Post by: KFhunter on November 23, 2013, 02:05:08 PM
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?
Post by: DRobnsn on November 23, 2013, 02:37:28 PM
Post by: KFhunter on November 23, 2013, 02:54:17 PM
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)
Post by: KFhunter on November 23, 2013, 03:14:52 PM
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fecx.images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FI%2F41FNzrjxkaL.jpg&hash=581bb96de60b9e36f5b3c4ce049eea8d96a1c22a)
and covers
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fecx.images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FI%2F31HvWRCAboL.jpg&hash=389ca45bb9eacd056f19787e17faa23b44ccef6a)
Post by: KFhunter on November 24, 2013, 10:28:05 AM
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 :tup:
Post by: DRobnsn on November 24, 2013, 10:55:09 AM
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! :chuckle:
Post by: KFhunter on November 24, 2013, 11:54:57 AM
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!
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcustombatterycables.com%2Fimages%2F1997_dodge_2500_5p9L_positive_r2.gif&hash=ede109ce90c2ead1809353827696c80ce798f496)
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 :twocents:
So I'll go that route for the cleanest setup.
Post by: KFhunter on November 24, 2013, 12:11:51 PM
Those side posts are going to be very handy :tup:
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.ebayimg.com%2Ft%2FNew-Optima-YellowTop-D34-78-Battery-SC34DU-8014-045-%2F00%2Fs%2FMjM2WDI1MA%3D%3D%2Fz%2F7bwAAOxyDLZR78BD%2F%24T2eC16h%2C%21ysE9sy0k1WwBR78BDUN7%21%7E%7E60_35.JPG&hash=86a1011c2500763c69aaac7f4c1dda642dcaa69d)
no more "click-click-click" :chuckle:
Post by: huntandjeep on November 24, 2013, 12:51:18 PM
Post by: KFhunter on November 24, 2013, 04:50:00 PM
Post by: Special T on December 03, 2013, 12:22:27 PM
http://www.romaineelectric.com/ (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. :twocents:
Post by: KFhunter on December 03, 2013, 12:48:42 PM
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/ (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. :twocents:
^ 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 :o
Still waiting on the cables though and don't want my old ones on the new batteries to infect it with corrosion :chuckle:
Post by: huntandjeep on December 04, 2013, 07:03:44 PM
Post by: KFhunter on December 09, 2013, 12:17:36 PM
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/ (http://www.custombatterycables.com/) was nice and I love the single cable idea. I give them a solid :tup:
Post by: KillBilly on December 09, 2013, 12:34:43 PM
You won't see any liqued from the battery since its a dry cell :chuckle:.
Gel cell
Not dry cell
Post by: 6x6in6 on December 09, 2013, 12:48:55 PM
Actually, neither.You won't see any liqued from the battery since its a dry cell :chuckle:.
Gel cell
Not dry cell
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.