Would you still do the Genesis Dual Battery?

[Fpolanco]

Not the Genesis System but I love mine. It's only a group 25 aux battery but with the hood solar it does everything I need from my accessories. Honestly it 99% powers my ARB 63QT fridge and then at night it powers the 12v & USB in the RTT. The hood solar (or any solar really) is crucial to the dual battery system if you're sitting in one spot for a few days.

Anyway, my answer is yes to an "underhood dual battery system + solar" for light to medium duty needs. If I was wanting to run an invertor or more charging components like cameras/laptops/drones/etc then a REDARC BCDC1225 with a lithium battery protected from the elements in the bed would be better... still solar though! I'll never NOT run solar to some extent.

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...5w-lensun-hood-solar-panel.46542/#post-757531

Oh that’s nice!! I was thinking about the hood solar panel at one point but forget why I went away from the idea.

May have to revisit it…thanks!

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[Fpolanco]

I'd say more than 90% of people going to the middle of no where do it above 0 F weather. Self heating lifepo4 will more than suffice. Especially since they aren't usually sitting outside in the elements. Add to the fact that they should be functionally fine discharging at the lower temps. It's the charging that is a concern. There's very little reason to run dual agms at this point in time. I had a Luna dual battery setup in the previous truck but it doesn't work so well for periferals like fridges for several nights without having to run the truck. Current system, I can run the fridge and other periferals indefinitely with a renogy 175w panel on the rtt with a Renogy 100ah lifepo4. That panel is super thin and super light. We're talking about .08" and 6lbs. I'm thinking about throwing another 100ah battery in there to run my mini oven. I also carry a noco jumper battery pack.
As a side comment, that lensun and cascadia hood panels are really overpriced for what you get. Although it does look pretty cool and easy to setup for the end user.

Absolutely no chance I’m out there in -4 or 135. Hell, I made the mistake of wheeling Moab last week. Wtf was I thinking!!

A separate lithium house battery sounds intriguing. How do you have yours set up? And how do you charge it and/or keep it charged in the wild?

 

[TroutFishingInAmerica]

I have stock batteries.
I also have a Bluetti EB55, 200 watts of solar panels for when parked, and the factory inverter in the Gladiator when moving. It has worked out good so far. There's been times where I would like to have had a little bigger unit. I keep mindful of the meter and charge anytime I can, it has pass through so you can use it while charging. 2,500 cycles to 80% battery. I would go bigger next time but I can't complain. It's one of those things, I wish the Gladiator had a little more power, a little more payload... The more more syndrome, when I would like it, it would be nice, but I really don't need more.

 

[Blade1668]

Do you have a write up on this set-up?

There is a few of us that have installed a second battery systems here, mine is not in bed but where right rear seat was.

On point of battery type "LiPo" batteries have a problem with low or high temperatures for charging. But are lighter and deeper discharging capacity plus listed to be able to discharge more than lead acid batteries.

My previous dual battery setup was in my XJ not just as a extra starting and "not at all for house battery". But to have welding capability and improved winching.... Definitely not in capability of Lithium batteries.

 

[Blade1668]

For the same price (or cheaper) I'd just opt for this Solar panel to keep everything fully charged.

Love their products. The one I put on my hood is only 35 watts though. It helps but not as much as the ones for other models.

Yeah I've got the 85 w version as one of the earlier purchases that helped eat the R&D cost for all of the later buyers. Well worth while so far (2 years plus) as of now. Added bonus less sun glare from hood. Additional benefits I can leave vehicle parked for few weeks and have fully charged starting battery. Less work on alternator (I have noticed in sunny days actually increased MPG) due solar charging. Not a lot but could "feel/ see" it in battery charge level.

On the cold weather situation with LiPo batteries I've had this problem during last winter of the battery shutdown and the battery getting total discharged. Secondary of complete discharge after 4 or so days of stormy (cloudy) weather. Mine is 100 amp battery.

 

[Blade1668]

Absolutely no chance I’m out there in -4 or 135. Hell, I made the mistake of wheeling Moab last week. Wtf was I thinking!!

A separate lithium house battery sounds intriguing. How do you have yours set up? And how do you charge it and/or keep it charged in the wild?

I've got 2 100w panels on top of hardtop.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

On point of battery type "LiPo" batteries have a problem with low or high temperatures for charging. But are lighter and deeper discharging capacity plus listed to be able to discharge more than lead acid batteries.

Yes, thus their use in phones, computers, backup power supplies and so on. Can handle deeper cycles and more cycles.

 

[ttn333]

Absolutely no chance I’m out there in -4 or 135. Hell, I made the mistake of wheeling Moab last week. Wtf was I thinking!!

A separate lithium house battery sounds intriguing. How do you have yours set up? And how do you charge it and/or keep it charged in the wild?

I have a 175w solar panel on my rtt that is more than capable of keeping my battery full charged after a 2-3 hours. From monitoring the last couple of weeks, my fridge use about 11 amps from sun down to sun up. That's with fridge temp at 32 f on one side and 14 f on the other side. I still have ice cream from my previous outing. Day temp has averaged around 84 f. My battery is topped out by noon when I come out for lunch. I also have a victron ac-dc connected to the truck bed ac outlet incase I feel the need to switch that on while driving. I have not had the need to do so.
By the way, that renogy panel is $270. Add a Rich Solar 20Ah mppt charger for another $100. That's 240wh of solar charging capability. More panels (300w) than what plan to mount on my truck. I think that's a heck of deal.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

From monitoring the last couple of weeks, my fridge use about 11 amps from sun down to sun up. T

You must mean some other measure such as Ah, as amps is the current flow at a moment in time - the moment it is measured.
IF you mean it is always drawing 11 amps then after 10 hours that would be 110 Ah or 110 amp hours.
Maybe 11 amp hours?
Then if you know the Ah of a battery, you know how long that battery can last at that rate of "draw".

 

[ttn333]

You must mean some other measure such as Ah, as amps is the current flow at a moment in time - the moment it is measured.
IF you mean it is always drawing 11 amps then after 10 hours that would be 110 Ah or 110 amp hours.
Maybe 11 amp hours?
Then if you know the Ah of a battery, you know how long that battery can last at that rate of "draw".

Yes 11 Ah. It's actually a little more difficult to calculate draw rate due to temp flux and the compressor isn't always on. I'd imagine it's drawing quite a bit more during the day due to higher outside ambient temp in addition to green house effect inside the canopy.

 

[Trekkor2020]

I’m currently on the fence regarding the Genesis dual battery set up or just disconnecting the aux battery and going with a bigger single battery (group 94r).

For those that went dual battery, if you had to do it all over again, would you do still do it? Anyone revert to a single battery?

For those that pulled the aux battery, did you eventually upgrade to the dual battery? Or was the single battery enough for you?

I understand and well aware the dual battery set up is based on needs. What I’m looking for are things I didn’t thought of (for example, potentially needing a battery while away from comfort of home surroundings) and long term usage reviews or any other negatives.

Thanks!!

I have had the genesis dual battery setup for a little over a year. I probably would NOT do it again due to the cost. It was over $1000 with me doing the labor. It has worked well. I have used the boost button several times due to something draining my primary battery. This was my main Reason for getting it. So I spent money to solve a problem and didn’t fully resolve it. Good luck.

 

[tysongladiator]

Holy hell…you really went all in!!! I admire the dedication!!

I took the cover off of the battery and compressor so you can see where the battery is mounted in my bed. I have a cover that I made which covers it. On the other side, I also have an air compressor. I am now replacing the maxitrac. Nothing wrong with it, just going with a dual which is a little bit smaller and built in pressure switch.

I wouldn't advise anybody to do what I did. But it works for me and doesn't get in the way of anything I'm loading in the bed. I do plan on getting a redarc in the future like @ShadowsPapa mentioned for both of the batteries.

Yea. I will do things that are borderline crazy. And cutting into the JT is no exception!???

 

[keithcroshaw]

I much prefer the portable batteries for my camping needs if that's what you're interested in using it for.
They've got everything in one package.
I'm running my exterior lights off of mine that are on my bed rack. I wan to add some USB lights for inside my softopper and drawers.
My awning lights are USB powered.
If it's for a Winch or something in the future I'd go off the main battery because the engine would be running.

Edit: I do wish I could run the air compressor I want off the portable battery, but the amp draw is a bit high.
I'd love to not idle while inflating...

 

[Fpolanco]

I have had the genesis dual battery setup for a little over a year. I probably would NOT do it again due to the cost. It was over $1000 with me doing the labor. It has worked well. I have used the boost button several times due to something draining my primary battery. This was my main Reason for getting it. So I spent money to solve a problem and didn’t fully resolve it. Good luck.

Dear god this is horrible! If this were my JKU, I def would’ve been chasing an electrical gremlin.

 

[Fpolanco]

I took the cover off of the battery and compressor so you can see where the battery is mounted in my bed. I have a cover that I made which covers it. On the other side, I also have an air compressor. I am now replacing the maxitrac. Nothing wrong with it, just going with a dual which is a little bit smaller and built in pressure switch.

I wouldn't advise anybody to do what I did. But it works for me and doesn't get in the way of anything I'm loading in the bed. I do plan on getting a redarc in the future like @ShadowsPapa mentioned for both of the batteries.

Yea. I will do things that are borderline crazy. And cutting into the JT is no exception!???

I’m so glad I don’t have a sawzall! ? Diving in head and feet first…love it!!

But in all seriousness, I’ve heard of ppl putting a battery in space up in the wheel well. Is this that same space?

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