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Bday gift I got the extra tray and tie down to do a dual battery.

Question is now, how would you wire it? There are so many different ways from isolators, to connect at starter, to connect at other battery.

What’s the correct way? I was leaning more towards two of the same batteries and connect together and upgrade the grounding and supply wire.

Thoughts?


Coop

[quote=""DCIV""]Bday gift I got the extra tray and tie down to do a dual battery.

Question is now, how would you wire it? There are so many different ways from isolators, to connect at starter, to connect at other battery.

What’s the correct way? I was leaning more towards two of the same batteries and connect together and upgrade the grounding and supply wire.

Thoughts?


Coop[/quote]
I would use the oem cables/routing.

[quote=""vr4""]I would use the oem cables/routing.[/quote]

Jeff looked that up for me and said it’s not as simple as I might want. I agree that would be ideal.


Coop

Battery cables for the Duramax setup. I think this is closer to what you're looking for.

https://nemigaparts.com/cat_spares/epc/ ... /tc02-649/

There's another setup for gas engines, but it's more of a backup battery system. It has a relay that enables the second battery when the voltage drops below 11.4 or something. You don't want that, because only the primary battery is used to start the engine.

On the bright side, the diesel solution is a lot more simple from a wiring perspective. You're gonna need to make the cables though. They're discontinued.

Would the secondary battery help start if the primary battery is below 11.4? Because if so that’s exactly what I want. This if driving and the alternator dies I could go longer to get to where I can swap it.


Coop

The diesel setup should work like that. The gas setup won't.

[quote=""Jeff V.""]The diesel setup should work like that. The gas setup won't.[/quote]

K. That’s what I want. No one makes them? I really don’t wanna make my own.


Coop

There's a few used ones on eBay. Search for 'LLY battery cable". I have no idea if they'll fit a gas engine though. The routing could be totally different.

These guys are really proud of their cables.

https://ceautoelectricsupply.com/produc ... able-kits/

It doesn't look that complicated. You just need to use good materials and crimps.

[quote=""Jeff V.""]There's a few used ones on eBay. Search for 'LLY battery cable". I have no idea if they'll fit a gas engine though. The routing could be totally different.[/quote]

Hmmmm. Gonna have to dig around on the forums.


Coop

Basically what you’re looking for is to wire in a second battery in parallel so you double your capacity right?

Yes the diesel setup is what I meant. Mimick that with quality cables and ends.

[quote=""aaronatstate""]Basically what you’re looking for is to wire in a second battery in parallel so you double your capacity right?[/quote]

Ideal? You ready for some strait coop wishing mode?

I wish when running it would go off both batteries, GMs love electricity and windows and everything work better.

I wish when I shut it off, it would isolate to only one, so that if the main one dies I can start off the other with a switch or something.

I also wish that if it sensed the alternator output and if it got to low it would isolate as well so if the alternator died it would drain one battery and then again switch over (with a switch or something simple incase it’s the wife) to use the other battery to get it somewhere the alternator could be changed out.

All that is my “wish” list, doubt I can get anything to do all that how I have it in my head.


Coop

[quote=""vr4""]Yes the diesel setup is what I meant. Mimick that with quality cables and ends.[/quote]

I would just think someone would sell replacements or something better than I could make them.


Coop

I can kind of get on board with the parallel diesel battery setup, because it's simple.

I can't get on board with all this back and forth switching logic. It's a quasi-daily driver. Not a search and rescue vehicle that lives in the Australian outback.

Adding complexity decreases reliability. That's the opposite of what you want.

Duplicate the diesel setup with quality parts, get a good trickle charger, and be satisfied.

Someone does make a kit, but it's apparently $500. So either learn to make your own, or take a gamble on the used LLY cables fitting.

Put solar panels on your roof. Problem solved.

He's got that segmented plastic cover for his bed. That would be perfect for solar panels.

You upgrade your alternator yet?

[quote=""Jeff V.""]He's got that segmented plastic cover for his bed. That would be perfect for solar panels.[/quote]

Even better. Plug and play.

Does that make it a Hybrid then?