Hey everyone, so I am new to multi battery systems and what not and I'm incredible confused about how to do something. First a little background on what I will be doing, I am running 2 1/0 runs from the front battery to the back, there will be 3 Optima YellowTop batteries in the back. For amps I am running a single Crescendo BC5500D and a S800.4.
Now for what I am having trouble with, so for wiring multiple batteries in parallel, with the dual 1/0 gauge, do I need to run the dual 1/0 gauge to each battery individually, or can I say do dual 1/0 on one battery and just single 1/0 between the 3 batteries themselves? What's the best way to attach the amps to all these batteries? If I run dual 1/0 to each battery, does this mean dual 1/0 for each battery for a ground, if you include the amp grounds that means 9 total grounding points, which seems excessive to me. Would something like a distro be a better solution? What needs to be fused? Each wire between each battery (obviously both 1/0 from the front will be fused)? Just the wire from the batteries to the amps? Also, do I really need to go dual 1/0 gauge for all this or would just single 1/0 work knowing that I am using a 370 amp alternator with 4 batteries total, and I know the BC5500D can pull some serious amperage, so I am assuming dual 1/0 is the way to go? Oh and I would go single 4/0 but that's harder to hide under carpet and it's harder to find accessories for it, but if you think I should do 4/0 gauge just say so and I will consider it. I know some of this may seem super nooby, but like I said I've never done a system of this caliber before, and wiring is where I struggle a bit when figuring things out, so any help would be much appreciated!
Other things that might matter:
-BC5500D has 2 1/0 inputs and grounds.
-Will be using a 370 amp Mechman alt from the front.
-Another YellowTop G34 will be at the front (so 4 total G34 YellowTops, yes they are deep cycle).
-The 1/0 I am using is rated at 375 amps, so will be using 360 amp fuses.
And now for another, kinda off subject question, I am curious about alternator output, I am looking at what Mechman has to offer for my 2000 Chevy Astro van, and I am seeing quite a few options. So the most expensive is the elite series 370 amp, but from what I have read recently higher total output alternators deliver less power at idle than lower power ones, is this true? Mechman claims at least 200 amps at idle from this, but I am wondering if simply the 240 amp for half the price would fair just fine. Here is a link to what's available and let me know what you think I should do alternator wise, running a Crescendo BC5500D with dual 15 inch SSA XCONs and a S800.4 Crescendo.
