How do I hook up a second battery???

[Mad$ella]

I have one battery under the hood, but I want to add one in the trunk. I need to know how to hook one up. Can some one please tell me how to do it. Thank you.

[schurchill39]

http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/4/7602.html
http://epistolary.org/5149.html

Just some things i found in a quick google search. Remeber Google and AJ.com are your friends

[Mad$ella]

thank you, I dont know what AJ.com is. :dunno: :dunno:

[AllGoNoShow]

askjeeves I think is what he is referring to, I fidn them useless, Google owns all.

[Mad$ella]

ok...

So no one actually knows how to hook one up?

[theken]

u run a 4 gauge or higher from your battery up front to a secondary battery in the trunk, then use a short ground wire and ground it to a paintless area in the trunk

[Mad$ella]

^^^^^^ Are you positive this is how it works? I am not doubting you I just want to make 100% sure that is the way to do it???

[Zero102]

Yep, best bet would be to fuse the line running to the second battery, as well as use the largest wiring you can.

Remember, positive to positive, negative to ground.

Make sure you secure it well.

One thing to keep in mind, is if you're adding a second battery, I'm presuming you are planning to run a lot of accessories when the car is off. This means when you start the car, you're going to see a higher load on the alternator than you would with one battery (since it's trying to charge 2), this can result in a decreased life span for your alternator.

[Mad$ella]

^^^ I have a bran new rebuilt alternator running ~100 amps, that should be good for a while.

I dont plan to run any accessories when the car is off, I just want the air ride compressors to have good power when they are on, and be able to run the stereo (1500W) at the same time.

[theken]

i would personally upgrade the alternator to like a stereo one like stinger style but not stinger

[BigBearWest]

you will need an isolator

[Mad$ella]

I was told I dont necassarily (sp?) need an isolator, its optional... is this right??? :dunno:

[rahim]

the reason to get a second battery is so you don't accidently drain your primary when your car is off, for this purpose you would need an isolater

from your post however if seems you want the second battery for when your car is running?? makes no sense this will actually be harder on your electrical system because it is trying to keep two batteries charged

what you need to do is upgrade all the grounds in your engine bay to 2 AWG or larger and maybe get a bigger alt

[chris]

Originally posted by rahim
the reason to get a second battery is so you don't accidently drain your primary when your car is off, for this purpose you would need an isolater

from your post however if seems you want the second battery for when your car is running?? makes no sense this will actually be harder on your electrical system because it is trying to keep two batteries charged

what you need to do is upgrade all the grounds in your engine bay to 2 AWG or larger and maybe get a bigger alt
exactly, if you're not using the power for when the car is off, you do not need a second battery. When you're car is on, the car is actually charging the battery, not taking power from it.

[rahim]

"Big 3"

http://forum.sounddomain.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=007801

Everything you need to know about installing a second battery

http://forum.sounddomain.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=009326

[Mad$ella]

^^^^^^^ Thanks guys, yeah I dont want to run the battery when the car is off, I just want better power while it is on, and I already upgraded to 100amp alternator.

[A790]

Get a 1.5 farad cap for the stereo setup, and upgrade the alternator. You don't need a second battery.

[Mad$ella]

^^^ My amp (Apline V12 MRV-1507) has a built-in 4 fared cap. Its not the stereo thats the problem really, its the air ride compressors that drain HARD on the battery, I am thinking that I don't really need another battery I just need to get another beefed-up alternator (I already had mine rebuilt to 95amp, guess thats not enough). :poosie:

[rahim]

make sure you do the Big 3 too, it will make more of a difference then you think

[Mad$ella]

^^^^ I am doing it tomorrow

[rice_eater]

Originally posted by rahim
what you need to do is upgrade all the grounds in your engine bay to 2 AWG or larger and maybe get a bigger alt

2awg grounds all around??? are you shitting me? that's as thick as your fingers

[rahim]

it's 8ft of wire, what do you care if its as thick as your fingers?

the big 3 is the cheapest upgrade you can give your electrical system

[xtreme prelude]

you can get a 170 amp alternator

then there will be no problems at all.

it is a little pricey though, approx 700.00

[NetBSD]

hey guys, i need a lil help. ive been reading this post that i found on google because i have the problem when i park my truck at a bush party i always have to be on a hill so i can catch it in gear because the underglows and radio running 1000 watts kills my battery, so i wanna hook up the dual battery, but i have no idea what type of battery isolater to get, i got a 1978 F150 ranger with a 6.6L 400M in it, any help would be great cuz id hate for my alternator/voltage regulater to go (in the 78 the voltage regulater was not part of the alt.)


couldnt i just add a second alternator to power the 2nd battery? i have removed my A/C so i have a spare mounting point.

[NetBSD]

ok i got sick of waiting and i made my own way and was told its awsome and will work great by manu mechanics that have seen it. i made a simple tutorial on how to do this in a cheap way since i was unable to find an isolator local and a relay was $90

http://imnotmark.zapto.org:3030/battery.html