Dual battery set-up using chassis battery
Has anyone incorporated their truck's OEM 12v battery with their camper's battery(ies)? I'm brainstorming a way to do this and would appreciate some input. I'm thinking that if I run large (1/0g) ...
Forum Discussion
RoyB wrote:
One of my golden battery rules is to never do anything to the truck start battery system when I am camping off-grid. This is the only way to get home
Roy Ken
This is the only answer you truly need. Don’t sacrifice your ability to self-rescue. Whether it is because someone was hurt during your watch and you must leave quickly and or to leave to return home or travel to your next destination.
For me, due to my choice to be remote/boondocking exclusively I am hours, I mean hours from a location that could send me a tow truck or a jump of the battery. When my OEM batteries finally gave up the ghost, keeping me from leaving it was a simple solution for me to fix this issue, myself. I gave my truck a jump off of my generator/inverter. Redundancy. Basically I have two of everything, multiple battery banks, two water systems, two power systems, two generators, two heat systems, two inverters, two charge controllers, two solar systems and the list goes on.
While I am able to run my A/C off of my DC, I do it sparingly, off my solar system. I have that much Solar wattage/battery bank and inverter. But, I would never ever put my truck and or battery system in direct line for this type of abuse. Never.
If you continue on this path, be sure you check what your Inverter is rated for surge Amp coverage/capabilities. As this is a critical factor for Inverters. Just because it is a 2000W inverter, like a Microwave, this is not continuous wattage/AmpH use. Also, you must have Catastrophic Fuses in place, off line switch capability, cable matched and size rated to your inverter (basically the thickness of your thumb (male)) and verify the connections are tight, often (heat/cool loosens these). Type of battery dictates what your drawdown (discharge) capabilities are as well, AMP/FWC/LIB). Engine type of your truck dictates whether the engine is safe to operate under long term idle conditions and or high amp output rated for existing alternators.
If you choose to continue, please keep us updated as there have been many successful people that move forward when the best advice says otherwise and are successful with their choice.
But so did Icarus.
b
