Dual battery setup?

[Mustachespizza]

Anyone ever done a dual battery setup in a 4th gen. I'm looking to run multiple lights, and a power inverter for camping and trails here and there. Also a set of amber strobes for work. Will I need to run a dual battery setup or just a stronger alternator and battery?

 

[bobditts]

additional batteries really only help if you plan on running electronics with the engine off. If the engine is on, your alternator is doing the work. That being said, if you have too much power draw on a single or multiple batteries and your alternator cant keep up, then you have to look at upgrading the existing alternator, or adding an alternator.

 

[MotorCityFats13]

I have been trying to add a second battery for quite some time and only spot under hood is passenger side by the airbox... problem is you cant fit a group 65 over there and i haven't found one that will fit there and let the hood close after making some kind of tray... my plan was sealed AGM on its side..... I cant stand not having the peace of mind of extra power for cold winter starts

 

[AE7MK]

In the space on the passenger side behind the airbox you can squeeze a group size 24 in. You will need release the clamps and cut some of the tape on the wiring harness so you can shift them out of the way. I installed a plastic battery try (from my local auto parts store). I used bolts inserted from the wheel well and double nuts from the top side to make a level mounting base. then put in the tray, secured to those bolts with nuts and cut off the excess length of bolts.
20180509_145824.jpg

The aux battery and engine battery are connected with a BlueSea ACR. All of my non factory loads are powered from the aux battery. I have a 150A circuit breaker of the Aux battery that feeds a fuse panel. There are 3 buses of that panel.
1. Radios (Switched)
2. Lighting (Switched)
3. Accessories (constant)

Each of these buses connect to a distribution fuse panel that the devices connect to.

Switched means the power comes on under one of two conditions. The ignition is turned on or I flip a switch. To do this the power is run through a 100A continuous duty solenoid. The coil is activated by a double throw switch (ignition switch power, or constant 12v) The switch is labeled Auto/On.
control switches.jpg

I am a Search and Rescue volunteer as well as a Ham Radio operator. I use my accessories a lot with the engine off so the second battery is critical for my use case.

Check out my gallery on Google Drive
2009 exporer - Google Drive

 

[GSatt13]

AE7MK, Thank you!!!! I've had this page linked for half a year now as I've gone back and forth on whether this is worth it for me or not. awesome set-up and execution. I've slowly been assessing how to go about it and have finally installed a tray, battery has been bought. Bought the keyline battery isolator a couple months ago, so should have all installed within the next week. I'll make a quick write up with some picture as well, at some point...

For those that are looking for more space than a group 24, I toy'd with the idea of making a cold air intake. This gets rid of the huge airbox/filter and you greatly open up the space for possibility. I say make, because my specific reasons for the dual battery do not warrant dropping $300 on a manufactured product just to put a ****ty cone filter on to fit a $200 dual battery system. You can make a DIY intake with ebay items for under $50. I just don't think my usage warrants it.

I camp in the back of my explorer and wanted to run a small light, some 1.5A boot dryers for a couple hours, and whatever else I may want while camping in the ski resort parking lot. Or out on the river fishing. All with the peace of mind that I won't kill my starting battery/have a battery to jump off of. Might only truly need it a few times a year. So the back-up battery as safety took the cake on the reason to pull the trigger.