I believe this has been addressed in threads. The short answer is your van should have an AGM battery, mine does. You can do just what you are thinking. Several here have.

 

thanks! I've read a bunch of threads but didn't pick up explicitly that the start battery was AGM
good news!
now I'll go reread those threads and get some advice on a smart isolator!

 

Buy the ACR by blue sea and be done. It works amazingly well.

 

http://www.hodgesmarine.com/Blue-Se...pcstrkid=1565162769&click=19&ppcsclkid=3mZJolfxdrQm&ppcsu=xhg7f5djqeniramsegdoh

 

http://www.hodgesmarine.com/Blue-Se...pcstrkid=1565162769&click=19&ppcsclkid=3mZJolfxdrQm&ppcsu=xhg7f5djqeniramsegdoh

that looks good, was it hard to tap into the start switch?

 

My 2014 gas appears to be wet cell. Charging maxes at about 14.3V, but my Trojan AGM's need 14.7-8V for a full charge. One factor in the decision to add solar.

 

that was my concern, the different charge profiles
I'm gonna go dig my battery out and see if I can tell
thanks

 

What you really need to know is whether the alternator charging profile is sufficient for your AGM's. For that, you need a meter.

 

My 14 is flooded

 

I just took a look at my 2014 PM battery. part # 68192809AA, a discontinued part so couldn't find much on it.
I believe it is maintenance free but it has Phillips head screws ports on each cell and it is vented out the side and down out of the battery compartment, so, my guess is maintenance free flooded. I need to take a look with a meter to see what kind of voltage charge is applied.

 

My battery is similar with flush caps and vent tube. I think that where caps are present it would be foolish not to occasionally check the level of the electrolyte - once a year or so sounds about right and vary the interval based on how much distilled water you add. The highest voltage I see from my alternator is around 14.3 volts (Ultragauge on the OBD II port).

 

Looks like lots of overkill to me.... 500 amps? or 300 AMPS depending on which line of the description you read...

Twice the price of a Battery Doctor! My Battery Doctor has worked fine for the past year and a half charging 2 100Ah AGM batteries with the stock alternator in my 2014 PM

Just an FYI,
Ed

 

This is what I use when I need it. Works fine no problems at all and $71 from Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000OTIPDQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

This is what I use when I need it. Works fine no problems at all and $71 from Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000OTIPDQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

that one says "supports high output alternators up to 120 Amps"
how did you conclude it was ok for 180/220 amp PM?


looks good if it works

 

Umm, because it's worked fine for over two years on my Promaster.

 

If both types of battery are supplied in the van it would be interesting to know if the charging program is different. AGM batteries do spec a different charging regimen. When we do replace the van’s battery it might be good to do a same type replacement if there is a difference in charge. My house batteries are FLA, the starting battery an AGM but I seldom actually connect them as my solar charges the house battery wonderfully with the correct fill and float, and the alternator does the starting battery as FCA programed it.
Here is the AGM, notice no caps:

 

RD, it would be interesting to know your van's charging profile.