battery cable overhaul - ideas?

[KFhunter]

I'm about to yank all the battery cables out of my 1995 Dodge Ram CTD - they're pretty well shot.   Also will be replacing both batteries.

Here's what I got;

I've got a two battery system
front mount winch 17,500lb
off road lights run from battery through solinoid
headlights rewired to pull load through battery, not the switch (sport light upgrade dodge headlight switches are underrated stock and prone to burn out)

I want to buy a spool of welding cable and soldier on terminals.  I also want a power center to clean up wiring and move them away from the battery which is currently "junked" up with wires on the terminals.

I want to use anderson style quick connnects for the winch, and with that I'll make custom jumper cables I can unplug the winch and plug in jumper cables. 
I want to run two lines to the rear and into another anderson plug at the rear bumper as well (plug in winch or jumper cables at rear bumper)


Should I go with one starting battery and one marine deep cycle type battery? I know two different battery types need to be isolated with battery isolator.
Then I'd run the winch and stuff off that deep cycle battery,   OR just use two identical starting batteries tied together like stock?

Anyone done this got tips advice?

[DRobnsn]

Hey KF that sounds like a fun and rewarding project. I haven't done that particular project but I'm curious if your using an isolator would that mean your only using the one batt to start? Or is the isolator just to keep the charging separate? Also are you still using the intake grid heater?

[KFhunter]

when you run two different battery types - a starting battery and a deep cycle battery-  you must have an isolator between them.   
Most boats have this setup with a main engine battery and a trolling battery bank, I'd just borrow some of that idea for my truck.

An isolator (there are different types) basically only allows current to go 1 way so you can keep the deep cycle battery charged off the vehicle charging system but it's basically isolated.
It won't go back to the starter.   I can install emergency parallel too that'll tie both batteries together if needed, could even put a push button in the cab so I wouldn't have to open the hood.


So I could run the winch and other stuff off the deep cycle and not draw down my starting battery.  In this system the starting battery would only start the truck and nothing else.
The grid heaters would function as normal off the deep cycle battery.   In cold weather those grids pull a ton of juice from the starting batteries before the starter then pulls a ton of juice, this would just break up that load to two different batteries.   

A single battery is plenty to start that cold diesel engine if that's all it's doing and not heating it also.   The older 1st gen only had one battery doing it all, but it's a bigger industrial type.


I'm still debating the two systems.  I might just go two matched starting batteries and forget about the isolator thing, although it'd be nice to be able to draw that battery all the way down and still be able to start the engine if for some reason I leave a key or light on - or can't run the engine and winch at the same time.........(upside down in a creek)

[KFhunter]

winch and jumper cable plugs



and covers

[KFhunter]

I'm just gonna do two yellowtops optima's - and cables from http://www.custombatterycables.com/

the optima's have the side posts and top posts, so that'll really clean up my tops and allow all the acc's mounted on the side posts 

[DRobnsn]

I think that is a good call. I did Optima's in my 01 2500 5.9 cummins its nice having the top and side posts for sure.
One thing I really would have liked to have would have been full length cables to the back. Having said that I never needed them but it would have come in handy at times.

Did you price out the other idea? I'm just curious what the difference would have been.

How about a couple 8-d's under the bed that would be nice! 

[KFhunter]

 

Problem is the truck isn't starting reliably right now so I need something done right now.   The yellow tops are hybrid batteries and suggested for trucks with winches and high accessory loads, so a pair of those should serve me very well.

With the side posts it provides me a nice place to bolt on the winch leads on the right side battery and on the other leads going to the back bumper off the left battery.  Should be a nice setup.


I love this cable idea -  it's a one piece cable from the left battery to the right and down to the starter with no bolted on lugs (prone to corrosion) breaking the connection.  It's in the mail!




I think two deep cycle hybrid optima's > one high CCA battery and one deep cycle battery with isolators and junk that could fail between the batteries 
So I'll go that route for the cleanest setup. 

[KFhunter]

$358.00 for a pair of Optima's -Ebay w/free shipping 

Those side posts are going to be very handy 




no more "click-click-click"   

[huntandjeep]

Hope you have better luck with the Optimas than I have. 2 in a year and a half. Since they started making them in Mexico the quality has went down hill. Went with a Diehard platinum to replace the yellow tops and no problems. As for a power center look into an Spod they are used a lot in the Jeeping world and work extremely well

[KFhunter]

me too 

[Special T]

If your going to use the winch a lot consider getting a high amp alt. I don't have them for my Dodge, but several other rigs.
http://www.romaineelectric.com/  this company is in Kend and specilizes in all kinds of Alternators and starters.  looks like they expanded to spokane. "ROMAINE ELECTRIC is excited to announce the acquisition of Western Sales and Auto Electric Products located in Spokane, Washington."

They are great for all the wierd stuff forklifts, tractors, etc. 

[KFhunter]

If your going to use the winch a lot consider getting a high amp alt. I don't have them for my Dodge, but several other rigs.
http://www.romaineelectric.com/  this company is in Kend and specilizes in all kinds of Alternators and starters.  looks like they expanded to spokane. "ROMAINE ELECTRIC is excited to announce the acquisition of Western Sales and Auto Electric Products located in Spokane, Washington."

They are great for all the wierd stuff forklifts, tractors, etc. 

^ thanks ^


I got my optima's in the mail, one was dropped and shows some cracks around the edge but no leakage in the packaging or when I turn it upside down - gonna try my luck with it 
Still waiting on the cables though and don't want my old ones on the new batteries to infect it with corrosion 

[huntandjeep]

You won't see any liqued from the battery since its a dry cell  .

[KFhunter]

doh   






OK I got it all done, the starter is MUCH happier and is cranking over the engine like I can't remember it doing for YEARS

the http://www.custombatterycables.com/ was nice and I love the single cable idea.  I give them a solid 

[KillBilly]

You won't see any liqued from the battery since its a dry cell  .

Gel cell

Not dry cell

[6x6in6]

You won't see any liqued from the battery since its a dry cell  .

Gel cell

Not dry cell

Actually, neither.
Absorbed Glass Mat, or AGM for short.
The glass mats are soaked in acid to retain the electrolytes and then rung out to something like 5% prior to installing them between the lead plates.