Second Battery

[JimP]

OK I'm going to be fitted a second battery as I've now got a winch and lots of lights!

So how do I wire it up?? just wire it inline to the existing battery?? +ve to +ve and -ve to -ve?? or do I need some sort of split charger or something??

Cheers

Jim

[PITBULL]

mine wired inline its fine i dont see a need for split charge but thats my opinion

[Disco Matt]

I'd go for a split charge system, they really aren't that hard to sort out. You just need a 30a relay and a live feed switched when the engine is running/alternator is turning. That way you can have auxiliary systems connected to the second battery (eg CB, computer, etc) and don't need to worry about those flattening your main battery when the engine is off.

[ChrisW70]

Split charge system would be best if you intend to run equipment for long periods of time without the engine running, a deep cycle battery would also be best.
Normal occasional use of winch and lights at night you'd be better to run a normal battery connected in parallel with the existing, if you're concerned about running the battery flat you could always connect all the ancillaries to the second battery and an isolator switch between the two.

[Disco_Stu]

Normal occasional use of winch and lights at night you'd be better to run a normal battery connected in parallel with the existing

Do not connect your batteries in parrallel. This will make your system 24v which would be very bad!!

As you say, connect them in series. +ve to +ve and earth the second battery to the chassis rail below the auxiliary battery tray.

Stu.

[ChrisW70]

+ve to +ve and earth the second battery to the chassis rail below the auxiliary battery tray.

Erm yeah but that's parallel  ;) :lol:

[vtrdaz]

Hooking batteries in parallel will give you the same voltage as a single battery, but with a Ah and current carrying capacity equal to the sum of the capacities of all the batteries. For example, three 12v 20 Ah batteries in parallel will give you 12v 60 Ah. If each battery could put out 200 amps max, three in parallel could put out 600 amps max.

Hooking the batteries in series will give you a voltage equal to the total voltage of all the batteries, but the Ah and current carrying capacity of only one. For example, three 12v 20 Ah batteries in series will give you 36v 20 Ah. If each battery could put out 200 amps max, then three in series will put out only 200 amps max.

Chrisw is correct :lol:

Darren

[Disco_Stu]

Oops, sorry  :oops: