Dual BatterySet up

xrtrucks · May 30, 2004

I neeed some opinions and ideas on how to run a dual battery setup. Im going to add a second battery and i dont know all the options i have. If anyone knows the different ways you can do it such as having it just as a reserve or if u can have the stock alternator charge both batteries? I need the second battery for my winch and 4 130watt lights.

snoman · May 30, 2004

You can simple place in in parallel with first battery and together they will power winch a lot better (smart move) No need to beef up altenator just to charge them. Connect groung on second battery to ground/engine block and I would use a minimum of 4 ga to connect the hot sides together (2ga would work better with winch use) I use dual batteries in my gas plow trucks and have for years.

xrtrucks · May 31, 2004

if u leave the two batteries connected the one will drain the other or i am wrong?

snoman · May 31, 2004

if u leave the two batteries connected the one will drain the other or i am wrong?

You are mistasken. The only way this "could happen would be if one of the batteries shorted internally. It is generally a wise idea to use same general type but it is not set in stone. You would not want to pair a old style lead acid battery with a newer style maintainance free and they do have a slight different voltage curve. This is not likely to happen these days because I would say the aboutt 99% (if not 100%) of automotives batteries today are of maintainace free design.