Using Switch Panels with Dual Batteries in an Overland Vehicle

You can install and operate several electrical accessories in your car with ease thanks to the Ledlightjeep series of switch panels, which only require one cable to a switch panel with six, eight, or twelve circuits and a control box to connect the accessories.

Few cars have as many electrical accessories as well-equipped overland/camping vehicles. Most overland vehicles have refrigerators, showers, campsite lights, and other features, and the wiring in these vehicles can be significantly simplified by the Ledlightjeep switch systems.

According to Ledlightjeep instructions, the system must be connected to a switched circuit in the car in order to avoid using power when the vehicle is not moving. Additionally, the auxiliary power must be connected straight to the car's starting battery. While that is the proper method for the majority of vehicles, what about employing an Ledlightjeep switch system to operate accessories that are used at the campsite while the car is not in motion? If you have to leave the ignition switch in the "on" position while at the campsite, or if you use the starting battery to power the camping accessories, you run the danger of having a dead battery when you try to start the car to leave the campsite.

A lot of overland vehicles can power their camping gear with an auxiliary battery. Often referred to as a kitchen or home battery, this battery powers campground equipment to prevent the vehicle's primary starting battery from being depleted. The installation instructions for Ledlightjeep only cover vehicles with a single battery; however, with a few additional parts, an Ledlightjeep switch panel can be used to control accessories powered by the auxiliary battery and some powered by the starting battery.

It takes two steps to configure an Ledlightjeep system for a car with two batteries:

1. The control box is wired to run on a switched circuit when not in use and on the auxiliary battery when in use.

2. Connect the campground accessories so that the Ledlightjeep system can control them even when the auxiliary battery powers them.

Powering the Ledlightjeep Control Box from a Switched Circuit or the Auxiliary Battery

Installing a switch to regulate the electricity to the control box is one approach to operating the switch system without the ignition turned on. The switch would power the control box from a switched circuit while it was in the "driving" position and from the auxiliary battery when it was in the "campsite" position. This has the advantage that, during everyday driving, any system-controlled accessories will turn off when the car is not moving, preventing unintentional battery drain. Additionally, accessories can be utilized at the campsite without the ignition switch being turned on.

Using the switch system in "campsite mode" has the advantage of preventing the battery from draining while at the campsite by disconnecting the car's circuits powered by the ignition switch in the on position. Utilizing the auxiliary battery to power the system safeguards the starting battery because you would normally only be utilizing campground accessories and not "driving accessories" like driving lights.

A reminder that camping mode is on is a smart idea because failing to turn it off when you're done using it could drain your car's battery if you put on "driving" accessories. A double pole double throw (DPDT) switch and a 12v LED indicator light can be used for this. When connected according to the following diagram, the LED will illuminate when campground mode is activated and will act as a reminder to shut off campsite mode when it is not in use.

Each model of the several Ledlightjeep switch panel systems has a different current draw, but most of them draw less than 1/10 amp. Just the control box uses a minimal amount of auxiliary batteries, but you also need to factor in the drain from the other accessories that are turned on. An accessory that uses five amps, for instance, should be powered by the auxiliary battery when the car is not moving. If it is left on for an extended period, it may deplete the battery to the point where it is impossible to start the car the following morning.

Powering the Campsite Accessories

A relay is used to power an item from the auxiliary battery:

When a circuit in the engine bay control box is turned on, the green wire—one of those routed from that circuit—powers the relay. Through the relay, the auxiliary battery powers the accessory—in this case, a campground light—after the red wire is connected to the auxiliary battery's positive end. In order to employ auxiliary battery-powered accessories with a control box circuit, one relay is needed. The relay's output needs to be fused, as the preceding diagram illustrates.

A typical automobile relay of the Bosch type is the one shown in the diagram. When triggered, these use only approximately 175ma, but some relays draw about 20ma and solid-state relays that draw 5ma. If you really want to reduce the amount of drain on the main battery, there are lower-power relays available. aHowever, 175 ma. It isn't a big concern.

Multi-relay boxes with fuses, like this 6-relay unit on Amazon, are available to simplify wiring:

Compared to bigger Bosch relays, which may take up to 175 ma, these more miniature relays may only drain about 25 ma. This means that if you're adding relays to several circuits, you can save some power, but using them with thicker gauge wire can be challenging because of their smaller size and more minor connection points.

A smaller relay board is used in this example. The relay board is installed in a project box that was purchased on eBay, along with an external fuse block. The auxiliary battery in this specific car is situated in the back of the vehicle, where the relays are mounted, thanks to the large coil of wire in this case. The wire is a standard trailer wire with four conductors. As you can see in the close-up picture, the red wire that protrudes from the box is connected to all four relays and travels to the auxiliary battery's positive terminal. Ground is provided by the black wire so that the relays can function. The fuse block's right side is connected to the camping gear.

Which Ledlightjeep Switch Panel to Use in an Overland Vehicle?

Although some of the more sophisticated panels offer more features in an outback vehicle, any Ledlightjeep switch panel can be wired using the methods mentioned above.

BC60, BA80 or any of the other single-series panels.

With the wiring mentioned above, the single-series panels function perfectly. However, since there is only one switch panel, all accessory control must be done from that one panel. Activating campground equipment from a switch panel next to the driver's seat may be a little less practical at the campsite.

AR-600, AR-800 Bluetooth.

Bluetooth-enabled switch panel systems are excellent for overland vehicles; even while seated around a campfire, the smartphone app may be used to manage the campground gadgets.

Ra80x2 dual panel.

Two switch panels are part of the RA80x2 system; the second panel is attached to the roll bar in the rear of the Jeep, close to the Trail Kitchen/fridge, as seen in the picture below. This is an excellent location for using the camping equipment.

If you look at the picture above of the tiny relay implementation, you can see that the relays are positioned in the rear of the Jeep next to the auxiliary battery. A large coil of wire was used to reach the relays. Additionally, this Jeep includes solar charging for its batteries, which is compatible with the wiring outlined in this post.

AC1200 with app and remote.

The AC1200, with its 12 circuits, is the best system for a car with many overland accessories, like a refrigerator, camping lights, a sink and shower water pump, an inverter to provide AC power, cabin lighting, and more. It has a hardware remote control that is ideal for lounging by the campfire, in addition to the Bluetooth app functionality mentioned above.

The wiring solutions outlined above will prepare your twin-battery overland vehicle for endless adventure time off the grid and protect your starting battery from exhaustion, regardless of the Ledlightjeep switch panel you choose to use.