Use the deep cycle battery to power lights, radio etc when you camp. The cutoff switch ensures that you will not drain the battery that starts your engine.
Wire the deep cycle battery in parallel with the battery you use to start the truck:
With a cable as large as, or larger than, the starting battery positive cable, connect the positive pole of the starting battery with the positive pole of the deep cycle battery.
Ground the deep cycle battery.
Batteries wired in parallel will "level", just as water seeks its own level between two vessels of water connected with a pipe.
You will wire amenities ( 12V DC tent lights, radio, coffee pot etc) to the deep cycle battery.
My pal the career auto mechanic showed me a manual remote battery cut-out switch. This particular switch is made by Pollak Boston MA. No doubt there are many makers. Any hot rod or off-road shop will have them. This remote battery cut-out switch is as large as a medium potato, is totally enclosed and looks like a king-size manual gas tank selector. It has ON and OFF positions. It can be mounted anywhere you like. I will put mine in the positive cable between the two batteries.
Wire the battery cut-off switch into the cable connecting the positive poles of the two batteries. Turn the cut-off switch ON when you drive the truck so your alternator will bring both batteries to full charge. Turn battery cut-off switch OFF when you stop to camp. This isolates the deep cycle battery. This allows you to use the deep cycle battery to power tent lights etc; and prevents discharge of the starting battery.
The deep cycle battery need not be the same size as the starting battery. It may be as large as you wish.
Wire the deep cycle battery in parallel with the battery you use to start the truck:
With a cable as large as, or larger than, the starting battery positive cable, connect the positive pole of the starting battery with the positive pole of the deep cycle battery.
Ground the deep cycle battery.
Batteries wired in parallel will "level", just as water seeks its own level between two vessels of water connected with a pipe.
You will wire amenities ( 12V DC tent lights, radio, coffee pot etc) to the deep cycle battery.
My pal the career auto mechanic showed me a manual remote battery cut-out switch. This particular switch is made by Pollak Boston MA. No doubt there are many makers. Any hot rod or off-road shop will have them. This remote battery cut-out switch is as large as a medium potato, is totally enclosed and looks like a king-size manual gas tank selector. It has ON and OFF positions. It can be mounted anywhere you like. I will put mine in the positive cable between the two batteries.
Wire the battery cut-off switch into the cable connecting the positive poles of the two batteries. Turn the cut-off switch ON when you drive the truck so your alternator will bring both batteries to full charge. Turn battery cut-off switch OFF when you stop to camp. This isolates the deep cycle battery. This allows you to use the deep cycle battery to power tent lights etc; and prevents discharge of the starting battery.
The deep cycle battery need not be the same size as the starting battery. It may be as large as you wish.
