second battery

[rumydad 10+ year member]

i am an idiot i know but still any suggestions on wiring a second battery?

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[pavengmike6 10+ year member]

My first question is WHY do you want a second battery. A second battery only really does any good if you plan on playing the radio with the car off. If you are trying to fix a headlight dimming problem you need to look into a different Alt.

 

[Jayhawkk 10+ year member]

I was under the impression it was good for helping getting power to your amps regardless of off or on listening??

 

[Nikuk 5,000+ posts]

two sided blade...

ignition on, the 2nd batt will help the supply voltage stay steadfast when an amp overdraws the alt.

ignition off, the second batt will help with burps, regular play, and you being able to drive home... simply by supplying more storage capacity.

in both cases, if the stock / current alt is having serious problems keeping one batt up, it'll be tougher for it to "service" two. Unless, you dedicate a few minutes of dirving on low volume to let the alt do its job after a hard session.

 

[BASS OUTLAW 10+ year member]

any ways, i dont know why u wanna do it , but

u will run the +ve from main batter to the new battery +ve,. same will do fro the negative.

 

[jujumantb 10+ year member]

My first question is WHY do you want a second battery. A second battery only really does any good if you plan on playing the radio with the car off. If you are trying to fix a headlight dimming problem you need to look into a different Alt.

Have you ever used a second battery? My dimming problem went completely away on installation of a yellow top in back. Not even the slightest hint of dimming cranking it, this is when I was running ~ 1000 watts.

Use a relay in the power wire to isolate the batteries for when your car is off. If they are different batteries and they are connected witht he car off for a long enough period of time, they can end up draining eachother.

 

[Jayhawkk 10+ year member]

Where would you suggest getting a relay for a 1 gauge wire?

 

[homer3304 10+ year member]

If you are going to be foolish enough to add a second battery, then you can just use a starter solenoid for a relay.

 

[Jayhawkk 10+ year member]

It's hard as hell to try and build a system as I now am getting conflicting arguements. used to think caps were good now I am to believe they are a waste. I did research and now thought a second battery and a new HO alt would be the right way. Now I am being told a battery is a waste too? So all I have to worry about is the alt then??

 

[johnecon2001 5,000+ posts]

If you are going to be foolish enough to add a second battery, then you can just use a starter solenoid for a relay.

The fact that you think adding a second battery is foolish makes me want to slap you. or something.

In all reality, if you have the cash.. adding a battery is a great idea! Your car battery was chosen for your vehicle with all of the electrical components in the car tallied up to a final load. The engineers never expected you to add more of a load to the stock battery. So the current one will just power all of the normal accesories. When you add a second battery, you take all of the system strain off of the first battery and add it to the one that has no prior commitments to anything.

The other option you can look into doing, if the thought of wiring an additional battery to your system frightens you.. is to simply buy a better or bigger battery. There are hundreds of choices out there.

Overall, the second battery idea is a good one. Don't let anyone tell you different. It is a little more difficult to wire it all in and make it work good... and just adding a bigger one will be simpler. But you make the decision.

 

[bonesninja 5,000+ posts]

adding a second battery is great IF you plan on playing the stereo with the engine OFF. Otherwise all you are doing is adding more for your poor alternator to charge.

 

[johnecon2001 5,000+ posts]

adding a second battery is great IF you plan on playing the stereo with the engine OFF. Otherwise all you are doing is adding more for your poor alternator to charge.

did you not read my above post where everything is explained nicely?

 

[bonesninja 5,000+ posts]

yeah i did but i didn't care

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

lol...

 

[rumydad 10+ year member]

I want to add second yellow top and get a high output alt preferably 135 amp thanx for the input but what guage should i use for second battery+ and -?