help with new batteries, isolator, & charger

[dgaf 10+ year member]

I have six new SHURiKEN SK-BT20 (SKBT20) 850 Amp 12 Volt AGM Power Cell Battery batteries. I had to go with these because of their size and space issues in my truck.

I contacted Shuriken to ask which battery charger they suggest to use, they recommended the Amazon.com: CTEK Multi US 7002 12V Battery Charger: Automotive

This is the isolator I've chosen, still haven't ordered, because I'm still trying to figure this all out, but, this should be fine, correct? The Install Bay IB500 500 Amp Battery Isolator and Relay | eBay

So, my first question is on hooking up the isolator. The isolator calls for an ignition wire, can that be my remote turn on wire that goes to the amp? From what I read, it's only giving a signal to the isolator to let it know to turn on, when the truck is on, which is what my remote wire going from my head unit to the amp.

Now running wires to everything. I'm pretty sure I got this, but can't seem to find any solid info on it. I have plenty of wire, and like going overkill, so overkill is what I want. I have one battery (Optima YellowTop) under the hood. I'll have six batteries wired together in the back. I'll take one or two runs of 1/0 from the battery under the hood positive, and go to the isolator. From the isolator, to the six batteries positive. From the six batteries positive to amp. My grounds, I want to run one or two 1/0 from the battery negative under the hood, to the battery negative on the six batteries in the back. Again, I know it's not necessary, but, I like overkill, I don't want any ground issues, every time I have a problem, it's always a ground issue, this way I don't have to worry about it.

Right?

Also, the batteries will be hooked up in parallel, so, can I hook up the charger to one of them, and it'll charge them all, or do I need to disconnect the batteries, and charge them all one at a time?

Any other info I'll need before running my wires would be great.

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[sacsking916 5,000+ posts]

you planning on running this with the car off for long periods of time? for the charger hook up the positive to the first battery and the negative to the last battery. also, afaik any 12v charger will charge your batts, i use a smaller charger from my job and it does the job just fine.

 

[dgaf 10+ year member]

you planning on running this with the car off for long periods of time? for the charger hook up the positive to the first battery and the negative to the last battery. also, afaik any 12v charger will charge your batts, i use a smaller charger from my job and it does the job just fine.

No, I don't run the system with the engine off, if that's what you mean.

From what I've read now, it looks like chargers are all the same. I thought maybe there were different kinds of different batteries, guess not.

Thanks for the tip on positive to first and negative to last, makes sense.

Anyone have any info on hooking up the isolator?

 

[sacsking916 5,000+ posts]

No, I don't run the system with the engine off, if that's what you mean.
From what I've read now, it looks like chargers are all the same. I thought maybe there were different kinds of different batteries, guess not.

Thanks for the tip on positive to first and negative to last, makes sense.

Anyone have any info on hooking up the isolator?

In all honesty its probably better to not use it since you don't have it on with the engine off. Side note if heard of people losing voltage through the isolator.

 

[dgaf 10+ year member]

I don't think you want the isolator on when the truck is off. The isolator calls for a ignition wire, so, that would be a wire that comes on when the ignition is on, same as the rem wire, correct?

You have to use a isolator when using secondary batteries, correct?

 

[subzero 5,000+ posts]

no

 

[dgaf 10+ year member]

^

mmhmmmm

 

[sacsking916 5,000+ posts]

I don't think you want the isolator on when the truck is off. The isolator calls for a ignition wire, so, that would be a wire that comes on when the ignition is on, same as the rem wire, correct? You have to use a isolator when using secondary batteries, correct?

the isolator doesnt turn on til the ignition is on. the system will still work with the rear batteries, just wont draw from the front battery. yes the ignition is the same as a rempte. and no you dont have to use an isolator when using multiple batteries. thats why i asked earlier if you run the system with the car off for lengthy periods of time. if you do then yes you'll want one, if you dont then no need for it.