Dual Battery Question?
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 142
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Dual Battery Question?
I installed the factory wiring for the second battery and have a question about how they work since i am installing both my winches. Can i hook the positive from the winches to the main battery and the Negative to the secondary battery since they both have a stud on them or can i just hook it all up to the secondary battery ?
I think the batteries are wired in parallel but i am not sure, i assume they act like one big 12v battery with loads of reserve and cranking power. I also installed Mil spec terminals on the secondary battery since i have a lot of things to wire up but i started thinking about how the batteries are wired but I am not sure i can wire it the way I planned to by just using the secondary battery. Id rather not short out $600 in batteries can any electrical wizards help?
I think the batteries are wired in parallel but i am not sure, i assume they act like one big 12v battery with loads of reserve and cranking power. I also installed Mil spec terminals on the secondary battery since i have a lot of things to wire up but i started thinking about how the batteries are wired but I am not sure i can wire it the way I planned to by just using the secondary battery. Id rather not short out $600 in batteries can any electrical wizards help?
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 26,007
Likes: 575
From: Brentwood,CA
The batteries are in parallel not series or else you would have 24v. Connect your winch to the secondary battery and not the main battery. This allows the secondary to cushion the electrical spikes so the alternators are charging through the first battery and not being overloaded. This is how the body builders and upfitters guide shows.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 902
Likes: 51
From: Clark, WY
The two batteries should be wired in parallel. If wired in series that would give you 24 volts and that is bad on a 12 volt system.
As far as your question of being about to wire the winch positive to one battery and the negative to the other, the short answer is yes, if, the wire size between the batteries are large enough. I have never seen this done and no really sure what circumstances would dictate this to be better than just running both cables from the winch to the same battery.
Once the batteries are wired in parallel they work as one battery with double the storage capacity.
As far as your question of being about to wire the winch positive to one battery and the negative to the other, the short answer is yes, if, the wire size between the batteries are large enough. I have never seen this done and no really sure what circumstances would dictate this to be better than just running both cables from the winch to the same battery.
Once the batteries are wired in parallel they work as one battery with double the storage capacity.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 142
Likes: 3
Thanks for the fast answers guys, i did more research and watched a few videos but most where aftermarket systems used by Aussies and kinda hard to understand. I have the front winch now wired to the secondary battery and it looks good and again thanks for the help, i wish my Father was still alive since he was and electrical engineer who build TV and Radio stations for 45 years. the wealth of knowledge the younger generation will miss out on is really sad.
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