SECOND BATTERY.

DaGemi · tinkerer Joined: 28 May 2002 Posts: 80

greetigns people,

due to my large stereo i am running a second battey in the boot. i need to charge it. (the 2nd battery is running my neons and are all seperalty switched).

i need to charge it from my alternator. to do this dont i just run a cable from the positive side of the alternator and then to the positive battery terminal in the boot???

i am doing it tonight so any replies woudl be great.

thank.

Rob- DaGemi.

martin · backyard mechanic Joined: 04 Oct 2001 Posts: 900

nah dont do it

i cant remember why but this dosn't work

u will need to get a second battery wiring kit from jaycar or something similar... like i said cant remember why but i thort id just tell you no so u dont blow anything up

Ben Wight · backyard mechanic Joined: 04 Oct 2001 Posts: 946

Simply wire your two batteries in parallel, assuming they are both in the boot. If not, then you can do what you planned with a cable coming from the positive terminal on your original battery to the second battery. Or from the alternator directly, it wont make any difference, they are part of the same circuit.

I dont see why this wouldn't work. Its no different to having one huge 12V battery.

Ben Wight

Racegem · backyard mechanic Joined: 30 Jan 2002 Posts: 987

This is alright if you don't mind flattening both batteries at once, It'll just take longer. A 4WD dual battery setup has a battery isolator that switches from one battery to the other for charging and usage and therefore will keep your starting battery from going flat when you've got your stereo cranking.

Yonnee.

DaGemi · tinkerer Joined: 28 May 2002 Posts: 80

ok, everyone, thanx for replying but now i am really confused. look at the 3 different responses i got...

ok, well. what i have set up now is...
ONE HUGE battery in the engine bay running:
-lights
-ignition
-all that gismo...
-Stereo (incl. head unit, amps etc).

all the second large battery is running is my 8 neons. which come on for about 7 hours per week. some times more if more cruising happen.

so, what do i do??? i dont like the idea of only charging 1 battery at a time because with the audio running while i am driving it pulls a fair current and that battery won't like it too much.

i guess my best option would be to just run another cable from teh alternator straight to the battery. i will ring some electricians and find out from a pro..

thanks for the replies. some good ideas. i will look into it.

Cheers,
-Rob-. DaGemi

Stock TE · backyard mechanic Joined: 12 Mar 2002 Posts: 853

You dont need a second battery all you need is a better alternator