By Joshua Bova (Jbova) on Tuesday, March 20, 2001 - 11:23 am: Edit

If any one is running one, let me know what you think.

I left my lights on while parked by a lake reading a book on my lunch hour. This would not have been so bad if I wasn't 1.5 miles from a paved road. I had the guy from AAA meet me on the side of the road and hiked back in with his little battery booster thing.

Thanks.

-josh

By eddie on Wednesday, March 21, 2001 - 02:51 am: Edit

Yeah I think it is a good thing, especially if you are running a winch and a lot of auxilary lights, you can buy the dual battery manager deal from Atlantic British for less than $200.


p.s. get Optima batteries to go along with the managment system

By wisker on Wednesday, March 21, 2001 - 03:23 am: Edit

Where can you mount the second battery? I already moved the jack and used that space to mount the Jacobs ignition stuff. Where else could you put it?

By eddie on Wednesday, March 21, 2001 - 06:44 am: Edit

I really don't know, but in the Atlantic British catalog they say that you have to call them to find out where to mount the other battery. It would fit "easily," is what they say. Go to atlanticbritish.com, they might have it there.

By Joshua Bova (Jbova) on Wednesday, March 21, 2001 - 07:40 am: Edit

If you go with a sealed battery (Optima) You can put it in front of the air cleaner box. (remove the cone thing. Or put in a snorkel.

-josh

By Moe on Wednesday, March 21, 2001 - 08:46 am: Edit

Josh, couldn't you just wire the batteries in parallel and include your basic battery isolator switch--marine stores stock the 1, 2, both switch. I would be concerned that the automatic management system might fail. A manual switch is far simpler and as long as you don't have it on 'both' next time you have lunch at the lake, it should be fine. The advantage of the managment system is that it would have automatically isolated one of the batteries in your situation. Let us know what you decide, as I am thinking about the dual batteries too.

Also you can fit two Optimas side by side in the primary battery compartment.

Ian.

By nadim on Wednesday, March 21, 2001 - 12:01 pm: Edit

That is what I did, i got a 1000amp marine switch...it is huge, ugly and orange, but waterproof, and has off, 1, 2, and both settings....
i ditched the jack, and put a normal "watta" battery there, and put a yellow top in the usual place....
works fine for me...
nadim

By Moe on Wednesday, March 21, 2001 - 02:59 pm: Edit

Nadim, where did you place the switch?

Ian

By Clint on Wednesday, March 21, 2001 - 05:36 pm: Edit

The following is from
http://www.d-90.com/tech/index.html
the article called "the winch"

->
A short aside about dual batteries--I have them. Anyone who will be winching a lot should have them as well. I winch at night, pull 2 or 3 vehicles back to back out of holes, etc., so I need dual batteries. Optima recommends NOT using an isolator with their batteries. I don’t like using an isolator because I like all the juice to come evenly out of the batteries, and to charge the batteries equally. What will sometimes happen with isolators is that the current flow will slowly drain off the "isolated" battery even while you are using the other. Remember that the current flow for your vehicle (neg earth systems) flows from ground (earth) to positive, just like lightning! So even with an isolator, you can conceivably drain the other battery. Some will refute this statement, and that’s OK, I will stick with what I know and obviously what the Optima Company knows!

Also
http://www.optimabatteries.com/main.htm
information/guide says:

->
Connecting Batteries Together in Parallel
If your battery application requires more starting power or reserve capacity you can install multiple batteries together in parallel by connecting the like terminals together (positive to positive / negative to negative). Each time you add a battery in parallel you increase the CCA and Reserve Capacity, the voltage remains at 12 volts. For example, two Optima's in parallel will provide 1600 CCA and 240 minutes reserve. Three in parallel provides 2400 CCA and 360 minutes of reserve. If you have any questions about multiple battery installations, contact an appropriate automotive service center.

Suggestions for connecting batteries in parallel

Use batteries of identical make, model, and age.
Make sure cable gauge is sufficient to handle the higher current flow.
Prevent cables from shorting (do not allow them to rub against the vehicle body).
Use only high quality connectors, clean all contacts prior to installation.
Periodically check all connections for snugness.
If you are unsure of this procedure, contact your automotive service center.

By Milan on Thursday, March 22, 2001 - 04:35 am: Edit

I too prefer the mnual switch to isolators as they sometimes can get damaged and then they do more harm then good (they can drain your battery even though they're supposedly deisgned not to do so).

As far as the parallel setup goes, an additional benefit (in my opinion) is that when you use your winch, you drain 2 batteries half way as opposed to discharging one battery fully, for example. This prolongs the life of the batteries and it should allow you to start your vehicle should you accidentally shut it off right after winching (unless, ofcourse, you winched 3 vehicles in a row and drained both batteries 100%).