Dual Battery Install

[COPPERHEAD85]

A lot of people are asking how to do this so I thought I would show you how I did mine, using a battery isolator.This has worked for me for years without any trouble.

The isolator on my truck now is a 80 amp and i want to upgrade to a 140 amp,so out with the old in with the new.The old set up with 2 batteries under the hood (2.8 motor) went when i put the 302 in.I decided to relocate them to the bed so i had more room up front.

old

Batteries are in the bed behind driver and passenger.Passenger side is the main battery for the engine,headlights and cab.Driver side is the Aux battery for lights and winch (if Mrs Claus thinks I'm good enough this year...lol).I have them ghetto rigged together right now for the extra starting power using adapters (had 2 screw post 31 series in there at first).Two 1100 cold cranking amp AGM'S will flat spin one over!
Passenger side

Driver side

The isolator will charge both batteries while the truck is running but they are separate as far as load goes.I'm going to put a switch behind the gas filler door to jump the 2 together if I need to.I will be making all the cables up myself as i go.

Isolator,wiring kit (I wont be using that but it's a good way to go,later you'll understand why)terminal ends,heat shrink.stripper and switch.

Had to throw this in....My wife got it for me for Christmas one year....lol.

Stock up on these and stay tuned..............I got off to a late start today but I'll update this as I go.

 

[RobbieD]

Nice work, and I REALLY LIKE your white truck.

 

[COPPERHEAD85]

Started on the cables......double crimp....

Pics are a little blurred.......using my kids camera.......not used to it (freakin 12 year old has a better camera than me ..lol)
Best $20 you could spend.......

heat shrink

A lot of difference in Isolators......

 

[COPPERHEAD85]

Nice work, and I REALLY LIKE your white truck.

Thanks..........the big one or the little one...lol

 

[warrior24]

Where did you get the crimper? And will it work on the battery terminal crimps which look like came with your battery isolator kit. I love the heat-shrink.

 

[COPPERHEAD85]

I sell them at the store i manage,goes for around $20,works great.
I have been trying to convince the owner of the company to become a vendor on TRS but I'm not having much luck. Every thing I use in this project you can get at any DEKA battery Warehouse.

The cable ends didn't come with the kit.Later today I'll post up some pics of why I decided not to use the kit but how easy it is to install this set up using it.

 

[COPPERHEAD85]

I didn't get to the isolator to day but I did get the switch and cables changed out in the bed.
Made a plate for the switch...

Backside....

Like i said before,now i can stick the key in,turn it and have both batteries for starting or aux power.Installed behind gas door....

Terminals changed to clamps passenger side (main battery)..

Next will be running the cable from the aux battery to the isolator.

 

[FastEddy760]

Grounds?

Hello and thanks for taking the time to post your install.

What are you doing for grounds? Direct to the body, frame or?

I know your going to post it up, but I'm about to go into the garage and work on my dual battery setup. Until I get an isolator, the batteries will be in parallel and mounted in the bed area. I was thinking I would run a single power/positive/red cable to the front, direct to the starter. Then the ground would be to the frame for the battery.

Looking forward to the rest of your install.

 

[COPPERHEAD85]

Thanks fast...........
I just have one hot running from solenoid to the Isolator then to the hot on my main battery and I have it grounded to the frame under the bed.
I ran a ground from the aux battery directly to the ground on the main using the side terminals(dual post batteries are great....lol) so when i flip the switch i have a direct connection from battery to battery (to jump the engine or for extra power for the winch or lighting).I also ran a ground from the fender at the solenoid to the frame and from there to the engine block.
The install kit comes with 8GA wire to charge the aux battery,I don't know if I'm going that route or run 2-0 up and tie into the isolator on my way to the winch.I'm trying to find out if the winch under load will be to much for the isolator terminal.
The more I think about it I will probably keep the load and charge from the alt. seperate with the 8GA wire and a breaker.

 

[FastEddy760]

Cool, thanks, just what I wanted to know. =]

 

[COPPERHEAD85]

Your welcome.
I hope to add more this weekend,but my "to do" list keeps getting longer...lol.
Didn't get the white Ranger to the muffler shop last week.(next friday i hope)
Finish the 351 for the F-100 Ranger.
2 golf carts to repair,waiting on a new carb for one of them.
Lawnmower has an electrical issue i gotta track down.
Anniversary is next week,taking a short trip with the wife.
All that between running a store 5 1/2 days a week .

 

[COPPERHEAD85]

This has nothing to do with the isolater but is the reason Im putting 2 batteries in the truck.I have 5 55 watt lights and 2 100 watt lights as well as 2 back up lights in the bumper with hopefully an at least 9K pound winch.
I have decided to seperate the load and charge for the Aux battery. I didnt like the 8ga wire and 50 amp breaker that came with the kit so Im going with at least 6 ga. and a 80 amp breaker.I didnt have what i needed at home so I worked on an add on I think you guys will like.

The 2 GA. cable,SB connectors and some goodies Im going to use...

Im going to run 2/0 cable to the winch

Use the SB connector to tie into it so i can dissconnect and use the juice for jumping without going to the batteries using what i made up...
SB connector

These connectors rule!They have solider pellets made into them....all you have to do is heat them and stick in the wire....ends up like this...

Jumper cables done ......

All i have to do is unplug the winch and plug in the cables.

Winch leads from the battery to behind the grill ,havent decided where yet.

 

[RobbieD]

Nice work; keep the updates coming.

 

[mjonesjr]

Will you compose something in a write up so I can add it to the tech section?

 

[COPPERHEAD85]

If you think it'll be helpful I will,gotta warn you It will take me a while...............I really stink at this "doing a write up stuff"......lol.