Dual Battery Wiring

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10-29-2010 | 11:50 PM

#31

JeepCoMJ

CF Veteran

Joined: Nov 2008

Posts: 2,003

Likes: 4

Year: 1987

Model: Cherokee

Engine: 4.0

Quote:

Originally Posted by gspaceunit

it is, only the accessories are running to it and i still want it to be charged by the alternator...

and just telling me its wrong doesn't help... i looked at the link you provided but my brain can't process that many drawings and then apply it to my different set-up.

i don't need more power to start my car... it cranks over just fine.

you can't have both batteries permanently attatched and charging from the alternator.

you need a continuous duty solenoid so that the second battery can be disconnected from the first battery...and it only charges when it needs to be charged. idea 2 allows for the solenoid to turn on only when there is oil pressure...i.e. it will ALWAYS start, and both batteries will be charged. and you save a crap-ton of wire by not switching all your accessories to the second battery.

it also allows you to isolate all functions to 1 battery, with the second battery being backup. it's a superior setup to yours. look at the picture for idea 2, read the description, get the parts, and wire it up.

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10-30-2010 | 12:10 AM

#32

5-90

CF Veteran

Joined: May 2008

Posts: 3,018

Likes: 17

Year: 1988

Model: Cherokee

Engine: AMC242

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamie57

Have you never seen a battery explode?
I once dropped a jumper cable onto a bank of batteries wired up for amperage for boosting Cat D9s. I had to wear eye patches for two weeks and had DELC stamped on my forehead for a month.
I've also seen welders use jumper cables and an electrode to do an emergency repair in the field.
Electricity at any voltage should be treated with fear and respect!

I have.

Charging ten batteries on a Buss bar, all were 1000CCA units.

The guy hooking them up didn't check, and the tenth one was reversed. He ran down and connected all of the positive clamps, then the negative. The tenth battery exploded, and I spent my afternoon filling out workplace injury reports (shop steward,) administering first aid, and eventually dealing with the ER and paramedics that showed up. (Amazing how many things you can do at once when you really need to - although I didn't do all of those at the exact same time.) Still, wasn't fun.

The guy got all bent at me when I put the cause of the incident down as "Personal Negligence" (which is was,) and that ended up getting him denied disability - just paid medical bills.

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