Dual Battery

[bsamoul]

Hey guys, I'm thinking of doing a dual battery setup. I don't have a second battery tray right now, so if anyone knows where I could get one, or possibly give a link to know what I'm looking for that'd be great. It's going to go where the storage box is on the right. I think I get how to do it but if anyone has any pointers, that'd be swell. TIA

 

[newthom75]

I'm thinking of doing a dual battery setup also the info would help me too

 

[LowHo97]

You can get a universal tray at your local auto parts store for about ten bucks, then you buy a short ground cable that will reach to a secure bolt on your frame . Next run a long 6gauge or better positive cable to the positive side of your main battery. run this along top of your radiator support enclosed in black wire loom so it looks descent. lastly have a beer
LowHo97

 

[loulblades]

Hey guys, I'm thinking of doing a dual battery setup.

What are you trying to accomplish by adding a second battery? If you just want more current for starting, then connect the batteries in parallel as suggested by LowHo97. However if you want to separate the batteries, like I do, you need a battery isolator (or integrator) so leaving the acc. on doesn't drain the starter battery.

I don't have a second battery tray right now, so if anyone knows where I could get one, or possibly give a link to know what I'm looking for that'd be great.

I acquired my battery tray and isolator from http://www.wranglernw.com/. Unfortunatly they don't show just the Tahoe battery tray on line (only the kit which is pricey) but they did sell me just the tray after calling them (don't remember what I paid).

 

[newthom75]

However if you want to separate the batteries, like I do, you need a battery isolator (or integrator) so leaving the acc. on doesn't drain the starter battery.

ya iam going to do the batteries like you so i wont drain the starter battery . but what kind of isolator do i need i saw the isolaters on the wranglers web site but i know that there is diff amps what amp is the right amp and how do you know

 

[newthom75]

i found some sites this mornning

Battery Isolator

http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/rv-converters/dual-battery-isolator.htm
http://www.emarineinc.com/products/alternators/isolators.html

Battery tray

http://www.latemodelrestoration.com/iwwida.pvx?;item?item_no=CTP-10732E 1&comp=LRS

 

[bsamoul]

I am thinking of using this as my isolator

 

[loulblades]

I am thinking of using this as my isolator

Actually that is the isolator that I have because I have a 190 amp alternator. You need to first determine what size alternator you have before buying the isolator.

 

[bsamoul]

I have the stock alternator, should I upgrade that? How hard a job is that anyway? Plus I don't know what amp to get either. I'm just going to be running two amplifiers for speakers and subs and maybe more lights in the future.

 

[loulblades]

I have the stock alternator, should I upgrade that?

You would need to do an analysis on how much extra current you need and the output of your current alt. (ie: which "stock" alt. you have) before making that decision. You might want to take a look over in the Audio... section for some help.

How hard a job is that anyway?

Not too difficult but you may need to upgrade some of your wiring.

Plus I don't know what amp to get either. I'm just going to be running two amplifiers for speakers and subs and maybe more lights in the future.

Again look in the other section I mentioned.

 

[qlc1964]

i made the bracket for my system bat.
get the tray from the dealer and the bat lock down hardware. theres also a bracket
that screws into the wheel well that holds the tray in it's place BUTthat little part was
$ 70.00 thats why i made my own out of the angle iron with all the holes in it.

easyer to use carrige bolts to hold it together.

and as for the isolator use a high amp seloniod . they come in 80amp and 200 amp
by stinger .

i have a 124 amp alt (upgrade next yr) charging the two bat for my system with the
stinger 200 between them.
when the system is playing the seloniod connects the batteries together and when off
separates the two so they won't discharge each other.

look in audio&video on this forum for other answered questions

 

[bsamoul]

Why use a solenoid over an isolator?

 

[loulblades]

Why use a solenoid over an isolator?

Here are a few articles (among many out there) that you might want to take a look at:

http://www.bcae1.com/battiso.htm

http://www.geocities.com/harald_nancy/isolator.htm

 

[bsamoul]

I guess my question is kind of this: If I hook an isolator in between the two batteries, theorhetically won't the electronics drain the accessory battery and leave the starter battery untouched? That is what I've gathered by reading the posts on this forum. Once I start the car again, the alternator, stock, will charge both of them.

 

[loulblades]

I guess my question is kind of this: If I hook an isolator in between the two batteries, theorhetically won't the electronics drain the accessory battery and leave the starter battery untouched? That is what I've gathered by reading the posts on this forum. Once I start the car again, the alternator, stock, will charge both of them.

All this is correct. However if you are running your "monster" music system (and lighting and whatever else) while driving down the road the stock alternator may not be able to keep up (most likely will, if it is not too wild, but I have also seen/heard of dual alts. being used to power these systems). That is why you need to determine how much current you actually need for all your goodies (along with running the truck).

So in a worst case scenario you are cruising down the road with your hi-beams on (and all aux lighting) and listening to your sound system at full blast (and maybe you are towing a trailer etc...) and you want your alternator to keep up.

 

[bsamoul]

True.. I don't have a monster sound system by any means. I don't even like my music loud, I just want to have clearer audio. I took out my two big lights, and am just going to put two small fog lights in where the tow hooks used to be. As of now that's all the mods I'm planning on doing.

 

[qlc1964]

you lose more needed volts going through the isolator and it turns to heat that's
why you see them heat fins on the side of them.

the selonoid is not packed with diodes it's like the old ford starter selonoid on the
fender wall but a lot bigger to handle the current coming through it.

also i've did the dual alt on my yukon it works perfect.

 

[96ProCompTahoe]

so if your running dual alt's do you just wire one to each or do they both feed both batteries?

i plan on putting dual batteries in the hoe one of these days to power all the offroad lights.

 

[bsamoul]

so if your running dual alt's do you just wire one to each or do they both feed both batteries?

i plan on putting dual batteries in the hoe one of these days to power all the offroad lights.

Wouldn't both batteries have to be hooked together at some point to feed power back and forth and run accessories and the truck?

 

[qlc1964]

nah!! the org alt justs charge the the truck batt and the sec alt charges the two batts
for my system i have the other batt tucked up in the rear pass in the little cubie hole

behind the leaf spring above the tail pipe. basically i have two separate charging systems:yesnod: