Auxiliary Battery installation

[capttim]

We use our truck to overland. For what it may be worth I want to share my recent battery auxiliary battery installation.

I used a 120AHr, Kickass AGM deep cycle. The battery was chosen for its narrow footprint. Charging underway is provided via a Victron 12.12.30 DC-DC charger powered by the truck. I provided for 2 SAE import plugs ( for solar panels that have independent regulation and one input controlled by a Victron MPPT 75/15 solar controller. I provided for a 12 vdc outlet plug from the aux battery to supplement the factory 12vdc outlet powered by the truck starting battery. Finally, a rotary cross over switch was installed. The default position is OFF. It is available to jump the starting battery if needed.

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[Sagebrush]

Nice. Out of curiosity, why the AGM over a lithium?

 

[gofastdan]

Nice set up. Can you charge the battery from both alternator and solar at the same time or do you have some sort of switch to only charge from one or the other (automatically or manually switched)?

When I was looking for a solution my primary concern was I wanted to charge from solar whenever it was available but then supplement that with alternator charging whenever the truck was running. I didn't want to have to remember to switch back and forth and my solar generator (Ecoflow Delta 2) only had one dc input. I could have used a couple of relays and created some sort of break-before-make type circuit but that seemed like a pretty inelegant solution. I ended up (long story) with the ETaker F2000 and am quite happy with it.

I realize I'm using more of an all-in-one solution as opposed to your a la carte approach but I can see myself moving in the direction you've taken at some point.

 

[DeadSetMonkey]

Can you please describe where you are tapping into alternator power?
Did you make a diagram of your install? Love to see a schmatic?

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