Dual battery setup question

[ofnaman]

How do you guy's have your dual batteries hooked up? Thanks

[Longhorn Man]

I have the positive to positive, then down to the starter, one neg to the frame, and one neg to the engine.
End result is 12 volts, and double amps.

[djracer]

just tie the positives together and ground each battery and you are good. I have hooked up hundreds this way. This is how every diesel on the road is hooked up.

[d10s69c10]

Agreed with above but there is also a switch you can get in between the setup (cant remember the name) that basicly lets the car run off of one battery until there is a extreme load ie:starting winches sound systems, that engages when neccicary so you dont put a large load on alternator when it isnt needed..

[john]

Heres a diagram if anyone wants it.

[LONGHAIR]

Originally Posted by d10s69c10

Agreed with above but there is also a switch you can get in between the setup (cant remember the name) that basicly lets the car run off of one battery until there is a extreme load ie:starting winches sound systems, that engages when neccicary so you dont put a large load on alternator when it isnt needed..

It sounds like you are refering to an "Isolator", but that is there to keep the batteries of two "essentially independant" 12v systems charged from the same alternator.
One battery running starter, ignition,.... basic functions
Auxillary battery running accessory stuff....Winch, lights, amps, etc

The idea being that if you run the aux battery down with other equipment, it still starts.....and if you happen to run the starter battery down you could "jump" from the aux.

This does not double amperage or voltage though.

[Sicmaro]

mine i just ran each positive to the starter and grounded each to the block.

my old Tahoe i got a continuous running solenoid and ran the batteries to it. it isolated the batteries when off and charged both when running. also run a toggle switch to the inside and you can jump start your self from your second battery.

[67_C-30]

I have been running dual batteries in my '69 C-30 ramp truck for about 6 years now, and I have never had to replace the alternator.

[ofnaman]

I decided to buy an isolator. I got a Sure Power one (they actulally invented them). It basically, like previously stated, runs two batteries seperatly. One runs the normal vehicle functions, and one is for aftermarket stuff. The isolator detects which battery needs charged and automatically switches between the two to charge. The benefit is that you are not overtaxing the alternator and if you are parked (vehicle off, thus, shutting off one battery) you can use up all of the juice in one battery and still start the vehicle. I have been looking for this setup for a while, but I could only find $200 kits. My co-worker had one of these in his tool box, so I google'd it and found their website. I then had my parts department get me one from an aftermarket parts store locally. I went with a 120 amp model and it was only $60. I was going to do a 95 amp model which was only $45 but they did not have one locally.

[djracer]

I have never had good luck with isolators! If I was gonna seperate the two I would use a 200 amp relay or a continuous duty solenoid and just seperate the two when the key was off

[LUV2XCLR8]

Subscribed so I will remember this

I ran an Isolater when I competed
in USAC and IASCA and all it did 4
me was make me eat alternators.

[69long"n"low]

In boats they run isolators and battery switches all the time with no harm to alternators

[djracer]

I put tons of big stereo's in boats and most have pergo switches but I have only seen 1 boat with an Isolator!

I put 10000 worth in a 47ft fountain at the beginning of last summer an I just just finished a 35 ft also.

[68GMCCustom]

Pergo? isn't it Perko?

[djracer]

Originally Posted by 68GMCCustom

Pergo? isn't it Perko?

You are right I was half asleep!

[d10s69c10]

Originally Posted by djracer

a 47ft fountain .

im jealous..

[djracer]

It wasn't mine I just did the 34 speakers and 3 amps and 2 batteries. I have pictures of it somewhere!

[djracer]

if has triple 502's. I couldn't afford to run it if it was free!

[69long"n"low]

the biggest fount i got to work on was a 38 nice boats but we just started to install these isolator kits is got a on off switch and an isolator for charging i like the isolators for dual batteries it works nice