Topic: Dual battery mod!

[Main One]

It gets as low as 50!  So Im spoiled with warm weather...  You got me  hahaha

Alrightttt Main One!  I purchased a 80A battery isolater from stinger as well and was curious as to whether that'll be strong enough?  How do you decide upon the correct Amperage Isolater you need?  Do you need anything other than an Isolater?  I hear talk of a "Combiner"?  I'd like to just wire everything up so that the main battery is untouched when running accessories and then after start up they both charge. 

I'm buying another ACDelco so they're the same battery.

I'm not an expert in doing this mod, but with a degree in electrical engineering I'm probably smart enough to be dangerous.

From what I've read, you need to size the isolator to at least the amperage of your alternator in the event that it is charging your second battery at near the alternator's full output, and/or your second battery is putting out power equivalent to what the alternator could be doing by itself.

If I was doing a manual switch, as a few have described in this thread, I'd use similar batteries.  Since these isolators are only going to be combining the batteries during startup and/or while the vehicle is running, there shouldn't be a case where due to differences in battery technology that one battery will be draining the other.

For what it's worth, (and those familiar with my AV fleet) I plan on using the dual battery setup in the yellow AV during the winter so that I can use a power inverter to power my oil pan heater for a while for startup in cold weather away from home and an AC outlet (such as the airport) to supply hot oil to the Vortech supercharger, which according to Vortech shouldn't be started at below 25 degrees F.  During the rest of the year, put it in the red AV such that my son can enjoy the sound system in that AV while parked and not need to get jumped after 15 minutes.  In each case I think a deep-cycle battery is needed.

[MonstaMonsta]

ummm,,,,,   Well, the 2nd battery is in anyway.  I used a battery isolator switch I picked up at Harbor Freight for $10. I'll see if I can dig up a pix.

OBB what was the AMP rating on that Isolater you picked up?

[oHIobellboy]

OBB what was the AMP rating on that Isolater you picked up?

100 amp

Sent by my Atrix 4G

[MonstaMonsta]

Alright I've put the wiring in and the isolater on the front Battery tray next to the passenger's side.  I will take pictures and post them up when its light out.  Just had a question I wanted to get opinions on,

Where would the best place be to ground the second battery? Should I wire it to the negative post of the Main battery on the driver's side or should I just ground it on the chasis?

[MonstaMonsta]

...Also shouldnt there be a brace in place of the old factory brace that we can install above the battery? 

[oHIobellboy]

...Also shouldnt there be a brace in place of the old factory brace that we can install above the battery?

I grounded my second battery right at the fire wall IIRC. The brace is not needed because the new tray acts like a brace now.

Sent by my Atrix 4G

[MonstaMonsta]

And lastly...  the "true Ignition".  Where did you tie yours in? 

[oHIobellboy]

And lastly...  the "true Ignition".  Where did you tie yours in? 

That red junction box where the main battery meets up with the alternator feed wire. I did  upgrade my alternator wire to 4ga also but I had done that when I upgraded the alt a while back.

[MonstaMonsta]

That red junction box where the main battery meets up with the alternator feed wire. I did  upgrade my alternator wire to 4ga also but I had done that when I upgraded the alt a while back.

That doesnt keep the the Isolater "on" all the time ?  The small wire that is supposed to be connected to the "true ignition" source from the Isolater to the red junction box?

[oHIobellboy]

That doesnt keep the the Isolater "on" all the time ?  The small wire that is supposed to be connected to the "true ignition" source from the Isolater to the red junction box?

I forgot you have that isolator.