Need help with pros/cons and picking the best solution or a new one i haven’t thought of.

The problems..
- Don’t like always hot 12v for GPS
- ARE topper pulling juice for lights and power block
- Couldn’t start truck this week, started to have issues in -10F and got worse as we reached -30F
- My current jump box isn’t beefy enough for my truck. Worked fine with f150 and cars, but needs more juice for f250

What I would like:
- Bombproof starting capability
- Allowing aux items to run without concern for starting
- Better jump box, if not for my truck for others

Options:
- Bigger battery, move GPS to upfitter and get a bigger jump pack (might not work if I completely kill my main battery)
- Dual battery setup, isolator, move ARE connection to 2nd battery, move upfitter to second battery (don’t know if this is possible), could use cheaper batteries with less worry if it will start

Seems like a $300 option versus $1k. The only real benefit I can see to the second option is more juice. Typical voltage usage would be charging dog battery collars overnight, running air pump for minnow bucket or charging phone. Nothing crazy.

Thoughts?

 

 

a GPS draws about 1 amp... 12 hours is almost nothing for a starting battery

outside running lights is 1/2 amp per lamp.. this can add up over hours.

I was running 2 batteries.. in cars and trucks back in the 60's and 70's.. but I use said ,,to jump other cars as a part time business.

the "KEY" both batteries must be fully charged BEFORE connecting them together.

 

The guy on eBay makes a dual battery setup for the 2011-2016 6.2 trucks.

This is the stainless steel version

https://www.ebay.com/itm/DUAL-F-250-...frcectupt=true

Steel version

https://www.ebay.com/itm/11-12-13-14...NPb9:rk:7:pf:0

 

See my build thread for details.

 

A healthy start/charge system should be able to handle the task. Why not see if something not up to par before radically changing it up.

Ohm cables looking for high resistance
Clean ALL connections even the smaller ground wires on the fenders or firewall.
load test battery
bench test starter and solenoid
verify DC charging amps & volts

If any one thing is not good above, it will tax the whole system especially when it's that cold.

A high-quality battery and block heater are what Id invest in before tossing money at a dual battery set up.

 

Sounds like you just need a better battery. Also realize the colder the temperature the lower the performance. Your current draws are nothing a good battery can't handle. Consider the north start AGM.

 

Dave nice build. Did you move anything to run off the second battery?

 

Didn't move anything but have added new things like lights, winch, etc. to run off the 2nd. Also highly recommend the Blue Sea Systems Automatic Charging Relay for dummy-proof operation. You can also combine them by pushing a button to jump start your starting battery which I had to do once because my truck can sit for months. Now I also keep it attached to a tender.

 

Are you using upfitter switches? Is so how did you rewire to use the 2nd?