Adding a Second or third battery
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: New York
Adding a Second or third battery
I have been toying with this idea for about 6 months now, i want to add more high power electronics and a second alt. now since i have a 5.4L i figured i could get the kit off an f-250 with the same motor. In order to add more batteries i was wondering if i could mount up the battery box from an E-Series Diesel van which would give me room for 2 more batteries without having to cram them in less desirable spots.
Thanks for any ideas
Thanks for any ideas
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Indiana Cornfields
You must be running a ton of electrical stuff to need a second battery and alternator. I would suggest just buying a better battery. I work on police interceptors all the time and they just run a single optima battery. And they run tons of lights and radios and a laptop. I would suggest something similar. It would be easier and cheaper.
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: New York
Thats what i was thinking, but after talking to a few different people who use whinches, they seem to want all the power you can supply to them. The one guy was running a Yellow top battery and a 200 amp alt and he said it was just barely enough
Senior User
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From: Indiana Cornfields
Ok. I didn't know you were running a winch. That makes a huge difference. I don't know much about them, and I don't want to give you any faulty advice, so I am going to leave this topic up to people who know about them. You may try posting in the Offroad forum though. They might have some pretty good suggestions
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Senior User
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From: New York
Well i dont have one yet, i dont see the point of getting one to have it not work lol. so im trying to figure out what i need to make the winch perform properly before i get it. and thanks so much for your help.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: N. Fort Myers,FL
When using a winch, it is a good idea to have 2 batterys. You dont want to be stuck out in the middle of nowhere... and then your battery and alternator not being strong enough, long enough to pull you out.
There is a few pictures floating around here I believe of someone fitting 2 optimas in the orginal battery tray. They turned them sideways and they fit.
My suggestion would be to get 2 optima yellow tops, and just a single high amp alternator. I wouldnt think you would need 2 alternators, just one powerful one. Something else that you must figure into wiring up a project like this, is the price of the heavy gauge wiring. Not only will you have to buy the wiring for the winch, but you must replace the wiring for the batterys and alternator, and certain grounds.
There is a few pictures floating around here I believe of someone fitting 2 optimas in the orginal battery tray. They turned them sideways and they fit.
My suggestion would be to get 2 optima yellow tops, and just a single high amp alternator. I wouldnt think you would need 2 alternators, just one powerful one. Something else that you must figure into wiring up a project like this, is the price of the heavy gauge wiring. Not only will you have to buy the wiring for the winch, but you must replace the wiring for the batterys and alternator, and certain grounds.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 7,907
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The important thing to know is what power leads and sizes to use and good terminal connections.
Often poor installation causes voltage drops that are blamed on battery capacity.
First what is the max. current draw under full rated load?
Then select the cable size appriate to pass this current.
Choose connectors for the cable ends on the same basis.
Lastly, how long will the current draw normally last in order to tell how much battery capacity to have.
Charging is a matter of how fast you need to recover battery drain and NOT to run the wench, for alternator size. As an example, a small 50 amp alternator will recover the batteries as well as a large one but just takes longer.
Good luck.
Often poor installation causes voltage drops that are blamed on battery capacity.
First what is the max. current draw under full rated load?
Then select the cable size appriate to pass this current.
Choose connectors for the cable ends on the same basis.
Lastly, how long will the current draw normally last in order to tell how much battery capacity to have.
Charging is a matter of how fast you need to recover battery drain and NOT to run the wench, for alternator size. As an example, a small 50 amp alternator will recover the batteries as well as a large one but just takes longer.
Good luck.
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