Let's talk electrical upgrades...2 SA-12s

[hispls 5,000+ posts]

Can I use one as my starting battery and one as my battery in the cab? I'm afraid they are a lot smaller than my battery tray and I have no experience with side post batteries...not sure how the wires would connect. Can someone help me out with this?

Like has been said, do NOT mix and match AGM and regular starting batteries. I'd agree get as big as you can fit/afford (The guy who chimed in with the 90$ Dekas usually has other sizes, hit him up). Otherwise Sears Die Hard platinum is a good battery with a great warranty.

A good rule of thumb is 1 battery per 1000W of amps to be safe.

 

[wew lad 5,000+ posts]

just to add some more.. a good rule of thumb is a fuse within 18 inches of each source of power, so for your two batteries, the wire run between them will need two fuses - one 18 inches from each battery. then of course your amp power wire needs to be fused. if your second battery is mounted in the back dont worry about needing two runs, just run your amps directly off the second battery

 

[DaytonLax14 10+ year member]

Like has been said, do NOT mix and match AGM and regular starting batteries. I'd agree get as big as you can fit/afford (The guy who chimed in with the 90$ Dekas usually has other sizes, hit him up). Otherwise Sears Die Hard platinum is a good battery with a great warranty.
A good rule of thumb is 1 battery per 1000W of amps to be safe.

hmmmmm sears die hard or Sams Club Duracell?

just to add some more.. a good rule of thumb is a fuse within 18 inches of each source of power, so for your two batteries, the wire run between them will need two fuses - one 18 inches from each battery. then of course your amp power wire needs to be fused. if your second battery is mounted in the back dont worry about needing two runs, just run your amps directly off the second battery

Thanks for the great info! That's very helpful. Can I run my ground wire from the amp to the negative terminal on the battery in the back?

 

[hispls 5,000+ posts]

hmmmmm sears die hard or Sams Club Duracell?

Thanks for the great info! That's very helpful. Can I run my ground wire from the amp to the negative terminal on the battery in the back?

Die Hard is an American made battery, Sam's is Chinese. You do that math. Honestly I think the Duracel was a better option when they first came out (the price was a good bit lower). Compare price vs. warranty and make up your own mind. Either will get the job done and I suspect either will be easy enough to claim warranty when/if needed.

 

[DaytonLax14 10+ year member]

Ughhhh I just wish those deka batteries were top post

 

[Buck 5,000+ posts]

Either get a second battery or get a HO alt.

 

[Papermaker85 5,000+ posts]

PEOPLE STOP BUYING BATTERIES. THEY ARE NOT POWER SUPPLIES.. THEY AREN'T MEANT TO BE. yes they can help patch up a poor electrical system when no other option is available but your alternator is your power supply.

 

[Papermaker85 5,000+ posts]

mistake..

 

[Papermaker85 5,000+ posts]

Like has been said, do NOT mix and match AGM and regular starting batteries. I'd agree get as big as you can fit/afford (The guy who chimed in with the 90$ Dekas usually has other sizes, hit him up). Otherwise Sears Die Hard platinum is a good battery with a great warranty.
A good rule of thumb is 1 battery per 1000W of amps to be safe.

Not trying to pick on you man but as a certified electrician and engineer i never recommend adding a battery when you can have your alternator rewound for about 150-200 bucks to nearly double the amperage or buy a high amperage alt.

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

Not trying to pick on you man but as a certified electrician and engineer i never recommend adding a battery when you can have your alternator rewound for about 150-200 bucks to nearly double the amperage or buy a high amperage alt.

Make more amperage at what RPM?

I agree with going alt before batteries. You have to make power first

 

[los33 10+ year member]

Not trying to pick on you man but as a certified electrician and engineer i never recommend adding a battery when you can have your alternator rewound for about 150-200 bucks to nearly double the amperage or buy a high amperage alt.

For a 150-200$ the most a car/truck alternator can be rewound upto is 200 amps or 250 but thats pushing the cooling design.

Most stock alternators are 3 phase alternators meaning they will do 25-30% amperage at idle.

GM casing are the only alternators available to have up to 250 amps on a stock alt design.

As far as adding a second battery it will help towards keeping voltage floating at 12.3-12.8v.

If for any reason it drops below that then the user is abusing the electrical with over clipped amps or too powerful of an amp.

The second battery will give enough burst for a low note or a long bass note.

You are not a mechanic/fabricator.

You are an electrical engineer so stick to it instead of trying to one up anybody.

So mister engineer, in the case of a honda only being able to fit only 1 alternator under the hood. Should we insist of them to pay 150-200$ to rewound the stock alt to some crazy amount of amperage or should we recommend more batteries?

Sent from my draconis using Tapatalk

 

[hispls 5,000+ posts]

Not trying to pick on you man but as a certified electrician and engineer i never recommend adding a battery when you can have your alternator rewound for about 150-200 bucks to nearly double the amperage or buy a high amperage alt.

I got that from Steve (Ampmedics). I suppose you know more than he does about amps failing though... carry on.

 

[DaytonLax14 10+ year member]

Anyone have any experience with DB Electrical alternators?

 

[fatboytyler]

Not trying to pick on you man but as a certified electrician and engineer i never recommend adding a battery when you can have your alternator rewound for about 150-200 bucks to nearly double the amperage or buy a high amperage alt.

If I rewound my stock alt from 100 to 200 amps I would have had a fireball in the hood within a few hours... You may be an EE, but you don't understand basic physics apparently.

OP, I would advise you monitoring your voltage since a 130 amp alt is going to be on the smaller side for 2k+ RMS. I would highly advise investing in an HO alt sooner than later, but you should be fine with your current plan for the time being.

 

[michaellane 5,000+ posts]

Anyone have any experience with DB Electrical alternators?

Get batts then get alt.