2nd Battery in cabin for accessories (help!)

[entoptics]

I need to run wiring into the cab from the battery or alternator in order to hook up a 2nd battery (marine type deep cycle) to run accessories when I'm in the field working.

I'm on my Dad's incredibly slow and intermittent internet, and he's offering to pay for the gear and help me install tomorrow or Sunday so I apologize for not being able to thoroughly search the forums and figure this out for myself.

Could anyone point me in the right direction? I just need to get some heavy gauge wire from the engine bay into the cabin. I would really prefer to keep it at least partially hidden, but that's not terribly critical at this point. Ideally, the 2nd battery will be back in the vicinity of the rear wheel wells.

The final goal is to have my inverter and 12V DC outlets attached to the deep cycle battery, and have a switch installed so I can keep the 2nd battery charged when I'm on the road. I work in remote areas, and hate being paranoid about a dead battery when it comes to my laptop, AA batteries, phone, GPS, and various other necessary electronics.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Tbars4]

...Just a thought...Why not keep the second battery in the engine compartment (close to where it's getting charged from) and run the wiring to the inverter inside the cab?

..If you do a "Titles" only advanced search for "Dual Battery" in the search toolbar at the bottom right of the menu bar above, or just use the Forums only google search bar at the top of the page will net you some answers..

..If you search user "Ritsui" here, he has a hidden inverter with a switch on his sport (but no second battery) which he runs regular for the past few years..

 

[SoNic67]

Carefull with the second battery. If you drain that and try to charge it with the alternator in paralel with the original one(while driving), the alternator it might just die... There is no protection for deep discharged battery, alternator manufacturers recomend to use a charger on a deep discharged battery.

 

[Blueraven]

If you do decide to put in a second battery, then just install a manual level switch and wire the second battery to the existing battery cable and throw the switch when you head out to charge your acc. battery and then throw the switch back when you head home. That way you'll always have two fully charged batteries.

And as a backup power source just get a "jump starter".

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Schumacher-XP750-Jump-Starter/15140204