To isolate or not to isolate, that is the ?

[GI JOEY 10+ year member]

I have the bat isolater from my old truck and am gonna add another bat to my current build. So what ya think? Should I use the isolater? I know alot of people just add the 2nd bat and wire it parallel but if you had the iso whould you use it? It is the big boy too so it can take the ampreage. Its like 14"x 5" roughly.

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[Crownvicon28s 10+ year member]

diode isolators (which I believe you have) have a .3 to .7 volt drop across it. If running an isolator I would run a solenoid isolator. Solenoid isolator does basically the same thing as a diode isolator except the diode isolator separates the batteries with the car off or on, solenoid only separates the batteries with the car off. My battery upfront rest at 12.5, my batteries in the back rest at 12.9. Without the solenoid isolator between them both rest at 12.7. The front battery was charging off of the rear batteries. This in time will shorten the life of my rear batteries. Its not necessary but I would run one if possible. Had to take the diode isolator out because I didn't like the voltage my batteries were charging at. I wouldn't run an isolator at all if this is the type of isolator you have.

 

[GI JOEY 10+ year member]

its by sure power industries, its the 240 amp, I looked them up and I do think it is diode. If thats the case I guess I will just go ahead and parallel the bats. Gonna have to buy a bunch of wire. lol.