P500 Battery Isolator

[ScottA58]

My 2025 520 is supposed to be delivered in August and I am in the planning stages for what I am going to add to it. The accessories I will be installing that require power are a Warn Axon winch, front LED lightbar, and rear cube lights. I plan on installing a second battery under the hood.
How many of you guys with a second battery have it wired to an isolator?
I have been in a low voltage industry for 40 years, so I see both some pros and cons of using an isolator when wiring in these accessories. Those who are using an isolator, please tell me why you installed it and those who just wired the batteries together in parallel, why did you go that route.
TIA

 

[Admin]

 

[Hondasxs]

Many of us run isolated systems.
So you're considering isolated vs. parallel and why.

For the 500, the use case is totally different than the Pioneer 1000 and Talon.
With the 1000, the goal of an isolator system is to keep the primary battery at 12v+ at all times.
As such, when you pull the winch load, the isolator disconnects and leaves the primary alone, leaving 12v for the "system".
The 500 doesn't really have all that much electronics to require this.

With that said, you will have to make that decision. I guess a few things come to mind.
- How often will you be riding alone? = consider isolated.
- How often will you be using key-off power? = consider isolated.
- Do you expect to use your winch about every adventure out? (and you answered no to the above)... then parallel.

No issue either way, really.

 

[Scoop]

If I go through the hassle and expense of adding a second battery wired in parallel into any type of motor vehicle that, from the factory, comes with only a single battery, there's no way I'm NOT going to install an isolator while doing so. The only way I would NOT do that would be if that vehicle would never be far from home, such as being used on a farm, ranch, or otherwise not in the middle of BFE with a long walk back to civilization.

The purpose of the isolator is to preserve the primary battery in the event something happens to the secondary battery. While this could be something that's willingly but unintentionally (e.g., running down the battery while listening to the radio or using a high-draw device while the key is off), it could also be something unexpected like a short in the wiring or battery that would, without an isolator, drag BOTH batteries down.

You're adding new/additional points of failure to your electrical system, and a failure of any of these new points of failure could not only bring down your auxiliary battery, but your primary as well.

Personally, I consider it little more than "cheap insurance".

 

[trigger]

Makes sense on a P1 but it's not necessary on the 500. Been running two in parallel for over 8 yrs, that's using the winch for plowing every winter, having a stereo that'll split your skull and about every other electronic gizmo available.
As for having a short when out in the middle of BFE by yourself, that can happen with a single battery as well, fuse your accessories and carry a jump pack... it's cheap insurance.
As for running the battery down listening to the radio with the key off... duh... but again use the jump pack.

 

[Scoop]

I'm sure 99% of the buggies with dual batteries could likely get away with NOT running an isolator, too. But then we'd have to find something else to waste our money on! 😆

 

[flynnwalter]

Scott et al:
40 yrs experience for us to gain from! Just got our new 520 and would like some advice. Hoping to just add a jump pack that can power/use gps, phones. (No 12v outlet on the 2025) Why would we need another battery if we have a jumper? No radio, no winch. Suggestions?
Frank & Jeannie

 

[Scoop]

A jump pack would only be used to jump start your buggy if the battery runs down, @flynnwalter.

If you're not planning on adding accessories, you won't need a 2nd battery. However, adding a 12v outlet for a few USB devices is about as easy of a mod as one could do.

 

[flynnwalter]

Thanks, Scoop. I hope to run my gps on its own battery, and my phones can be charged before riding in Osceola Nat'l Forest--close to our home. We are both in 70's and do not plan for very long rides. NOCO Boost XL GB50 1500 Amp 12-Volt UltraSafe Lithium Jump Starter Box, Car Battery Booster Pack, Portable Power Bank Charger, and Jumper Cables for up to 7-Liter Gasoline and 4-Liter Diesel Engines seems to have capability to charge electronics. First trip will be with grandson and his giant jeep with automatic everything. Lotsa mud we will try to avoid. Plans will change if we need a winch.

 

[Neohio]

Scott et al:
40 yrs experience for us to gain from! Just got our new 520 and would like some advice. Hoping to just add a jump pack that can power/use gps, phones. (No 12v outlet on the 2025) Why would we need another battery if we have a jumper? No radio, no winch. Suggestions?
Frank & Jeannie

Reading this concerned me for a minute and sent me down a rabbit hole!
I found some dealer pics of the 2025 520 dash, there is a 12v cigarette/power port.

Although that could be a dealer installed winch plug.
@flynnwalter can you share a picture of your dash?

@Hondasxs this might be an opportunity for a new product if that is a winch port pictured.
@Hello_Darkness any chance you can pull a wiring diagram and confirm/deny a 12v power port exists?

 

[futzin]

That's where it has always been. It's easy to miss. I doubt they've changed it in any way.

 

[flynnwalter]

Reading this concerned me for a minute and sent me down a rabbit hole!
I found some dealer pics of the 2025 520 dash, there is a 12v cigarette/power port.
View attachment 439138

Although that could be a dealer installed winch plug.
@flynnwalter can you share a picture of your dash?

@Hondasxs this might be an opportunity for a new product if that is a winch port pictured.
@Hello_Darkness any chance you can pull a wiring diagram and confirm/deny a 12v power port exists?

 

[flynnwalter]

Reading this concerned me for a minute and sent me down a rabbit hole!
I found some dealer pics of the 2025 520 dash, there is a 12v cigarette/power port.
View attachment 439138

Although that could be a dealer installed winch plug.
@flynnwalter can you share a picture of your dash?

@Hondasxs this might be an opportunity for a new product if that is a winch port pictured.
@Hello_Darkness any chance you can pull a wiring diagram and confirm/deny a 12v power port exists?

Scott, neohio et al
In the immortal word of Chief Thunderthud: Cowabunga! (youngsters think talking cartoon turtles) We have a 12v plug! Inquiring minds want to know--Scott now knows--and thanks to him. So now, my come my excuses. Oh, hell never mind.

 

[flynnwalter]

Reading this concerned me for a minute and sent me down a rabbit hole!
I found some dealer pics of the 2025 520 dash, there is a 12v cigarette/power port.
View attachment 439138

Although that could be a dealer installed winch plug.
@flynnwalter can you share a picture of your dash?

@Hondasxs this might be an opportunity for a new product if that is a winch port pictured.
@Hello_Darkness any chance you can pull a wiring diagram and confirm/deny a 12v power port exists?

 

[Scoop]

Scott, neohio et al
In the immortal word of Chief Thunderthud: Cowabunga! (youngsters think talking cartoon turtles) We have a 12v plug! Inquiring minds want to know--Scott now knows--and thanks to him. So now, my come my excuses. Oh, hell never mind.

View attachment 439172

If you don't want to cut a hole and install a separate USB charging port, grab one of these for your phones and such:

 

[Neohio]

Scott, neohio et al
In the immortal word of Chief Thunderthud: Cowabunga! (youngsters think talking cartoon turtles) We have a 12v plug! Inquiring minds want to know--Scott now knows--and thanks to him. So now, my come my excuses. Oh, hell never mind.

View attachment 439172

Glad you found it. I was a bit worried for a few minutes. Dumber things have happened.

 

[flynnwalter]

If you don't want to cut a hole and install a separate USB charging port, grab one of these for your phones and such:

View attachment 439189

Thanks. I had several of these devices and decided to let them go to the new owner of our beloved motorhome. Hindsight...

 

[Scoop]

Thanks. I had several of these devices and decided to let them go to the new owner of our beloved motorhome. Hindsight...

They work OK on the SXS, but with all the jostling around, sometimes they can be a PITA to keep in the socket. That's one reason I added a permanent outlet with 3 USB ports (two -A and one -C).

 

[flynnwalter]

They work OK on the SXS, but with all the jostling around, sometimes they can be a PITA to keep in the socket. That's one reason I added a permanent outlet with 3 USB ports (two -A and one -C).

Scoop
Thanks for the tip.
Frank

 

[John Mc]

I put one of USB-A, USB-C, and voltmeter in my antique truck (I like the fact that it's covered when not in use in that truck). Probably going to add one to my P520 one of these days:

Amazon.com

 

[flynnwalter]

John Mc: cool--thanks!