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This is on my newish to me 7.3 van. I finally got a pair of agm batteries. I need room under the hood so i can upgrade from the stock air filters. I have room and want to place one battery between thr passenger seat and bulkhead. Alright bare with me. Wiring is not my strong point. As its wired now the main (underhood battery) has leads that run to the starter and starter solenoid. The frame rail battery has leads that run to the main battery. One grounds to starter and the other on the front of the block. Edit i believe both batteries have a lead to the start solenoid. Ive looked at wiring diagrams and for fsake it doesnt look anything like the rig. 🤔
Can both batteries ground to the same point?
Can both batteries + lead mount to the starter or should the frame rail battery retain its leads that run to the main battery?
The stock air filter setup is crap on the vans. And its in the way of maintaining anything.
Both batteries can share a common ground. Both batteries can share a + lead, either at ta battery or the starter.
How much work would it be to mount the primary battery next to the frame mounted battery?
It's already wired, just install another in parallel to the frame mounted battery. If you can handle building a battery mount your done.
Buy the Ford battery boxes for the Ford E-Series E-350 6.0L diesel application (use 2005 model year as an ordering template).
If still available, buy the Ford wiring harnesses that will make it all happen easy peasy for an OEM install. If not available, or prohibitively expensive, at least study the Ford E-Series charge and starter wiring diagrams for 2005 to get an idea of the general principles that Ford used when mounting both batteries to the passenger side frame rail.
Avoid having batteries in the passenger compartment / cabin. Even recombinant valve regulated AGM batteries. AGM batteries still have vents, they are just a lot smaller, and less visible. Under certain conditions, they can still outgas, just not nearly as much as flooded wet cell lead acid batteries. If the interior of your van or E-Series cutaway is not continuously vented outside at all times, there are some health risks that can be averted altogether by following Ford's example and frame mounting the batteries.
Below is the Ford charging stud for E series cutaway frame mounted batteries, to illustrate the advantages of becoming familiar with Ford's implementation.
That would be so much easier. Only negative to this is charging if i kill the batteries or giving someone a jump or myself needed a jump. I guess if i have the leads running under the hood i can save them for charging/jumping. Any drawbacks to this setup?
Thanks for the help!
edit...y2k57
i must type slooooww. I just saw your response. Thanks for the advise.
I have followed Fins diy projects. I like what he has done. But for the work i do mounting the batteries in the cargo area probably isnt wise.
I do like the 6.0 configuration. I doubt i can find that oem wiring. I saw a photo of it on sporstmobiles and it would be great. Seeing that setup helped me alot. I was over complicating it.
I think the most effient route for me is to mount the main battery on the frame. And use the existing cables under the hood for charging/jumping.
These posts under the hood are handy for jumping..
Final solution for my batteries is to sink them under the floor around spare tire location.And keep the access from inside of the van.
Hey Finn, I’ve been gathering parts to do a similar intake setup like what you’ve done. Did you have to add any cables? Or did you just hook both batteries to the existing + cable in the back and call it good?
The Finlander hasn’t been around for a bit. I figured I’d give him a day to respond?
What i know about his setup. He moved both batteries to the rear cargo area, I think relocated the windshield squirty and removed the ac compressor. I tried to just get close to his setup wo losing any modern conveniences. I bought a couple smaller filters that still wouldn’t work, I gave up. I had mounted both batteries to the frame rail. And have since returned them back to factory. What I learned is these vans are a pita from factory for me it’s best not to make some things more difficult.
He would have had to run some heavy cables back to the back corner/his new battery location. Good luck with your diesel van.
I was getting ready to make the same post! Ha! I relocated my relay to where the engine compartment battery was and now I’m going to make a tray and put them on the frame.
my only consideration toward the grounds was the one going from the ground terminal to the chassis (it was bolted to the inner side of the front right fender well) and that I would keep the same point(s) grounded when I relocated the battery.
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