dual battery setup
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Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Jacksonville FL
dual battery setup
Ive been thinking about a dual battery setup for a while and I just now thought to make a thread about it. Anyone running a dual battery setup? The reason I want to is I have a pretty killer stereo system and I already have an Optima yellow top and 200 amp alternator. All charge/ground wires are upgraded to 0 gauge wiring and im still having bad voltage drops and dimming lights. So I was thinking another battery would help out. So I have my interstate battery sitting in my garage with nothing wrong with it. How exactly would I wire up 2 batteries? How would the alternator charge 2 batteries?
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Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Jacksonville FL
Wouldn't there be a problem with doing this since I have 2 different batteries? Would one try to drain the other battery?
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Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Macomb, IL
The factory has been doing it that way for as long as I can remember. Assuming you are starting with 2 fully charged and good batteries, the 2 would act as one.
I run 2 SLA Batteries (That is what your Optima is) wired in parallel in my shack. No problems to date and I have a fairly heavy current draw (about 40A) with all of my radios and station accessories up and running.
I run 2 SLA Batteries (That is what your Optima is) wired in parallel in my shack. No problems to date and I have a fairly heavy current draw (about 40A) with all of my radios and station accessories up and running.
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From: Jacksonville FL
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Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Macomb, IL
You could certainly use one if you wished but it is not necessary. A battery isolator would be helpful if you were to have 2 separate circuits. 1 to run the truck on, and another to run your accessories on.
For what you are wanting to do, it is not necessary. If it were, I assure you, Ford would have one on every dual battery truck they sold.
For what you are wanting to do, it is not necessary. If it were, I assure you, Ford would have one on every dual battery truck they sold.
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40 amps ain't nothing, my lights alone can pull more than that. I do agree with the batteries in parallel, every Ford diesel truck is wired like that, actually if you go to a junkyard you can grab the whole setup from one of those trucks, battery tray and cables and all.
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Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Jacksonville FL
You could certainly use one if you wished but it is not necessary. A battery isolator would be helpful if you were to have 2 separate circuits. 1 to run the truck on, and another to run your accessories on.
For what you are wanting to do, it is not necessary. If it were, I assure you, Ford would have one on every dual battery truck they sold.
For what you are wanting to do, it is not necessary. If it were, I assure you, Ford would have one on every dual battery truck they sold.
ok thanks for your help man. Ill hook it up as soon as I can.
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From: Macomb, IL
I'm happy for you. I am talking about my radios in my shack with a float charger on the batteries. I wouldn't know what to do with that much lighting. How long will your battery support those lights with a 2A charger? How long will they support those lights when your engine is off and you ALT is not charging them?
BTW, 40A is a huge load when you charge with a float charger and need the batteries to work sometimes for days when the power goes out.
My batteries are 50aH and if I am not mistaken, that Optima is 55aH. Slightly larger then mine.
I just built a float charger for one of those Optima batteries that my club will be using as a battery back-up for our repeater.
BTW, 40A is a huge load when you charge with a float charger and need the batteries to work sometimes for days when the power goes out.
My batteries are 50aH and if I am not mistaken, that Optima is 55aH. Slightly larger then mine.
I just built a float charger for one of those Optima batteries that my club will be using as a battery back-up for our repeater.
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I'm happy for you. I am talking about my radios in my shack with a float charger on the batteries. I wouldn't know what to do with that much lighting. How long will your battery support those lights with a 2A charger? How long will they support those lights when your engine is off and you ALT is not charging them?
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