Will this work?

[ajfrank43]

pics are in

Ok I've got this idea for my dual battery setup. I have a red top optima and a yellow top optima. For the red top I keep everything wired the same from the factory, but for the yellow top I run a groung from the battery to the block and a wire from my alternator to the positive on the yellow top. I also will be hooking up my winch to the side terminals of the yellow top. I want to charge both batteries from my alternator but keep them completely seperate in their functions. Will this work or do I need to put something between the two wires at the alternator to keep the batteries from discharging through these wires?


Does this make sense to anyone? I don't know if it will work. What do ya'll think? Please help I'm freaking out.

AJ

 

[Green97TJ]

Im not sure on the wiring, but i am pretty sure that your not supposed to hook a winch up to the side posts, cuz it can cause them to melt down. You might wait and see what some of the others say, but im pretty sure

Nathan

 

[kyjeepr]

You can get a battery isolator switch at a marine parts store for about $20. The brand I have in my boat and Jeep is Perko. You just connect your existing positive battery cable to it, then run two more cables to your batteries positive terminal. Ground the batteries to the motor and your set. This way you can select either battery for starting if needed, and you can still attach your winch directly to one battery.

 

[Snitty]

i should probably do that for my plow

 

[fourtrail]

If you hook both batteries to the alternator they will essentialy be hooked in paralell through the charge wire. you could put a high amperage rated diode in the charge wire to keep them isolated, but then you will have issues with charging. the alternator only will sense that the main battery will need a charge and either under or overcharge the other battery. when running a dual battery setup it is also advisable to run identicle batteries because they will only charge to the amperage of the smallest battery. for the cost and complexity of new vehicle wiring it is advisable to order a dual battery kit and have the isolator and a diagram to hook them up so both will get charged. hook the winch to the top post and the battery isolator to the side post. the side post is connected to the top post through a small bar that may burn out during high amp pull where as the top post is connected straight to the cell.

 

[XJNick]

I'd advis NOT to connect the batteries directly in parallel, unless you are using two of the exact same battery...

But even if they are identical, as Inspector G has pointed out in a previous post, it would be safer to use some sort of isolation/switching device.

-Nick :!:

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

Don't winch from the side posts.

 

[Snitty]

the only thing i use side posts for is my accessories... my starter and plow are wired to my top terminals.... i never did like side posts.. they are quite inconvenient... the only advantage is space