Any suggestions about how to install a second battery for a gas engine. I'd like to have the additional battery to run accessories, etc., so I don't have to worry about the "starter" battery going dead.

 

Find a place to mount second battery. Install Isolator between existing battery and additional battery. Wire isolator per instructions.

Steve

 

Moved to correct forum.

 

Moved to the 1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks forum.

 

You might want to look into using a deep discharge batt like they use in RVs. They're designed to take more charge/discharge cycles. (They also put out less current for their size, but that shouldn't be a problem).

I presume that the isolaters RV_tech refers to keep the load on the aux battery while the engine is off. I wonder if they do anything to moderate the current so that the generator isn't hit as hard with the load from the aux batt.


good luck,

hj

 

They don't. Just an electronic gate. Basically just a diode setup.

Steve

 

The stock dual battery setup mounted the batteries right next to each other, and ran a heavy cable from post to post. A battery isolator or Automatic Charging Relay (the modern version) gives preferential charging to the primary bank over the secondary bank, so manual switching is not required for charging, as well as improving charge quality by putting full voltage to each bank individually. This is most important with Dual Purpose and Deep Cycle batteries. Not really/necessarily required in the automotive world.

-Mike

 

Just install a 3G alt and a group 65 quality Battery and don't look back you'll be just fine !!! Dave