Sprinter auxiliary battery hookup
- Thread starter Marty
- Start date
paullud
Veteran Expediter
I wouldn't hook the inverter up to the auxiliary battery. I would get a spare battery or even a few and run the inverter off of them, you don't want to stress a battery you may need to start the Sprinter. If you do run it off of the battery you should be hooking it up directly to the battery according to the installation kits I have seen.
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paullud
Veteran Expediter
How do they isolate them? I have a Ford diesel and they are connected, at least I thought they were when I looked at the wiring.
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RLENT
Veteran Expediter
Typically (OEM at least) they are connected with a relay - a large electro-magnetic switch, very similar to the "starter solenoid" used on (old) Fords.
When charging voltage is present, the relay ties the aux battery to the starting bat and alternator for charging. Once the vehicle is shutoff, the relay opens, preventing discharge from the starting battery while the auxiliary battery is used.
They are connected in your truck, so you have 2 cranking batteries, not an auxillary.
paullud
Veteran Expediter
OK thanks, good deal now I just have to figure out which one is the auxiliary battery and hope I lucked into hooking my inverter wires up so I can use it.
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Did you buy the van new? If you did and haven't added an isolater, then they're both cranking batteries tied together. If you bought it used, someone may have modified it. I'd recommend leaving both batteries tied together. When it's cold you want that cranking power. My van had one battery under the hood and one on the frame, when they went to the 6.0 they put them both on the frame. I hooked my inverter to the one under the hood and just made sure to start it often for some charge. An auxiliary is a real good idea, no worries.
paullud
Veteran Expediter
So just because there are 2 batteries it doesn't mean that 1 is an auxiliary? Is the auxiliary battery the OP talking about just specific to Sprinters then?
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RLENT
Veteran Expediter
Star,
Probably not the case if it's a Sprinter - the only way they came from the factory with two batts is with one as an aux, separated with a relay.
That's what I'm sayin'. It may be a factory option with a Sprinter, I don't know.
Monty
Expert Expediter
Well, I know.
Sprinters come with ONE battery, (unless you order it differently), that battery, (main) is under your feet in the drivers compartment.
I have a Midway Conversion sleeper unit, THEY installed the additional battery under the hood. It is indeed isolated via an electrical hook up as described above.
The power to my 1800 watt inverter is wired directly to this under the hood battery, as is the exhaust fan, and sleeper lighting.
Midway, as a certified rebuilder, did not alter anything of the original configuration, instead bringing all their power requirements with them, in the form of that aux battery under the hood.
Sprinters come with ONE battery, (unless you order it differently), that battery, (main) is under your feet in the drivers compartment.
I have a Midway Conversion sleeper unit, THEY installed the additional battery under the hood. It is indeed isolated via an electrical hook up as described above.
The power to my 1800 watt inverter is wired directly to this under the hood battery, as is the exhaust fan, and sleeper lighting.
Midway, as a certified rebuilder, did not alter anything of the original configuration, instead bringing all their power requirements with them, in the form of that aux battery under the hood.