Side battery terminals...

[Joopin]

I have an optima red top and I just got a warn xd9000i winch. I want to put a dual battery set up and run two red tops eventually, but just for the tray, relay and extra wires it's 200 bucks, WITHOUT the second optima! Anyways, I want to hook up my winch to my battery now. Can I just use those side terminals? Or is it a "pick one or the other" kind of thing. everything is ready I just have to hook it up to the battery. Pros? Cons?

 

[Snitty]

the top posts and the side terminals are both just connected with each other.... you can use both.. but be careful of the load you put on it

 

[Snitty]

PS.... how can i make as much money as you?

 

[White]

when you comming back joop ?

 

[XJNick]

Hi,

The side terminals cannot handle the kind of current draw the main (top) posts are capable of transmitting. So I'd be hesitant to put any really high amperage devices on them.

If you want to connect several things to each top post, run the main cable from the positive battery post to distribution stud and bolt all your main hot wires to it using eyelet lugs.

I've found Waytek Wire ( http://www.waytekwire.com/ ) to be a great source for wiring related things :mrgreen:

-Nick :!:

 

[Joopin]

when you comming back joop ?

Coming back? to the paragon? Dunno yet... I'll let ya know though!

XJNick, the side terminals can't handle that current... even an optima? All that stuff you said didn't make any sense to me... I should really learn about the electical side of my jeep i guess...
What If I run the winch to the top terminals and my radio and aux lights to the side terminals? Would that work?
Joop

 

[XJNick]

What If I run the winch to the top terminals and my radio and aux lights to the side terminals? Would that work?
Joop

Yes, that'd probably work just fine.

The reason why the battery side terminals cannot deliver the current is because they are connected internally to the main posts with a set gauge of wire (except they are plates, not wire). So the max safe current draw from them is limited to the size of their means of connection to the top (main) terminals, where as the main terminals can deliver the full battery peak current safely (on optimas this can be close to 1000 amps! for a set duration).

Anyways, i was also mentioning above that you can buy one of these: http://order.waytekwire.com/CGI-BIN/LANSAWEB?WEBEVENT+L076C7C3D7879C636D0DC722+M37+ENG
(EDIT) Crap, the link won't work. The waytek item # is 47211, type that in at waytekwire.com and you'll see what i'm talking about. (/EDIT)

which is like a single section junction block which can handle alot of power passing through it. Connect things like your winch, main Jeep hot wire, alternator etc. to it using eyelet lugs with 3/8" holes, then connect say a 1 gauge or 1/0 gauge wire between the junction stud and the main battery terminals. :mrgreen:

FYI, the american wiring gauge (AWG) goes as follows:

4/0 (Largest)
2/0
1/0
1
2
4
.... etc...

so 1/0 is larger than 1 gauge.

-Nick :!:

 

[White]

i have some 1/0 if you need it joop... For a cheap price..

 

[Joopin]

Thanks XJNick, I'll look into it. This would only be temporary since the dual batteries will be mine, oh yes, they will be mine...

Oh and Snitty, how can I make as much money as you Think I do? I got the XD9000i used... It was made in '89!

 

[Snitty]

SOA done at a garage... big manly tires... a winch (used or unused)... bla bla bla... all within a few months... would you mind sending me a branch of that money tree?