Optima's Blue Top/dual Battery System

[smoke]

So I got a hell of a steal....went to a yard sale before the rain started today and saw 2 blue top batteries in the garage on a shelf...got to talking to the wife and said i could use those batteries for a project I'll give ya $50 for em....she said $100... I said ok...

 

Now my question is how am i going to get these installed and workin with my current system...As yall know Im a Emergency First Responder. My thoughts are to run all of my Emergency Lights (leds) and off-road lights<--- scene lights as I like to call them...lol and have the batteries kept charged....I know there are dual battery systems out there that keep your primay battery charged first then charges the aux batteries once the primary is charged.....and how big of a alternator do i have to put in to go above the regular draw of normal vehicle use? Could I use both blue tops as auxilary 2 auxiliary(bluetop) and 1 primary(regular batt)? My battery now is brand new....

 

For those of you that have experiance using dual battery systems please teach the grass hopper....lol

Edited December 9, 2009 by smoke

[XPLORx4]

Battery isolation systems used for dual-battery configurations do not charge one battery, wait for it to be "full" then charge the second battery.

 

Both batteries are charged simultaneously as needed. If one battery is mostly charged, but the other is depleted, the circuitry charges one battery more than the other.

 

The alternator's function is to supply the vehicle's electrical needs without having to rely on the batteries. If your electrical drain exceeds the alternator's capacity for long periods of time, then you will eventually end up with a dead battery, a burned out alternator, or both.

 

If your current system, with all your lights and gizmos, is working OK, then you may not need to change anything, except find a place to install that second battery somewhere and connect it.

 

There are several types of dual-battery configurations. Here are a few:

1) MAIN battery + BACKUP battery: All electrical needs are attached to the MAIN battery. The BACKUP battery is there in case the main battery dies, and fails to start the vehicle.

2) STARTING battery + AUX battery: The starting and ignition circuits are attached to the STARTING battery. Everything else, including lighting, accessories, audio, etc. are attached to the AUX battery.

3) MAIN battery + AUX battery: All electrical needs are attached to the MAIN battery. The AUX battery is attached to the MAIN battery, and can serve as a means to double the overall battery capacity.

 

Read more about dual battery configurations here.

[edicer2]

In my 300zx i have the main battery running all the normal stuff(factory stuff) and my aux battery powering my stereo stuff and it helped alot my alternator defiantly isnt working nearly as hard at all atleast my volts dont drops as much as they used to. I have a optima red top up front and a optima yellow top in the rear by the sub and amps and cap.

 

 

I wouldnt use a blue top for starting the pathy though arent those a deep cycle battery? I think i would use your regualr battery and hook up both your blue tops u bought in the rear. they are really easy to wire up.

 

ifu need me to draw it out pm me and ill try and draw something in ms paint that makes sense

Edited December 9, 2009 by edicer2

[smoke]

Well one of the batteries was completely dead... the other had 5.3 volts on it....so I had them piggy back charged up to about 10 volts... now are on a all night charge at the local autopart store(where my buddy works should be fully charged tomorrow)....

 

Right now the load is 95% stock on the current battery system. The IPF lights have not been installed yet...nor has the roof rack been built(making costom from scratch).

 

I want to leave all factory stuff on the primary battery. radio, regular lights and such....I want the 2 blue top....if both are good....to power all my accesory emergency lights and off-road lights once there installed.

 

Would like to have a good diagram of how to do it and quality parts(isolator?, dual system?) to use while doing it...and a way to charge everything so i dont over tax my alternator thats on it of which i have no idea what condition it is in since its a junk yard engine....i will prolly buy a aftermarket or refurb....was told that other alternators will bolt on other than pathy?

[180sx]

The quest alternator can, but with a modification i believe. Look into the how-to section, i believe there is a write up in there.

[smoke]

In my 300zx i have the main battery running all the normal stuff(factory stuff) and my aux battery powering my stereo stuff and it helped alot my alternator defiantly isnt working nearly as hard at all atleast my volts dont drops as much as they used to. I have a optima red top up front and a optima yellow top in the rear by the sub and amps and cap.

 

 

I wouldnt use a blue top for starting the pathy though arent those a deep cycle battery? I think i would use your regualr battery and hook up both your blue tops u bought in the rear. they are really easy to wire up.

 

ifu need me to draw it out pm me and ill try and draw something in ms paint that makes sense

 

 

Yes, would you please make a drawing for me to see what it should look like. I have put something om paper and would like to see if what im thinking will work...lol....but yes I would like to use both of these batteries. Would you parallel the battieries or have them in a series to keep them 12 volt, I know one way makes them 12 and the other makes them 24 <---of which I dont want 24 volt. I'm not that familiar with that much electrical stuff.

 

I'm going to run all of the lights off of some federal signal (public safety ie police fire ems) switch boxes that I have access to

[MikeV]

Blue top is a starting/deepcell (used one in my pathy all winter last year and it started in 20 below without an issue) Still had high CCA; I screw the winch right to the secondary top post (not the sideposts that could melt out when a winch is connected;-)

 

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[XPLORx4]

You do not want to connect batteries in series. You want them connected in parallel. Check out this diagram, which I found after entering "series or parallel battery wiring" on google.

 

As for keeping your electrical systems completely isolated, you might want to consider the Powergate. It's a high-quality component.

Edited December 10, 2009 by XPLORx4

[smoke]

Well heres what is now the plan.....one battery is good other is dead...will not hold charge after being on a charger all night....so a dual auxiliary right now is out but will keep the idea and plans to do dual auxilary batts in the future...

 

so right now looking at the best possible solution to a single auxilary batt set up....

 

need dual battery system kit....if installed what do you use on your rigs?

 

need more info on a alternator swap...looked in the how-to part need more info... stock amps, idle amps, ect. year model engine size to get donor alternator from...prolly get a refurb....or buy after market idk yet...

 

thanx mates for all your time and thoughts

[XPLORx4]

I'm running an Optima blue-top as my primary battery, and an Odyssey PC680 as an emergency backup battery. I'm using a stock alternator. All electrical loads (incuding aux lights, audio, and winch) are attached to the Optima, and the only time I ever engage the Odyssey is if I've drained the main battery, such as running a 12v fridge all weekend while camping, and need to start the engine.

 

I am using the Hellroaring BIC-95150B Battery Isolator/Combiner with a in-cab remote switch to temporarily engage the PC680 to help put just enough "charge" into the main battery to start the engine, at which point the alternator begins recharging the main battery.

 

Probably the most difficult challenge you face is finding a suitable location to mount your second battery where it won't compromise the cargo volume. The BIC unit is pretty small. I was able to mount it on the front of the passenger-side strut tower in the engine bay, directly beneath the fuse box.

Edited December 11, 2009 by XPLORx4

[smoke]

Good to know. The primay I have now is brand new bought back in early Nov. I'm wanting to run all factory on the primary and everything else on the Aux.....from what i have looked at the alty on my truck now is old and prolly the origional....with 150-200K miles on it I think I could use the upgrade... and the higher output of a larger alty...120-180 would be ideal... what kind of options are there that are true and tested?

[MikeV]

high output alternator

Mean Green has been around for many years