Dual Battery Set Up
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 302
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From: Jonesborough,TN
Dual Battery Set Up
i have a 78 Ford F150 Ranger Xlt 4x4 that i will be mouting a roll bar and alot of lights so, i want to know what all will i need to buy to set up another battery??Also would it be a good idea to get a higher amp alternator??
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 290
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From: South TX
Like Dave said, If you only use the lights when the engine is running, you don't need more batteries. A bigger alternator perhaps, depending on the total wattage of the lights (and any other electrical load you may have added to your truck).
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Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Virginia
8x130w=1040w 1040w divided by 12 volts =approx 86amps. I think a larger alternator along with a large aux fuse box will be your best choice. Your battery is there to store power when you need it to start the truck, and to smooth out an surges or momentary current demands. A larger alternator is going to better serve a long term steady drain from all that lighting.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,191
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From: Blairsville,Ga
a dual battery setup is easy to wire up just need a positive cable to go from starter solinoid to second battery d a nrgitive cable to go from second battery to engine block
I had this setup on a '79 f-250 with two 30H batteries
I did put a continuos duty solinoid to isolated second battery when truck was shut off,then if I killed primary battery it would jump its self from secondary
I had this setup on a '79 f-250 with two 30H batteries
I did put a continuos duty solinoid to isolated second battery when truck was shut off,then if I killed primary battery it would jump its self from secondary
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Jonesborough,TN
ok if i just upgrade to a higher output alt,is there anything else i would have to add or change?
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From: Virginia
You are going to have to use install a larger wire for the alternator(this runs to the large + terminal on the starter solenoid or to the bat + terminal directly), and then run another large wire at the same point over to several large fuses or a fuse box, and then new wiring out to your new lights and amps.
Don't use any of the factory wiring for any of this new stuff unless it will be the head unit for the stereo, or something else small. The factory wiring can't handle anything that demands a lot of current.
Since you are running so many lights, I would split them up and run two or more power supply wires to them. If you ran 3 supply wires, you could use devices rated at 30 amps, which are much more common and cheaper to get. You could run 3 30 amp fuses, and go to 3 30 amp switches or 3 30 amp bosch type relays, and run 3 10 guage wires up to the lights and group them 2, 3 and 3 bulbs.
Don't use any of the factory wiring for any of this new stuff unless it will be the head unit for the stereo, or something else small. The factory wiring can't handle anything that demands a lot of current.
Since you are running so many lights, I would split them up and run two or more power supply wires to them. If you ran 3 supply wires, you could use devices rated at 30 amps, which are much more common and cheaper to get. You could run 3 30 amp fuses, and go to 3 30 amp switches or 3 30 amp bosch type relays, and run 3 10 guage wires up to the lights and group them 2, 3 and 3 bulbs.
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