Dual Batteries??

MORROWMUDDER · 11-19-2008, 08:03 AM

I was wondering how to go about hooking up dual batteries. between my snow plow, light bar and siren, CB, off road lights, stereo system, and poliece scanner i need some extra power/reserve power for my electrical system. i have a high output alternator i was just wondering if another battery under the hood would help me any. i have a place to put one just no leads for one. i know if i just hook it up to the already existing battery pos > pos, neg > neg that will give me 24 volts not a good thing; right? any way some insight would be great. thanks alot guys yer the best!!

Case 7230 · 11-19-2008, 08:20 AM

If you hook up neg to neg and pos to pos you get 12v with a lot of useful extra capacity. If you hook up neg to ground, pos to neg and pos to motor you get 24v and a lot of fried electrics.

87c10slammer · 11-19-2008, 08:34 AM

painless wiring sells a really good kit for this application.. it comes with all the wires/relays and switches you need... i had one hooked up in my old bronco and it worked great.. i think it was about 50 bucks or so but it was a few years ago so i dont remember to well...

leolkfrm · 11-19-2008, 09:16 AM

the type of batteries you choose will also be important, you can buy a $75 battery that fits a high electrical use park ave or a $125 one. believe me there is a difference. buy 2 good HD batteries whether you go pos to pos neg to neg as Case mentioned or the relay method as slammer mentioned. also consider the duty cycle of your current alternator, it needs to heavy duty also.
I know our fire company used to cover part of the cost for personal chiefs cars, might want to ask.

87c10slammer · 11-19-2008, 09:34 AM

the reason i mentioned the painless kit is because using 2 batteries in the parrellel like case mentioned puts alot of strain on your alternator because its tring to charge 2 batteries at once... you may only need the one battery to run your normal everyday thing but because of the way it would be hooked up you would be draining from both... even an hd alternator cant handle that load for a long time... but with the painless kit your wiring it up so your bells and whistles are hooked up to the spare battery and when you need you can use it but in order to charge it back up you need to switch it to that battery... that is the only draw back... but i worked great for running all my electronics i had in that truck... i had a killer sterios system pushin close to 5000 watts and alot of lights... had 6 off road lights inthe front, 4 in the back, a neon underbody kit, neons inside the truck... there where alot of lights..lol but i never once killed the batterys so it worked great for my app...

RoadHammerTLM · 11-19-2008, 11:07 AM

My only suggestion would be to go out and buy two heavy duty Deep Cycle Marine batteries. More draw and drain time with plenty of crank left of tap. I always use DEEP CYCLE MARINE batteries in my log trucks and my pick ups.

Hammer

MORROWMUDDER · 11-19-2008, 11:55 AM

thanks guys, i'll look into that harness and switch, not to thrilled about the extra money spent or the pain in the neck of remembering to use the switch. but when it comes to doing something right the cost and benefits usually win. my cousin has a couple deep cycle optimas me could probably sell me, hes always hard up for money and always selling goodies for cheap. could probably get both for 250 bucks.

bradrhale · 11-19-2008, 11:57 AM

+ to + and - to - will get you 12 volts like stated above. put enough - to + together and you can achieve 120 volts. been there, done that.

MORROWMUDDER · 11-19-2008, 04:34 PM

cool thanks, certainly dont need that running through my truck. last quick question. think a 140 amp high out put alternator would be able to charge two batteries and not burn out to quick?

leolkfrm · 11-19-2008, 05:45 PM

Yes, another thing to think about if you are going to run heavy loads at idle you might want to consider a method to raise the idle to about 1200 when doing so

11-19-2008, 08:03 AM	#1
MORROWMUDDER Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ohio/Montana Posts: 138	Dual Batteries?? I was wondering how to go about hooking up dual batteries. between my snow plow, light bar and siren, CB, off road lights, stereo system, and poliece scanner i need some extra power/reserve power for my electrical system. i have a high output alternator i was just wondering if another battery under the hood would help me any. i have a place to put one just no leads for one. i know if i just hook it up to the already existing battery pos > pos, neg > neg that will give me 24 volts not a good thing; right? any way some insight would be great. thanks alot guys yer the best!!

11-19-2008, 09:16 AM	#4
leolkfrm Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: N.Y. Posts: 4,300	the type of batteries you choose will also be important, you can buy a $75 battery that fits a high electrical use park ave or a $125 one. believe me there is a difference. buy 2 good HD batteries whether you go pos to pos neg to neg as Case mentioned or the relay method as slammer mentioned. also consider the duty cycle of your current alternator, it needs to heavy duty also. I know our fire company used to cover part of the cost for personal chiefs cars, might want to ask. __________________ 4 wheels move the body 2 wheels move the soul B.W.A.I Last edited by leolkfrm; 11-19-2008 at 04:18 PM.

11-19-2008, 05:45 PM	#10
leolkfrm Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: N.Y. Posts: 4,300	Yes, another thing to think about if you are going to run heavy loads at idle you might want to consider a method to raise the idle to about 1200 when doing so __________________ 4 wheels move the body 2 wheels move the soul B.W.A.I

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11-19-2008, 08:20 AM	#2
Case 7230 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 547	If you hook up neg to neg and pos to pos you get 12v with a lot of useful extra capacity. If you hook up neg to ground, pos to neg and pos to motor you get 24v and a lot of fried electrics.

11-19-2008, 08:34 AM	#3
87c10slammer Banned Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: levittown pa Posts: 2,197	painless wiring sells a really good kit for this application.. it comes with all the wires/relays and switches you need... i had one hooked up in my old bronco and it worked great.. i think it was about 50 bucks or so but it was a few years ago so i dont remember to well...

11-19-2008, 09:34 AM	#5
87c10slammer Banned Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: levittown pa Posts: 2,197	the reason i mentioned the painless kit is because using 2 batteries in the parrellel like case mentioned puts alot of strain on your alternator because its tring to charge 2 batteries at once... you may only need the one battery to run your normal everyday thing but because of the way it would be hooked up you would be draining from both... even an hd alternator cant handle that load for a long time... but with the painless kit your wiring it up so your bells and whistles are hooked up to the spare battery and when you need you can use it but in order to charge it back up you need to switch it to that battery... that is the only draw back... but i worked great for running all my electronics i had in that truck... i had a killer sterios system pushin close to 5000 watts and alot of lights... had 6 off road lights inthe front, 4 in the back, a neon underbody kit, neons inside the truck... there where alot of lights..lol but i never once killed the batterys so it worked great for my app...

11-19-2008, 11:07 AM	#6
RoadHammerTLM Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 301	My only suggestion would be to go out and buy two heavy duty Deep Cycle Marine batteries. More draw and drain time with plenty of crank left of tap. I always use DEEP CYCLE MARINE batteries in my log trucks and my pick ups. Hammer

11-19-2008, 11:55 AM	#7
MORROWMUDDER Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ohio/Montana Posts: 138	thanks guys, i'll look into that harness and switch, not to thrilled about the extra money spent or the pain in the neck of remembering to use the switch. but when it comes to doing something right the cost and benefits usually win. my cousin has a couple deep cycle optimas me could probably sell me, hes always hard up for money and always selling goodies for cheap. could probably get both for 250 bucks.

11-19-2008, 11:57 AM	#8
bradrhale Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 8,030	+ to + and - to - will get you 12 volts like stated above. put enough - to + together and you can achieve 120 volts. been there, done that.

11-19-2008, 04:34 PM	#9
MORROWMUDDER Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ohio/Montana Posts: 138	cool thanks, certainly dont need that running through my truck. last quick question. think a 140 amp high out put alternator would be able to charge two batteries and not burn out to quick?