Inexpensive dual battery isolator?

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Author Message   Jack Quinlan (Jsq) Posted on Wednesday, November 20, 2002 - 01:54 pm:    this guy at 4 wheel parts told me not to bother with the pricey optima dual battery kit. He said a lot of camping and RV places have inexpensive set ups that let you run either battery or both. Anyone tried something cheaper like this to run two batts?   thom mathie (Muskyman) Posted on Wednesday, November 20, 2002 - 02:35 pm:    jack , I use switchs that are meant for boat batteries. they have worked well for me. you can find them online or at most boat supply placfes for around $30   Paul T. Schram (Paulschram) Posted on Wednesday, November 20, 2002 - 02:36 pm:    Yes, you can buy a solenoid at your local parts shop that the snow plow guys use. Place the solenoid between the two batteries and trigger the solenoid from an accessory power source so that the secondary battery does not become part of the circuit unless the key is on. If you wish, you can get creative and put a multi-pole switch in the circuit so that you can either keep the secondary battery always isolated until you want it in the circuit, or you can bypass the accessory power source to trigger the solenoid with the secondary battery in the unlikely event the primary battery becomes so discharged that it doesn't have enough juice to trigger the solenoid. I can provide part numbers if needbe. Paul   Peter Carey (Pcarey) Posted on Wednesday, November 20, 2002 - 03:42 pm:    Musky, how is that rigged under the hood? pwc   thom mathie (Muskyman) Posted on Wednesday, November 20, 2002 - 04:26 pm:    it has 3 bolt on battery terminals on the back you just route a cable from each battery+ to it and bolt them in place. then run the original battery cable to the third terminal. you then just ground each battery- to a couple good grounds and each other its really as basic as it gets,IMO simple rules as long as you use a grommeted hole in the firewall you can put it in the cab if you like as well.