Dual Battery Set-Up Questions

[getlost4x4]

i'm about ready to add a second battery to my Commander. I have a place to mount the second battery, all i need to do is purchase a second Yellowtop Optima.

My question is this. do i really need all the gizmo's everyone is adding to control the charging of both batteries?

i've had about 4 different dodge cummins trucks. as most of you know most diesels have dual batteries. but i have never seen the elaborate dual battery controllers on diesels. so why should i bother to put one on mine?

if i'm using the same batteries with the same exact specs i really do not see any need.

my commander has a stock 160 amp alternator so it will be able to keep the batteries charged with ease.

my plans are:

1. but a second yellowtop to match my current yellowtop

2.replace the OE alternator charging cable and ground cables from 4 gauge wire up to 0 gauge cables and upgrade the battery terminal connectors.

3.i may even add a shut-off in between the batteries incase i'm away from the vehicle and want to keep power from draining from the second battery.

4. i'm going to get two of these battery mounts for a little underhood bling.

 

[jkeever]

Dual Batteries

An isolater/ switch is not mandatory (in my opinion) if you have two good batteries, but highly recommended. I have ran both ways, but currently use the painless system with a red and yellow top.

Without an isolater your second battery is simply additional supply of capacity (like having a bigger battery). If one battery goes bad it will overcharge the good battery and you will end up with two bad batteries.

A switch provides you with the security of knowing you have one battery that charged so when you leave your light, radio, etc. on you do not have to worry about a starting issue.

Please keep in mind that I am no electrical expert, but did a lot of research when I was facing the same question you are facing.

 

[getlost4x4]

i really like the switch idea. i just don't know where i would mount that in my commander. i don't want to cut up the dash. but, i think i could make it work under the hood. then it would be closer to the batteries and it wouldn't get knocked out of position with a knee cap or something.

i'm really about keeping it simple. i have enough electronic crap, that came from the factory stock, that could really screw stuff up. atleast most of that stuff can be turned off and the vehicle can still be driven.

i think the switch is the way i'll go. where is a good place to buy a quality made switch?

my main reason for the seperate battery is for a back-up incase i left my lights on accidentally. my battery and alternator seem to keep up with my winch pretty easily so i really do not need another battery for winching duty.

i just need to get another battery at Costco, pick up the switch, and get some cable. Maybe i'll pick up some bling battery holders as well. It should be an intersting project. i love wiring vehilcles.

 

[Darton]

ok totally off subject but Why do diesels have two batteries???

 

[bmonday]

Are you sold on the Optima battery? General consensus is that current production Optimas.... uhh, underperform, and you'd be much better off getting a DieHard Platinum for close to the same price.

 

[Eric06Rubi]

ok totally off subject but Why do diesels have two batteries???

24 volt for starting

 

[ntsqd]

I agree with Frenchie's post, but would add that one can relieve oneself of the problem of brain fade with the manual switch with a relatively simple addition. They are known as an "Automatic Charge Relay (ACR)" or a "Voltage Sensitive Relay (VSR)".

Their use is to charge the second battery after the starting battery has been recharged, and to disconnect the second battery when the alternator stops charging. These can be wired across the battery terminals at the big battery switch. Should they fail you can easily revert to pure manual control using the big switch without interrupting the trip. They are made to go in the engine room of a boat, so mounting them next to the big switch in the engine bay of a vehicle should not be a problem.

Blue Sea (a marine components mfg in the U.S.) and BEP (same in NZ) are the two common mfg's of these components. Del City carries the BEP products and West Marine carries the Blue Sea products.

 

[getlost4x4]

i already own one. never had a problem with it yet. no reason to change brands.

i've had Diehard Platinums. not a fan of them. the one i had died right after the year warrenty was up, plus they are not sealed, which is something i like about optimas.

Are you sold on the Optima battery? General consensus is that current production Optimas.... uhh, underperform, and you'd be much better off getting a DieHard Platinum for close to the same price.

 

[saburai]

I just finished my second battery install, two die hard platinum's. I have a 150amp circuit breaker on the auxiliary battery. When I stop to make camp, I can just trip the breaker and isolate the house circuit from the starting battery. It's not high tech and I've got to open the hood to do it, but on the other hand it is pretty KISS...

 

[BIGdaddy]

I agree with two points.

-Large manual switch that goes from 1, 2, both... is the best setup. very simple and bombproof.

-Optima's as of late are very different than the battery you currently have. The quality has gone downhill to a large extent. If you get one, I'd get it from a place like costco, so that you can return it easily...

 

[getlost4x4]

i bought my optima from costco in march 2009. no problems. it says its made in mexico:elkgrin:

 

[ddog45]

two is always better than one

http://www.hellroaring.com/

I have the hellroaring set up and love it. My wife can leave the lights on now when she goes to work and I dont have to go rescue her, we can rock out while camping and never have to worry about being stranded. My only regret with putting two batteries in my lj is that now Im going to have a hard time going to a highline fender and hood in the future.
Wawawawa.
Good luck. I think slee sells some dual battery controlers also.

 

[James86004]

Are these simple switches make before break? That is, when you switch from "1" to "Both", is the battery connection momentarily interrupted when the knob is halfway between them?

I was just wondering what would happen if you switched them while you were driving down the road.

 

[ntsqd]

That is my experience with them, make before break. That is, so long as you NEVER switch through the "Off" position. Most of these switches say not to switch while running. That is safer for the mfg to say than to say "NEVER switch through "Off" while running."

 

[ExpoMike]

i already own one. never had a problem with it yet. no reason to change brands.

i've had Diehard Platinums. not a fan of them. the one i had died right after the year warrenty was up, plus they are not sealed, which is something i like about optimas.

I don't think you are talking about the same battery. The Platinums have a 4 year full replacement and 8 year total pro-rated warrenty. They are also 100% sealed. They have only been available for about 1.5 years so as far as I can tell, no one could own one long enough to run out the 4 year replacement warrenty.

Maybe they were some old wet cell that had the name at one time but the current Platinums will run rings around any Optima.