Genesis DIY Dual Battery Setup with Dakota Lithium Battery

[DMSCS]

Just completed my custom dual battery setup using the @genesisoffroad Genesis off-road DIY kit. Funny enough they have just started selling something similar branded as their Omega system, but it is only available for Jeep right now. If you want simplicity, the full Genesis dual battery kit is probably the best way to go, but I wanted more capacity and flexibility to charge with a solar panel. So I went with an AGM Odyssey battery + Dakota Lithium 135ah (This is literally the only battery I could find with the right size to fit).

I found out that the Renogy DC-DC/MPPT 50A charger fit almost perfectly inside the Genesis battery tray lid. This allowed me to keep most of the electronics contained inside the Genesis tray. Note that you do need to buy the plastic lid cover separately for $20, and I had to trim the right side to clear part of the Renogy charger. The batteries were a very tight fit and I also had to trim some plastic on wire channeling to gain a little clearance.

I decided to swap the 12v port in the cargo area with a Blue Sea Systems 12v panel and voltmeter running directly off the secondary battery. This gets around any timeouts with the factory ports and avoids draining the cranking battery. Next I plan to run a 1000 watt inverter to provide additional 120v power points.


There were lots of additional small parts, fuses, etc that I had to source but here are the main components:
https://www.genesisoffroad.com/products/2021-ford-bronco-diy-kit_p_312

https://www.genesisoffroad.com/prod...rt?_pos=1&_psq=replacement+cover&_ss=e&_v=1.0

https://www.genesisoffroad.com/products/performance-group-25

https://dakotalithium.com/product/d...ar-truck-battery-plus-deep-cycle-performance/

https://www.renogy.com/renogy-12v-24v-ip67-50a-dc-dc-battery-charger-with-mppt/

https://www.renogy.com/100-watt-12-volt-monocrystalline-solar-panel-compact-design/

https://a.co/d/0HIDZGv

https://a.co/d/0sfRDkj

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[Gtrekker]

Just completed my custom dual battery setup using the @genesisoffroad Genesis off-road DIY kit. Funny enough they have just started selling something similar branded as their Omega system, but it is only available for Jeep right now. If you want simplicity, the full Genesis dual battery kit is probably the best way to go, but I wanted more capacity and flexibility to charge with a solar panel.

I found out that the Renogy DC-DC/MPPT 50A charger fit almost perfectly inside the Genesis battery tray lid. This allowed me to keep most of the electronics contained inside the Genesis tray. Note that you do need to buy the plastic lid cover separately for $20, and I had to trim the right side to clear part of the Renogy charger. The batteries were a very tight fit and I also had to trim some plastic on wire channeling to gain a little clearance.

I decided to swap the 12v port in the cargo area with a Blue Sea Systems 12v panel and voltmeter running directly off the secondary battery. This gets around any timeouts with the factory ports and avoids draining the cranking battery. Next I plan to run a 1000 watt inverter to provide additional 120v power points.


There were lots of additional small parts, fuses, etc that I had to source but here are the main components:
https://www.genesisoffroad.com/products/2021-ford-bronco-diy-kit_p_312

https://www.genesisoffroad.com/prod...rt?_pos=1&_psq=replacement+cover&_ss=e&_v=1.0

https://www.genesisoffroad.com/products/performance-group-25

https://dakotalithium.com/product/d...ar-truck-battery-plus-deep-cycle-performance/

https://www.renogy.com/renogy-12v-24v-ip67-50a-dc-dc-battery-charger-with-mppt/

https://www.renogy.com/100-watt-12-volt-monocrystalline-solar-panel-compact-design/

https://a.co/d/0HIDZGv

https://a.co/d/0sfRDkj

Nice build!!!

 

[ScLeCo]

Huh. I thought using a lithium with an AGM was a no go.

 

[DMSCS]

Huh. I thought using a lithium with an AGM was a no go.

It is if you directly connect them. The key is the DC-DC charger in between the batteries

 

[Cobrafang]

So where are you connecting the + lead from AGM battery to the DC-DC charger? I can't seem to find it in the pictures. I assume it is just wired in to one of the available bus points on the AGM + factory connector?

 

[RagnarKon]

So where are you connecting the + lead from AGM battery to the DC-DC charger? I can't seem to find it in the pictures. I assume it is just wired in to one of the available bus points on the AGM + factory connector?

It's not shown, but the red wire on the charger with the fuse in-line it would come from the AGM battery (effectively the alternator, which is probably why the cable is wired "Alt +").

The brown wire with the fuse on it would go to the lithium battery.

 

[Brian_B]

Looks nice / interested to hear performance

 

[RagnarKon]

Nice setup!

I had no idea they had DIY kits... wonder if those are new.

Been trying to convince myself to buy the dual battery setup, but the need for Group 25 batteries is kind of a bummer. Not Genesis' fault obviously, best you can do with the space constraint. Just not a super common battery size.

BUT... I wonder if the @genesisoffroad DIY kit & battery tray would work with the factory 94R battery. Having that "hat" on the battery with space for a tiny fuse box and/or the bus bar would be absolutely perfect for what I need.

 

[DMSCS]

So where are you connecting the + lead from AGM battery to the DC-DC charger? I can't seem to find it in the pictures. I assume it is just wired in to one of the available bus points on the AGM + factory connector?

Yeah sorry for not posting more pics, a lot of stuff is hard to see or hidden. The charger connects to the positive bus bar.

 

[DMSCS]

Nice setup!

I had no idea they had DIY kits... wonder if those are new.

Been trying to convince myself to buy the dual battery setup, but the need for Group 25 batteries is kind of a bummer. Not Genesis' fault obviously, best you can do with the space constraint. Just not a super common battery size.

BUT... I wonder if the @genesisoffroad DIY kit & battery tray would work with the factory 94R battery. Having that "hat" on the battery with space for a tiny fuse box and/or the bus bar would be absolutely perfect for what I need.

The factory battery fits into the tray but it's a very loose fit. You would probably need to make some brackets to hold it down.

 

[TLO]

Is that tray really $360?
And do you have to replace the factory battery for their AGM?

 

[TLO]

Huh. I thought using a lithium with an AGM was a no go.

Technically, they're not tied together I don't think... At least, that's how I have mine setup.
The charge management for the lithium battery is handled by the Renogy DC-DC controller (same one I use) and not directly from the Bronco's alternator.
I think he also has it wired directly to the Blue Sea cig lighter ports at the back.

 

[NC_Oak]

cool battery bits and bobbles. However, I LOVE the diamand plate in the cargo area. I kinda wanna do that now but use black. Thanks for the inspiration!

 

[Gettyup]

Yeah sorry for not posting more pics, a lot of stuff is hard to see or hidden. The charger connects to the positive bus bar.

My question is how and where did you run the wireing for the solar panel?

 

[DMSCS]

cool battery bits and bobbles. However, I LOVE the diamand plate in the cargo area. I kinda wanna do that now but use black. Thanks for the inspiration!

Thank you! That platform took a lot of work to build. It's multiple pieces that fit together so I can remove the front part to put the seats back in. I do plan to get the platform powder coated, I just haven't gotten around to it.

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