Dual Battery Set Up Help Needed Please
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From: Ozarks
Dual Battery Set Up Help Needed Please
1985 F250 4WD, 460. It has the dual battery set up, although it is running off of just one at this point. I do intend to restore the original set up for camping, winch etc. My question is this. The big switch **** on the passenger side, under the hood, has OFF, -, and BOTH on it. No where in the books I have does it really explain what is what with this thing. Would some one kindly give me an explanation of what each setting does or does not accomplish? Thanks.
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From: West Valley City
Can you post a pic? It might be better to understand. Is there any wires exposed? If there is, where do they go, can you trace them?
Last edited by billt28; Apr 10, 2011 at 05:08 PM. Reason: additional questions.
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From: Ozarks
No pics possible, sorry. One battery has a negative grounded to the block, and a positive to the solenoid. There are two other battery cables coming from the switch. I am currently using the block,solenoid cables. The other two are just laying there very lonely looking. This is the same standard dual battery set up I have seen elsewhere, I just don't know where to switch to and for what purpose once the other battery is in place. When are both charging? When am I drawing off of just one? etc. Anyone have this factory option and use it?
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From: West Valley City
Well I would assume they would charge constantly. Have you ran the vehicle with the switch on both? Have you put another battery in the other holder to see what happens? I'm just wondering if the battery was removed because someone disconnected something, or did some work on the second system, and messed something up. Maybe it just died and the second system is fine.
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From: Ozarks
I am probably going to go through a whole lot of gyrations with this thing, unless. Unless someone actually has some experience with the factory set up, and is willing to let me (and others) know what the settings are for. Anyone?
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From: Virginia
I agree. What makes you think this dual battery install is factory?
Cargo Master
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1985 F250 4WD, 460. It has the dual battery set up, although it is running off of just one at this point. I do intend to restore the original set up for camping, winch etc. My question is this. The big switch **** on the passenger side, under the hood, has OFF, -, and BOTH on it. No where in the books I have does it really explain what is what with this thing. Would some one kindly give me an explanation of what each setting does or does not accomplish? Thanks.
Its designed to give an additional battery for the uses I mentioned and more so for camping so one has a fresh battery to start the pickup.
Cargo Master
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When I am under the hood of my pickup again this wknd I'll send a pic. Mine is a camper edition and I believe this switch is factory... It is about 3-4 inches round,with knurled edges, on the passenger side near the blower motor, right battery and solenoid area.
Post Fiend
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From: Northern California
The Factory setup used a isolation relay, Ford calls it a "Accessory Safety Relay", simular to the looks of a starter solenoid.
When the truck is on, the relay connects both batteries to the charging system.
When the truck is off, the auxillery battery is isolated.
Not sure about the dealer kit, but would think it simular.
If this on-off switch is a Ford Part, it will have an engineering number on it.
I'm likely to agree with Franklin and CTUBUTIS, that it is an aftermarket addition unless it has a Ford engineering number on it.
When the truck is on, the relay connects both batteries to the charging system.
When the truck is off, the auxillery battery is isolated.
Not sure about the dealer kit, but would think it simular.
If this on-off switch is a Ford Part, it will have an engineering number on it.
I'm likely to agree with Franklin and CTUBUTIS, that it is an aftermarket addition unless it has a Ford engineering number on it.