to manually connect and disconnect as needed, but normally you don't need to touch it.

I've been using that setup ever since early March. No issues so far, but I have run the start battery down a couple of times when I left something on overnight. It will certainly run down faster than a full sized battery. But then I just hit the manual connect on the dash switch, it connects to the yellow-top, and it starts normally, then switch it back to automatic.

 

[RotaryDreamz]

I used a B14115 battery, and a Blue Sea 7622 automatic charging relay. It has a remote switch for inside to manually connect and disconnect as needed, but normally you don't need to touch it.

I've been using that setup ever since early March. No issues so far, but I have run the start battery down a couple of times when I left something on overnight. It will certainly run down faster than a full sized battery. But then I just hit the manual connect on the dash switch, it connects to the yellow-top, and it starts normally, then switch it back to automatic.

I really like your idea. Curious what you are running to make you want to go dual setup, if you don't mind sharing. I mainly need it for when I'm camping or hunting, so I don't have to keep bringing my Honda generator and extra gas with me everytime. Would save me alot more space this way. Thanks.

 

[JohnMc]

Not all that much for now, but I'll keep adding things. Currently I have the air compressor and winch and some of the added lighting running off the house circuit.

Also just as a fail safe if I'm out in the back country and leave something on over night.