Using Different batteries?

[shizzzon 10+ year member]

Ok, here we go.

Different ways to wire in parallel to get the BEST performance possible.

There will be 4 different scenarios shown here.

Example- This example will have 10 batteries and 4 different ways to wire them based on equipment installation.

In this example, we are only going to be looking at bass amps, the 10 batteries and grounding...

OK, example #1-

10 batteries and 1 bass amp.

Take all 10 batteries and parallel them together.

Take Power wire on bass amp and run it to + post on battery #1

Take Ground wire on bass amp and run it to - post on battery #10

Ground ENTIRE battery bank off of battery #1 - post ONLY!

Result- This will allow power to cycle through all 10 batteries and ground back to frame right where the source(bass amp) is connected.

Example #2-

10 batteries and 10 bass amps.

Parallel all 10 batteries together.

Run EACH bass amp's power and ground cable to each battery.

Ground each battery separately from it's - post to car.

Result- because you have equal battery to amp, running connections directly to each post will give best conductivity and give off equal performance from all 10 batteries just like in example #1.

Example #3-

10 batteries and 5 bass amps.

Visually assume you have 5 pairs of batteries rather than 10 individual batteries.

Parallel 5 pairs of batts together.

Now, you will have dedicated 2 batteries per amp.

For each amp, run it's power wire to Battery #1, then ground wire to Battery #2.

You will ground ALL 5 pairs of batts to car off of the same battery that the power wire from amp is connected to!

PS- when you run your alternator cable back here, you will need FIVE cables, one for each set of batteries that the alternator will need to be attached to.

You may need a large distribution block for this.

You do not parallel all 5 pairs of batts together. The only link that connects them all together is the alternator via a likely installed distribution block.

Example #4-

This is extremely complicated so i'll narrow it down to 4 batteries and 1 amp.

Run amp's power wire to batts #2 and #4

Run amp's ground wire to batts #1 and #3

On batt#2, take power wire and parallel it to batt #1

On batt#4, take power wire and parallel it to batt #3

On batt#1, take ground wire and parallel it to batt #2

On batt#3, take ground wire and parallel it to batt #4

Ground batts #2 and #4 to car only!

This example not only ensures proper distribution but all eliminates possible resistance in wiring differences.

This example is extremely complicated and rarely ever used but provides the best method when it can be utilized.

 

[The_Grimy_One 10+ year member]

Wow, that was some knowledge!

Do you recommend running a negative wire from the front batt to the rear?

Or just grounding trunk batt to chassis, alone?

In my case, with just the one batt in trunk...

 

[shizzzon 10+ year member]

I tell you what, if your voltage is dropping below 13.0v, YES!

You can do this test yourself to see the difference-

Take either a long set of jumper cables or a very long run of power wire.

(this will take 2 people if not using jumper cables)

On one end, connect to ground location that you have your amp grounded at(to the bolt for example)

On the other end, connect it to the ground post directly on starting battery.

Now, before you do what i said above.. do this-

Turn on vehicle and jam for abour 3-5minutes at maximum volume you listen to it at then let vehicle idle.

At this time, measure voltage at starting battery, then at amp's terminals, see the difference?

Now, if there was a noticeable difference, do what i said above then remeasure...

If you had a difference before, you will either not or have extremely low difference now.

 

[05trailblazer 10+ year member]

i think thats just going to do less than good. just wire a lot of ground from diferent chassis in your ride

 

[shizzzon 10+ year member]

Forcing batteries in a bank to ground to the frame prematurely will not allow all batteries to recharge evenly.

I did not state in these examples where the alternator cables go in every example but grounding out all the batteries too quickly can cause an uneven charging scenario.