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Batterys and Isolators

Dafey

Dafey

1/2 ton status
Joined
Feb 10, 2007
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Location
Roswell NM
If I put a isolator between the battery's, I can use 2 different kinds,right?
A regular Auto Zone to start and run the normal stuff and a deep cycle to run offroad lights , winch etc .... It would be fine right?
I dont want to have to buy 2 expensive Batterys right away :eek1: ,1 batt and isolator 1st.Then a 2nd batt.

And get a 100 Alt soon to go with all that.
 
A standard isolator does not allow the second battery to reach full charge due to the resistance of the diode. There is quite a bit of discussion about dual batteries if you search. As long as you can live with the voltage drop, an isolator will allow you to run 2 different types of batteries.
 
Go to a battery warehouse and ask for blems. I used to(before I moved) pay around $55 for Optima RedTops, $65-70 for Yellow at one in socal. They had the same warranty and performance. Usually have some scratches or marks and they have white sticker that says blemish so everyone knows your cheap when they look under your hood.
 
i would put more than 100 amp alt.....if your going to swap the alt, go ahead and get big un! at least a 140 amp...iirc, some trucks had 140amp alt from the factory... look at the alts in lmc catalog and it shows what yr & models had 100, 120, & 140amps,..then find that alt in the salvage yard! or maybe buy a replacement for that model, it may be cheaper than buying a "hi-output alt"...i read a battery comparision some where & it showed excide's 6-pack gel cell outperforming the optimas....i may have read that where they sell excide bat, so that info maybe biased! i'm thinking about getting the optima trolling kit as my 2nd battery, its 2 blue tops in a holder for the batteries, put it in the bed under tool box or maybe in the tool box, and have a yellow top up front, prolly 2 yellow tops in parallel up front 1st, then buy the trolling kit at a later time...for a total of 4 batteries...overkill..maybe, but isn't that the name of the game/addiction=more is better!
 
Here is my system. it wasnt cheap, but it works.

I am running a redtop and yellowtop optima. I have my system setup so the yellow top is a backup , I have all my stuff run off the redtop. I have Hellroaring Isolator kit and a MeanGreen 140amp alternator.

With my system I have some control over the batteries.

I have a 3 position switch that is mounted in my glovebox

In the down position, I remove the aux battery from the system, meaning it wont be charged or used

In the middle positin, both batteries are being charged, but the aux battery isnt used

In the up position, both batteries are being charged AND combined for extra power such as winching.

My reasoning for leaving the aux battery out of the system (not having any accessories connected to it) is cuz If I kill my main battery, ive always got a fresh battery to start my truck up with. Ive already proven this theory with DRAWS. I had a parasitic draw from my TACH, it only killed my main battery, until I found the problem, I had to combine the batteries to start my truck, luckily I found the problem and all is well.

Everyone does it differently, I thought long and hard how I wanted my system. Its been this way for a good 3-4 years and never had any issues.
 
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