Adding Second battery, Is this OK?

[SSon22s 10+ year member]

Well I decided to pick up a yellow top for the trunk since my dimming has been bad, I have already ran a 2/0 from stock battery to amp in the trunk and also have upgraded 1/0 on Big 3...I DO NOT play my system with the car off just when driving around or running...I have already kind of planned it out how I want to add the 2nd battery, just wondering if its right....I have a 2/0 running from stock battery to my cap, then to my amp, I am planning on disconnecting it from the cap and running the 2/0 to a dist block, then from the dist block to the new battery, then from the new battery to the amp...Do I have to have a fuse between the Dist Block and the new battery and then another fuse between the new battery and my amp? I was also wondering if I should ground the new amp to the Strut mount in the trunk or if I can ground it to the seatbelt bolt under the seat? The battery is going behind the rear taillight so the strut bolts would be a shorter ground...Do you think leaving the stock battery up front (car is an 04 Impala so battery isnt that old) and adding a yellow top in the trunk is even going to help me?

Click to read more...

 

[SSon22s 10+ year member]

I was also wondering if it would be better to just throw the yellow top under the hood instead of my stocker and then just upgrade the alternator and screw the 2nd battery...I am just wondering whats going to be the best situation?

 

[htownplaya456 10+ year member]

If you have the money put that yellowtop under the hood and spend a good amount on a nice alternator. If not just have the stock under the hood and put the yellow top in the back. Run the power right from the stock battery to the positive post on the yellow top then run the power from the yellow top to the distribution block. Also find a good ground spot for the yellow top and ground it to the car. You can just run the ground for amp/ amps to the battery (If you have a ground distribution run to that then to the battery)

 

[SSon22s 10+ year member]

well a few guys at CAF told me adding the second wont do crap for my dimming...they said do redtop or yellow top under hood then a big alternator

 

[htownplaya456 10+ year member]

Yeah usually that would be what you want to do. But what I did was prepare for that and keep my stock battery upfront, big three, put battery in back, and do big wire throughout. My voltage is steady at idle and I only dim when I burp (but not very much at all). I would recommend doing what I did it's stabilized everything in my car a whole lot. I'm planning on doing the HO alt and putting a big battery under the hood and another yellow top in the back.

 

[SSon22s 10+ year member]

Thanks...I have just been debating on whether or not I want to put the new batt under the hood or just add a 2nd one..

 

[bubbagumper6 5,000+ posts]

adding a second battery on a stock electrical system will only kill your alternator faster. You should get the yellow top but put it under the hood. Then save up and get the alt. THEN you can stick the yellow top in the trunk and put your stock back under the hood. Adding the yellowtop to the back before upgrading the alt would be a bad idea IMO.

Stock alternators with large systems seems bad to me. When we took my stock alt out it was burned to hell inside.

 

[SSon22s 10+ year member]

Well I added in the 2nd batt today and huge difference...Lights barely dimm on a 45Hz Drop!! Car idles smooth and no problems...the amp is staying about 13.8-14.3 during music with large hits...I am going to be throwing an interstate battery up front pretty soon and then a new alternator in the next few months...

 

[htownplaya456 10+ year member]

Yeah I think that was a good choice and definately get that alternator in there as soon as possible.

 

[bubbagumper6 5,000+ posts]

Well I added in the 2nd batt today and huge difference...Lights barely dimm on a 45Hz Drop!! Car idles smooth and no problems...the amp is staying about 13.8-14.3 during music with large hits...I am going to be throwing an interstate battery up front pretty soon and then a new alternator in the next few months...

that's if your alt lasts that long...

 

[SSon22s 10+ year member]

Yeah I am wondering what Alternator to get, I know they dont put out the rated power at idle and I only plan on cranking it when driving around...Do you think I should do a 160A alternator or would I really need a 200A?? I am only running one sub amp at 1200-1500 watts

 

[bubbagumper6 5,000+ posts]

Go with the 200A. Believe me, it won't be too long until you feel the upgrade itch again...and look into KnuKonceptz's alternators. I got one and just love it. It puts out a shitload of power...even while in idle. I was really impressed.

 

[SSon22s 10+ year member]

What kind of price range are those in? I am upgrading my amp to the Sundown 1500 in the next couple of days, I was looking to have my alternator rewound locally or getting a dbelectrical...

 

[bubbagumper6 5,000+ posts]

mine was 240$ for 200A

 

[SSon22s 10+ year member]

Well today I was going to be rewiring everything and then making a battery box when I decided I didnt want to do that...I chose to put the yellow top under the hood, then I am going to get either a 160A or 200A alternator...should work out good I think...