Another dual battery / alternator question

[rnrphantom Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close rnrphantom]

Hi,
I have a 2016 GXL with 120 Ah Full River spare battery set up in drifta drawer cavity, fed from a VSR. I was at auto elec’s on another matter and asked if I needed a charger to overcome the “smart” alternator and was told that if you run with headlights on, the alternator would not go into smart mode as there is constant drain from the lights.
Any thoughts on this? The dual battery runs a 40l Engel.
About to do some extended touring and want the system to work at the best it can.
cheers

[LeighW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LeighW]

I would seek out an auto electrician that actually knows what he is talking about. You could go with either a DCDC or fit a booster diode, AGM's don't like high charge rates so you need to take that into consideration.

[404pug Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 404pug]

Leigh, have you found a way to make the booster diode work on 2.8 s like this 2016? My 2016 GX has a 105 amp deep cycle under the bonnet and is charged by a vsr. Wired to run an old 40 l Engel in the back and to the towbar. The camper has a 10 year old agm battery with a 20 amp dcdc to kick it along. All seems to work well. Don't know if this all fits the theory but does seem to keep all 3 batteries charged.