Accessory battery

[j_boucher]

So i currently have an Eaton sure power connected where i take 24 v from the fuse panel to convert to 12v to drive an accessory fuse panel ( works great) I want to run some LED off road lights . My question is could I use the sure power and connect it to a sealed battery (spare one I have) and run everything from that deep cycle battery / my thought was to re-install the storage box behind the driver seat and use it as an electrical box for all my connections for the cab accessories . Thanks

 

[Ronmar]

How are you going to charge the extra battery? You either have enough power available from a 24-12 converter to run the lights or you don’t. A battery in the middle of that circuit isn’t going to really do anything for you except cause charging issues as your 24-12 converter needs to be designed or adjusted to charge batteries. You cannot really charge the battery directly from the 12v as this in effect changes the size of the batteries as seen by the alternator. 12v is the weak link on these trucks and the 4 battery config grossly overloads it if you are still running 4, drop to 2… even at 2 with the OEM lights you are using nearly all the 12v capacity anyway. I would not add any load to 12v, only to 24 using a converter…

i would simply add a 24-12 converter capable of meeting the needs of your 12v accessories and connect them all to a 12v distribution panel as you have done for your current accessory panel… victron makes some nice converters. The Orion is good for 70A(35a from the 24v side) not horribly large, remote controllable on/off via switch or relay, ~$150…

my .02

 

[j_boucher]

How are you going to charge the extra battery? You either have enough power available from a 24-12 converter to run the lights or you don’t. A battery in the middle of that circuit isn’t going to really do anything for you except cause charging issues as your 24-12 converter needs to be designed or adjusted to charge batteries. You cannot really charge the battery directly from the 12v as this in effect changes the size of the batteries as seen by the alternator. 12v is the weak link on these trucks and the 4 battery config grossly overloads it if you are still running 4, drop to 2… even at 2 with the OEM lights you are using nearly all the 12v capacity anyway. I would not add any load to 12v, only to 24 using a converter…

i would simply add a 24-12 converter capable of meeting the needs of your 12v accessories and connect them all to a 12v distribution panel as you have done for your current accessory panel… victron makes some nice converters. The Orion is good for 70A(35a from the 24v side) not horribly large, remote controllable on/off via switch or relay, ~$150…

my .02

Thanks for the info

Not an electrical expert but my thinking was I see the 12V from the converter move up to 14.2 while running to 12.1 when at rest . I thought the 14.2 would be enough to keep the battery charged during normal conditions / How would the alternator see that battery if its on the other side of the Eaton Sure power shouldn't it just see 24Vs ? I already have converted to two batteries and Again Thanks for the info your knowledge is greatly helpful.

 

[Ronmar]

That's why i asked how you were planning on charging the battery. with a 24-12 converter that would work, but what is the point? You have 24v and the converter provides the 12, what would the added battery do for you?

 

[j_boucher]

Thanks for the reply , again not an electrical guy I thought it may work for keeping any strain from the vehicles batteries . Thanks for the info . I also thought of running a fridge in the cab off it . Did something similar when I had my H2 but battery was charged through a CTEK and solar panels .