Dual Battery Set Up
01-09-2008, 05:50 PM
#1
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Dual Battery Set Up
Finally figured out how I'm gong to get two battery's in this JK the second battery is the size of a motorcycle battery Dry Cell with 680 amps .With a Perfect Switch Power Gate isolator . Great article on this in the March 08 OFF-ROAD
01-10-2008, 04:27 PM
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Power for ACC. But mostly to make sure the jeep always starts when I'm in the middle of nowhere and I left lights or radio on too long or used the winch too much.
Would like to see if it could be adapted to a full sized dual.
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01-12-2008, 08:33 AM
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Dual Battery System
Hi Folks,
You may wish to consider several negatives for installing such a small second battery. Dual battery systems should contain batteries of equal size electrically speaking. Same chemical construction, cold cranking amps, same reserve amp capacity, etc. This provides a truely balanced condition for the isolator to work with. A small battery as you have described may let you down when you need it the most. Have you considered locating the second battery in a sealed battery box located in the rear interior of the Jeep with a breather / vent tube routed to the outside of the vehicle? You would need to run heavy gauge welding cables from the engine compartment to the battery to avoid serious voltage drop. Off the cuff I would say that #1/0 welding lead would work just fine. There are many manufacturers of "sealing" type SO cord connectors to both prevent damage to the cables going through the sheetmetal and seal against water, etc entering the Jeep. Obviously you would need to be very particular with the route you chose back to the engine compartment and secure the cables well from damage. You should also put large (100+) ampere rated fuses at both ends to prevent catastrophic damage or possible battery explosion should the cables short out due to an accident etc. Many people get careless with battery systems "because it's only 12 Volts". It's not the voltage that causes the problems...it's the extremely high short circuit currents (amperes) that will cause the problems. Dual battery systems are not something to enter into lightly. Take care... Mike
You may wish to consider several negatives for installing such a small second battery. Dual battery systems should contain batteries of equal size electrically speaking. Same chemical construction, cold cranking amps, same reserve amp capacity, etc. This provides a truely balanced condition for the isolator to work with. A small battery as you have described may let you down when you need it the most. Have you considered locating the second battery in a sealed battery box located in the rear interior of the Jeep with a breather / vent tube routed to the outside of the vehicle? You would need to run heavy gauge welding cables from the engine compartment to the battery to avoid serious voltage drop. Off the cuff I would say that #1/0 welding lead would work just fine. There are many manufacturers of "sealing" type SO cord connectors to both prevent damage to the cables going through the sheetmetal and seal against water, etc entering the Jeep. Obviously you would need to be very particular with the route you chose back to the engine compartment and secure the cables well from damage. You should also put large (100+) ampere rated fuses at both ends to prevent catastrophic damage or possible battery explosion should the cables short out due to an accident etc. Many people get careless with battery systems "because it's only 12 Volts". It's not the voltage that causes the problems...it's the extremely high short circuit currents (amperes) that will cause the problems. Dual battery systems are not something to enter into lightly. Take care... Mike
01-12-2008, 08:57 AM
#9
It seems like there's room under the current (pun intended....sorry) battery for a second full sized one. I think Mean Green makes a setup for the TJ's and Cherokees like that, but I can't find anything for the JK's. This looks like it would take out the obvious routing place for a snorkel.
01-12-2008, 04:18 PM
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Hi Folks,
You may wish to consider several negatives for installing such a small second battery. Dual battery systems should contain batteries of equal size electrically speaking. Same chemical construction, cold cranking amps, same reserve amp capacity, etc. This provides a truely balanced condition for the isolator to work with. A small battery as you have described may let you down when you need it the most. Have you considered locating the second battery in a sealed battery box located in the rear interior of the Jeep with a breather / vent tube routed to the outside of the vehicle? You would need to run heavy gauge welding cables from the engine compartment to the battery to avoid serious voltage drop. Off the cuff I would say that #1/0 welding lead would work just fine. There are many manufacturers of "sealing" type SO cord connectors to both prevent damage to the cables going through the sheetmetal and seal against water, etc entering the Jeep. Obviously you would need to be very particular with the route you chose back to the engine compartment and secure the cables well from damage. You should also put large (100+) ampere rated fuses at both ends to prevent catastrophic damage or possible battery explosion should the cables short out due to an accident etc. Many people get careless with battery systems "because it's only 12 Volts". It's not the voltage that causes the problems...it's the extremely high short circuit currents (amperes) that will cause the problems. Dual battery systems are not something to enter into lightly. Take care... Mike
You may wish to consider several negatives for installing such a small second battery. Dual battery systems should contain batteries of equal size electrically speaking. Same chemical construction, cold cranking amps, same reserve amp capacity, etc. This provides a truely balanced condition for the isolator to work with. A small battery as you have described may let you down when you need it the most. Have you considered locating the second battery in a sealed battery box located in the rear interior of the Jeep with a breather / vent tube routed to the outside of the vehicle? You would need to run heavy gauge welding cables from the engine compartment to the battery to avoid serious voltage drop. Off the cuff I would say that #1/0 welding lead would work just fine. There are many manufacturers of "sealing" type SO cord connectors to both prevent damage to the cables going through the sheetmetal and seal against water, etc entering the Jeep. Obviously you would need to be very particular with the route you chose back to the engine compartment and secure the cables well from damage. You should also put large (100+) ampere rated fuses at both ends to prevent catastrophic damage or possible battery explosion should the cables short out due to an accident etc. Many people get careless with battery systems "because it's only 12 Volts". It's not the voltage that causes the problems...it's the extremely high short circuit currents (amperes) that will cause the problems. Dual battery systems are not something to enter into lightly. Take care... Mike
A small battery will be overcharged on the charging cycle and rapidly drained on the discharge cycle.
SV