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Dual battery question

bmsmalley

bmsmalley

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My K5 has dual batteries and today is the day that I get new batteries and new cables. However, I don't remember how the second battery hooks up. I have the original ground to the alternator bracket on the passenger side still in place and the original positive to the starter.

On the second battery does the positive go to the positive of the battery on the passenger side and the ground to ground on the frame or the other batter?
 
the + have to be connected together for the batteries to be 12v in parrallel. which is what you what. batteries in series is + to - and you get 24v system.
 
What he said.

Here's the way my '89's factory dual battery setup goes:

-D-side negative to ground on engine behind the PS resevoir.
-D-side positive heavy cable across fan shroud to pass side positive.

-Pass side positive to starter.
-Pass negative to ground on alternator bracket.
 
You definitely don't want 24v. Reverse CUCV wiring suddenly...:crazy:
 
Poistive to positive and negative to negative equals parallel wiring which will retain the voltage of the battery but increase the amp/hour rating.

Positive to negative equals series wiring which will double the battery voltage but keep the same amp/hour rating.
 
AJMBLAZER said:
What he said.

Here's the way my '89's factory dual battery setup goes:

-D-side negative to ground on engine behind the PS resevoir.
-D-side positive heavy cable across fan shroud to pass side positive.

-Pass side positive to starter.
-Pass negative to ground on alternator bracket.
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soooo... i have a question related to this subject. i've got the windstar fans wired up in my rig and i keep blowin through alternators (4 so far). would a dual battery set up help my problem?
 
Dual batteries will really not have anything to do with helping a problem of "blowing" through alternators. What you need to check is the amp draw of everything in your system and make sure the alternator you're using is capable of handling the request of everything your system requires. For instance if all of the items on your rig will draw 100amps and you only have an 85amp alternator then the alternator isn't big enough for your needs. Now keep in mind that not everything will be on at the same time so you have to figure out what the highest load would be at any given time and make sure the alterrnator is capable of more amp rating than your highest load.
 
4X4HIGH said:
Dual batteries will really not have anything to do with helping a problem of "blowing" through alternators. What you need to check is the amp draw of everything in your system and make sure the alternator you're using is capable of handling the request of everything your system requires. For instance if all of the items on your rig will draw 100amps and you only have an 85amp alternator then the alternator isn't big enough for your needs. Now keep in mind that not everything will be on at the same time so you have to figure out what the highest load would be at any given time and make sure the alterrnator is capable of more amp rating than your highest load.
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hmmm alrighty, I'll see if i can figure out who is drawing how much...
 
Remember when it comes to lights it is wattage divided by voltage to give you the amp draw. For instance a 55 watt light at 12 volts draws 4.58amps.

Those Windstar fans are going to probably be the biggest amp draw. Also make sure you are using a relay otherwise you will end up with melted wiring at some point.
 
Alright....believe it or not I NOW have found time to look into this issue of mine and i'll be honest this is soo much like a foreign language to me. Soo...I've borrowed this gauge from a buddy of mine and neither he or i have any idea as to how to use it....well okay i can at least figure out the red wire goes on the positive terminal or the battery and the black to the negative. But what freaking setting do i need to put it on to find the proper readings?:D:confused: HELP!!!

GetAttachment.jpg
 
Turn the dial to the Vdc 20. This will allow it to read up to 20 volts (assuming you're just wanting to check battery voltage or alternator output).
 
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Blue, if you need any help, especially with electrical I can probably get some time this weekend to stop by and figure out what is happening. But, based on the windstar fans you may want to look at a CS144 alternator to replace the current unit. Those years had a 105 amp, and that was pretty anemic when adding more electrical draw.
 
I might take you up on that lectric....I'll P.M. ya if this all becomes too much for me.:D


So here are my results from the amp meter test deal....so not running with nothing on it sits at 12.50 and with everything on (but still not running) (ignition, headlights, rock lights, hella's, both fans) 11.27. Now when the truck its running with nothing its at 14.50 and with everything on it's 13.80 and it slowly goes down and down and down at idle. I think the lowest i saw it reach was 11.20. Any who soo would it just be easier to bypass all this who-ha and get the bigger alternator you all are talking about...?:confused:
 
Keep in mind you probably aren't going to have EVERYTHING on at the same time. Also are you looking at a DVOM (Digital Volt Ohm Meter) or are you basing these voltages off of the factory gauge?
 
4x4high said:
keep in mind you probably aren't going to have everything on at the same time. Also are you looking at a dvom (digital volt ohm meter) or are you basing these voltages off of the factory gauge?
Click to expand...

dvom

True, but all my lights are nothing compared to the huge draw my fans have.
 
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