dual batteries
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Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,083
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From: Victoria , BC
dual batteries
Just wondering what's the best setup for dual batteries. I just installed this in my 73 and I did it with a muti battery isolator with a 1 A and 2 prong. Now I just wanna figure out if I did it right. As far a I seen I was told to disconnect the wire from the BAT prong on alternator and run it to the 1 prong with the + of the main battery then make a new wire from the alternator BAT to the A on isolator. Lastly I ran the 2 prong to the + of the new 2nd battery.
Thread Starter
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Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,083
Likes: 4
From: Victoria , BC
So I did this all because I am running a front and rear winch. My front winch is connected to my main battery and rear is on the 2nd one. After I had everything installed I checked the charging system. It charges but I don't know how well. The new backup battery was low when I installed it a 6 volts and after truck ran for about 10 minutes the backup batery was at 12 volts with engine off. Now when the truck was running though it would only charge about 13.5ish volts on the batteries. Now are both batteries supossed to charge while running or should the isloator jump between the two??? Not a electrical pro and some help or suggestions would be awesome. So far I have no problems but I want a reliable setup especially because Im going on a big 4x4 trip this weekend
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 446
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From: South Bend, IN
Your isolator should have three terminals. One (the input) goes to the main output terminal of the alternator. The wire that was on the main terminal of the alternator should go to one output terminal of the isolator. The other output terminal of the isolator should go to the second battery.
Having said this, there is a lot to be said for the simple, easy method that Ford used of tying the hot side of the two batteries together with a starter solenoid that is energized whenever the ignition is on. That way you are always cranking on two batteries, too.
There's good and bad to either system.
Having said this, there is a lot to be said for the simple, easy method that Ford used of tying the hot side of the two batteries together with a starter solenoid that is energized whenever the ignition is on. That way you are always cranking on two batteries, too.
There's good and bad to either system.
