battery drain
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From: Haveloce
battery drain
Have a small problem with my charging system, I have a gel cell battery about four years old and just changed the insides of my alt to boost it to a 90amp. The problem I am having is if I am out in the mud or get stuck and have to you my winch for run both electric fans on high it drains the battery. and robs power from the igintion system and kills the truck. If i charge the battery and drive daily i have no problem. My delma also is why would the alt not be recharging the system
any help would be greatful
any help would be greatful
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Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Northern California
Did you have this problem before you changed the innerds of the alternator? Is this why you increased the amperage of the alternator? You still probably are not putting out the amperage to run everthing with your winch and electric fans on. Most dual electric fans pull 25 amps. by them self. You might want to look into putting in a second battery with an isolator and run all your accesories off your second battery.
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From: Virginia
It also depends on where and how you have your heavy loads wired. The best place is have the heavy loads hooked directly to the battery post or to the starter relay post that goes to the battery. That way they can have the full potiental of the battery when they need it.
If you have your heavy loads hooked into the fuse box, or somewhere else down the line from the battery, then the heavy loads will pull down the rest of the system because they are hogging what little power is available through the small factory wiring feeding the fuse box.
If you have your heavy loads hooked into the fuse box, or somewhere else down the line from the battery, then the heavy loads will pull down the rest of the system because they are hogging what little power is available through the small factory wiring feeding the fuse box.
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From: Northern California
A second Battery with an isolator still might be your best bet, just be sure that everything in your cahrging system is functioning properly first. Have you had the alternator with the new guts checked?Have you had your battery load tested at full charge to verify it's still good? ( A gel type or Optima is at 100 % at 13.0v). Also checking for a parasitic draw if this is a new condition.
In answer to your question, yes, A heavy load will cause your battery to drain if the load exceeds the output of the alternator.
In answer to your question, yes, A heavy load will cause your battery to drain if the load exceeds the output of the alternator.
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You shouldn't be trying to run a starter with a Deep Cell battery.
They were designed for slow drain & slow charge usage.
I suggest getting a reg battery w/1000 CCA for the operation of the truck & the R/V deep cell battery gets used for the winch & Lighting and secured by a isolator.
They were designed for slow drain & slow charge usage.
I suggest getting a reg battery w/1000 CCA for the operation of the truck & the R/V deep cell battery gets used for the winch & Lighting and secured by a isolator.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Northern California
Starter runs fine on a deep cycle as long as the cca is adequate for your application, the starter doesnt know the difference. It's just not nessasary to spend the extra bucks for a deep cycle for your starting battery .That is ,if your using your starting battery properly and not deep discharging it. If you plan on staying with a single battery and taking the chance on discharging it too far to start your truck properly, then I would use the deep cycle as it wont be ruined by the deep discharges, unlike a starting battery that is not made to withstand numerous deep discharging.
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From: Purdue
I suggest a larger alternator to go w/ the dual batteries even though the duals might not be necessary they're nice to have. In my offroad club almost everyone who has a winch has 150 amp alternator, and thats w/o the strain of electric fans adding to it. One of them even has a 190 amp. The 90 amp alternator prolly just isn't strong enough to keep the battery charged while winching.