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Winch and dual battery set up question?

hidesertwheelin

hidesertwheelin

1/2 ton status
Joined
Nov 13, 2004
Posts
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Location
Hesperia, CA
I'm looking for dual battery set up options for my suburban. I have a Warn M1200 on it. I want to be able to charge both batteries, but have the batteries disconnected to I will always have 1 battery charged enought to start the truck. I did a search, but it was all chinese to me. Can someone please explain it to me in stupid terms. Thanks.
 
You can spend a bunch of money or a fancy setup -- Hellroaring is one name, or the outfit in Seattle with the really nice wires whose name escapes me.

You can spend a lot less money and get a solid-state battery isolator, which is basically two diodes, which separate the batteries, but allow the alternator to charge both.

You can get really cheap, and just get a continuous-duty solenoid, and wire it so that when the ignition key is on (i.e. when the engine is running, when the alternator is charging) the batteries are connected, and when the key is off (no charge) the batteries are disconnected.

I went this route as it's cheap, and works -- it's what the trucks came with from the factory if the batteries weren't just paralleled.

-- A
 
I have 2 x 1000ca duralast batteries in parallel right now.... both run the winch.. havent had to use it yet... that kinda sucks.. after wife has kid I want to go out and test the winch out a few times...

however I am going to put a battery isolator in.. I have it already.... keep both duals for the truck.. then I have 2 x 1200cca batteries for the bed of the truck...... I want to be able to get out even if the truck is off..... so depends on what you really want..


if all you need is 1 battery for the winch and 1 for the truck.... get a battery isolator and your good to go.... some people use the marine dual battery switch... that way you can use 1 battery and switch to the other when needed....
 
Thanks for the info. Is there a site with a good wiring scamatic (sp?)? Also will a furd starter solenoide work?
 
My junk...........
DSC_1611.sized.jpg



DSC_1613.sized.jpg
 
off topic but does that really make a difference in performance by bolting the cover on upside down? Do you guys all do that (at least that still smog) and I just haven't noticed or is dontoe crazy? :)

-Avery
 
Avery4jc said:
off topic but does that really make a difference in performance by bolting the cover on upside down? Do you guys all do that (at least that still smog) and I just haven't noticed or is dontoe crazy? :)

-Avery
Click to expand...

You hear the four barrel kick in, so much better! :wink1:
 
why don't you just get a stand alone K&N or Fram filter to put on? Then when you have to smog it just put the enclosure and old filter back on? Thats what some of my buddies do and its what I'm going to do.

-Avery
 
Avery4jc said:
why don't you just get a stand alone K&N or Fram filter to put on? Then when you have to smog it just put the enclosure and old filter back on? Thats what some of my buddies do and its what I'm going to do.

-Avery
Click to expand...


Just temporary...............no smog though.........1975!
16873New_engine.jpg
 
hidesertwheelin said:
I'm looking for dual battery set up options for my suburban. I have a Warn M1200 on it. I want to be able to charge both batteries, but have the batteries disconnected to I will always have 1 battery charged enought to start the truck. I did a search, but it was all chinese to me. Can someone please explain it to me in stupid terms. Thanks.
Click to expand...

The isolator is easy and around $50.00............Instead of the alternator wire going to the junction block on the firewall, then back to the stock battery, it goes to the center post of the isolator, then the post on each side charges the two batteries. :wink1:
 
dontoe said:
Just temporary...............no smog though.........1975!
16873New_engine.jpg
Click to expand...
Wow! Is that the new Dontoe-mobile motivator?





cooooool !!:D
 
southernspeed said:
Wow! Is that the new Dontoe-mobile motivator?





cooooool !!:D
Click to expand...

Had it assembled a couple of years................just need to put it in and fire it up!
Was gonna put it in my K-10, gave that to my wife. Then started to put it in the '73.............then I bought the '75.............too many projects, too little time..
 
Must be nice to not live in Kalifornia. ;)

I think ours is pre '73.
Anyways sorry for the hijack, back to dual batt. setups.


-Avery
 
I run dual optima industrials, I have no isolator, the positive wire going straight from the batterys to the winch has a connector block where the alternator connects to charge both batterys/run the winch. I run a 300 amp marine fuse to all of the other electicals in the truck. I have a marine style heavy duty switch that I am going to install as a kill switch for the batterys. I have winched for 2 hours straight without killing the batteries. And that was with a broken rear ring and pinion and a busted front hub so basically dead weight straight up hill on Schoolbus at tellico. I have an isolator that I never installed. basically I want to be able to use every bit of power I have and divide it equally over both batterys. So take this with a grain of salt and remember never wheel alone....get some long jumper cables and pre make some connectors so that you can disconnect your batterys from the truck and run them in series with jumper cables and welding rod or portable welder. Its a handy thing.

BATT1.jpg

/rant
gabe:D
 
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