Alternate Aux Battery Proposition?

[Mully]

Greetings Grenny Gurus! Excellent forum here.

Just this week (in South Australia) got a 12/23 build Trialmaster with the aux battery fitted. Has anyone elected to keep them both as a parallel starter setup (nice that they are matched) BUT re-run the aux devices from a new dedicated aux battery (LiFpo4 etc) with dedicated DCDC charger?
Seems a viable option to retain both installed batteries (210Ah total cap is nice for starter) and just overlay a decent aux setup independent of this.
Interested to hear any thoughts from the Grenny brain trust here as these are one of my initial ponderings before making this setup function.

Cheers.

 

[TheDocAUS]

Greetings Grenny Gurus! Excellent forum here.

Just this week (in South Australia) got a 12/23 build Trialmaster with the aux battery fitted. Has anyone elected to keep them both as a parallel starter setup (nice that they are matched) BUT re-run the aux devices from a new dedicated aux battery (LiFpo4 etc) with dedicated DCDC charger?
Seems a viable option to retain both installed batteries (210Ah total cap is nice for starter) and just overlay a decent aux setup independent of this.
Interested to hear any thoughts from the Grenny brain trust here as these are one of my initial ponderings before making this setup function.

Cheers.

Not that I have heard. Most replace the aux battery with a Lithium and isolate it from the starter battery.

Although the Redarc Alpha DC to DC chargers can apparently supply a charge to a flat main battery.

I can add a Lithium DRIFTA Battery Box into my car, wired into the aux battery and an ignition source.

 

[Logsplitter]

Greetings Grenny Gurus! Excellent forum here.

Just this week (in South Australia) got a 12/23 build Trialmaster with the aux battery fitted. Has anyone elected to keep them both as a parallel starter setup (nice that they are matched) BUT re-run the aux devices from a new dedicated aux battery (LiFpo4 etc) with dedicated DCDC charger?
Seems a viable option to retain both installed batteries (210Ah total cap is nice for starter) and just overlay a decent aux setup independent of this.
Interested to hear any thoughts from the Grenny brain trust here as these are one of my initial ponderings before making this setup function.

Cheers.

Welcome to the forum. One option is to add a portable power station such as a Bluetti power station and add a Buetti dual alternator/solar charger.

 

[DenisM]

Greetings Grenny Gurus! Excellent forum here.

Just this week (in South Australia) got a 12/23 build Trialmaster with the aux battery fitted. Has anyone elected to keep them both as a parallel starter setup (nice that they are matched) BUT re-run the aux devices from a new dedicated aux battery (LiFpo4 etc) with dedicated DCDC charger?
Seems a viable option to retain both installed batteries (210Ah total cap is nice for starter) and just overlay a decent aux setup independent of this.
Interested to hear any thoughts from the Grenny brain trust here as these are one of my initial ponderings before making this setup function.

Cheers.

I agree with your approach. I've left the original dual battery system alone, (Trialmaster diesel), as its designed function is double redundancy to ensure reliable starting.
As house batteries, I have two x100AH Kings LiFeP04 with a 500A victron shunt mounted in parallel inside a large TACTIX Tough Case (Bunnings). The Tough Case is connected via a short 8 B&S dual cable (50A Anderson connectors) to a diy distribution box housing a 25A DC-DC charger with solar input. Charging is via the 40A cable outlet under the rear seats. The cable's ignition dependent 12v serves as the signal wire for the DC-DC charger to accommodate the vehicle's smart alternator.

 

[landmannnn]

Greetings Grenny Gurus! Excellent forum here.

Just this week (in South Australia) got a 12/23 build Trialmaster with the aux battery fitted. Has anyone elected to keep them both as a parallel starter setup (nice that they are matched) BUT re-run the aux devices from a new dedicated aux battery (LiFpo4 etc) with dedicated DCDC charger?
Seems a viable option to retain both installed batteries (210Ah total cap is nice for starter) and just overlay a decent aux setup independent of this.
Interested to hear any thoughts from the Grenny brain trust here as these are one of my initial ponderings before making this setup function.

Cheers.

After some thought, I did a self made battery box.

Consisting of a 110Ah LifePo, a combined DC and solar MPPT, plus an inverter. Similar to above, charged by an Anderson fly lead when the vehicle is running.

In a pelican style case it is probably the most flexible solution in that it can stay in the vehicle or go in a tent/trailer/caravan depending on the use.

Or you could buy something ready made from Bluetti or similar.

 

[Logsplitter]

After some thought, I did a self made battery box.

Consisting of a 110Ah LifePo, a combined DC and solar MPPT, plus an inverter. Similar to above, charged by an Anderson fly lead when the vehicle is running.

In a pelican style case it is probably the most flexible solution in that it can stay in the vehicle or go in a tent/trailer/caravan depending on the use.

Or you could buy something ready made from Bluetti or similar.

Sounds interesting, I like portable solutions. . Could you send me some details and pictures of what you’ve made up. I made something up in the past for camping with a bison battery box but before the days of LifePo batteries.