2 Batteries <-- HO ALT or Isolator?

[kumanan 10+ year member]

2 Batteries

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I got two gelpack batteries and my stock alternator isnt charging it properly anymore. Should i replace the stock alternator with another stock one and get an ISOLATOR which charges one battery at a time i believe. or should i get a HO alternator? would the first option with the isolator solve the problem of my batteries not being charged ( both batteries are gel pack btw)

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[baseballer1100 5,000+ posts]

Alt....

 

[Kenny Pollock 10+ year member]

Alt, unless you plan on playing your music with the car off for long periods of time...

 

[Relax 10+ year member]

Isolator and HO Alt.

You should have an isolator anytime you use multiple batteries.

 

[kumanan 10+ year member]

the only reason i dont wanna get a HO alternator is cuz its like $450.

My car has 2 gel pack batteries and a 70amp stock alternator. It charges both batteries at the same time which is why the alternator is burning out. If i have an isolator will it charge one battery at a time opposed to raping the alternator and charging both at the same time ?

 

[phyphoestilic 5,000+ posts]

the only reason i dont wanna get a HO alternator is cuz its like $450.
My car has 2 gel pack batteries and a 70amp stock alternator. It charges both batteries at the same time which is why the alternator is burning out. If i have an isolator will it charge one battery at a time opposed to raping the alternator and charging both at the same time ?

an isolator still charges both battery's at the same time, just ur system only drains from one battery not from both. That way both ur battery's wont die at the same time and u get stranded. It's still better to get a Alt.

 

[kumanan 10+ year member]

dammnnnnn $500... there has to be some other way... let me explain hwo this problem came up.

I drive to school from toronto which is about 50 km and to come bac k its another 50km. When im driving for 50km, the alternator charges my battery prety well because of the high RPM. However, now i got a place next to my school so it takes me 5 minutes to get to school (not enough time for my alternator to charge my battery) so when i go home at night from school, my car doesnt start up because the batteries are dead.... see the problem?

 

[lostdaytomorrow 10+ year member]

What batteries are you running?

 

[iamamp3pimp 5,000+ posts]

Isolator and HO Alt.
You should have an isolator anytime you use multiple batteries.

false.

 

[kumanan 10+ year member]

im running two orbital gel packs.... and why do you say what he said is false?

 

[Kenny Pollock 10+ year member]

im running two orbital gel packs.... and why do you say what he said is false?

I believe isolators are better suited for people who have more than one battery and play their music without the car on (alternator off) to prevent draining both batteries.

 

[phyphoestilic 5,000+ posts]

im running two orbital gel packs.... and why do you say what he said is false?

He's saying its false, because u don't have to have a isolator everytime u run more then one battery. Even though Relax thinks u do.

Just **** it up and find some way to get a better alt, or learn to not play ur music so loud (draining all that power). Best bet would be to look for a local shop that would build one for u. I searched everywhere online, best price I found was $350 for a 175alt for my car, had a local place build a 140amp for $200. So do alot of shopping im pretty sure u can easily get a good alt for under $400

 

[kumanan 10+ year member]

its not that i play music loud. I have a 06 L7, arc audio amp, clarion speaker amp, 8 tv's, 2 air ride compressors, a Car PC, usb hub, wifi, inverter for the usb hub, pioneer deck, mobile iq gps, compustar alarm. so one of these is draining my battery when its off... because i cant start it unless i drive really far and my alt has enough time to charge

 

[phyphoestilic 5,000+ posts]

I'm sorry, but it seems to me if u had all that money to spend on those things an Alt would've been nothing...... Should've got that 1st

 

[iamamp3pimp 5,000+ posts]

option a

alt (id do it) but even if you get a 500 amp alt, your bats will still die because something is draining them when the car is off.

option 2

wire EVERYTHING aftermarket to the second batt and get an isolator.

then you can drain that second battery while the first maintains a full charge.