Double Alternators
Would most agree that on a Diesel, the option to have double alternators is a good idea if the option is available? Your thoughts please.
Forum Discussion
Yes, I sure did order our 2004.5 Chevy D/A CC LB 4X4 truck with dual alternators and so happy I did. So cheap to order with and gives back as long as you own the truck in many ways.
There's 2 batteries under the hood for the truck. 2 group 31 big flooded batteries (225 minute draw of 23 amps each) in the truck's bed between the rear wheel well and the front of the bed on the driver's side and 5 more of the same in the 5th wheel. Just those 7 batteries not including the truck chassis batteries give us 1575 minutes of DC power at a 23 amp draw and the batteries last an average of 6+ years before I replace them.
Then I use the taken out batteries in our boats 2-3 at a time to power the electric trolling motors. 3 of the batteries are now just over 10 years old and still going strong. They last a very long time because they have never been drawn down low on charge thanks to the dual alternators. The batteries for the 5th wheel use power our 2500 watt inverter and run the coffeemaker, microwave, lights, computers, toaster, George Forman sandwich grill and several other items when not on shorepower and the recharge so quick when driving or even idling the truck's engine for half an hour or less. No need to ever start the Honda EU2000 generator as charging with it takes many hours even with both of my 25 amp and 40 amp Vectron battery chargers running off the Honda Gen.
What else the dual alternators do is prevent gray hair when boondocking and if we'd ever lose an alternator as I carry the spare serpentine belt required for a single alternator application under the rear seat, so no sweat ever as if the truck batteries went dead, simply jumper the added soleniod +, turn the ignition key and start the engine, and then drive away! All the 12V power you'll ever need with or without the RV even being with you! Even carry a 2000 watt inverter that's our backup that can be attached to the truck bed batteries and have 15 amps + of 117 AC from the truck anywhere/anytime for AC and NO generator is needed! Got to use the old noodle in that bump on your shoulders as it good for more than a place to put your hat.
A comment was made in a post as to too small of a charging wire going from the truck to the RV and that can be true it no addressed. I have a two #2 gauge fine strand welder cable wires going directly from the dual alternators under the cab in plastic sheaths and up thru the truck bed to the batteries there. A 100 amp slide switch under the hood to disable the current and the 100 amp solenoid that isolates the RV system and an 80 amp slow blow marine fuse at each end of the big cable/wire on the + wire. One + wire and one - wire and never use the truck body for the ground.
Then there's 2 of the same big wire cables that go to the 5 big batteries in the 5th wheel with a marine 400 amp barrel switch to cut the current from the 5th wheel batteries when wanted. I could put 10 batteries just in the bed of the truck if I wanted to just by adding them!
Dual alternators are simply the "rat's nutz!"
There's 2 batteries under the hood for the truck. 2 group 31 big flooded batteries (225 minute draw of 23 amps each) in the truck's bed between the rear wheel well and the front of the bed on the driver's side and 5 more of the same in the 5th wheel. Just those 7 batteries not including the truck chassis batteries give us 1575 minutes of DC power at a 23 amp draw and the batteries last an average of 6+ years before I replace them.
Then I use the taken out batteries in our boats 2-3 at a time to power the electric trolling motors. 3 of the batteries are now just over 10 years old and still going strong. They last a very long time because they have never been drawn down low on charge thanks to the dual alternators. The batteries for the 5th wheel use power our 2500 watt inverter and run the coffeemaker, microwave, lights, computers, toaster, George Forman sandwich grill and several other items when not on shorepower and the recharge so quick when driving or even idling the truck's engine for half an hour or less. No need to ever start the Honda EU2000 generator as charging with it takes many hours even with both of my 25 amp and 40 amp Vectron battery chargers running off the Honda Gen.
What else the dual alternators do is prevent gray hair when boondocking and if we'd ever lose an alternator as I carry the spare serpentine belt required for a single alternator application under the rear seat, so no sweat ever as if the truck batteries went dead, simply jumper the added soleniod +, turn the ignition key and start the engine, and then drive away! All the 12V power you'll ever need with or without the RV even being with you! Even carry a 2000 watt inverter that's our backup that can be attached to the truck bed batteries and have 15 amps + of 117 AC from the truck anywhere/anytime for AC and NO generator is needed! Got to use the old noodle in that bump on your shoulders as it good for more than a place to put your hat.
A comment was made in a post as to too small of a charging wire going from the truck to the RV and that can be true it no addressed. I have a two #2 gauge fine strand welder cable wires going directly from the dual alternators under the cab in plastic sheaths and up thru the truck bed to the batteries there. A 100 amp slide switch under the hood to disable the current and the 100 amp solenoid that isolates the RV system and an 80 amp slow blow marine fuse at each end of the big cable/wire on the + wire. One + wire and one - wire and never use the truck body for the ground.
Then there's 2 of the same big wire cables that go to the 5 big batteries in the 5th wheel with a marine 400 amp barrel switch to cut the current from the 5th wheel batteries when wanted. I could put 10 batteries just in the bed of the truck if I wanted to just by adding them!
Dual alternators are simply the "rat's nutz!"
