I saw advertised on trucks TV(on spike channel) that Painless(wiring harness company) makes a wiring harness kit for running dual batterys. It even has a switch to let choose between running off of 1 battery or running off of 2 batterys. Anybody running this kit ? I know Earl has a killer dual battery set up. So I thought this might be worth it even though it is nowhere near as cool as Earls.

Do you think it I would have to put a bigger alternator in?

 

make your own you can get all the parts at napa. if you needed help i would help. we should do a mod day.

 

yeah, we could do that

here is a story about the painless kit
http://www.4wheeloffroad.com/techarticles/64418/

 

or for less money just run a yellow top.....

 

optima batterys are good in that they are able to be mounted in any position they are not that high of an amperage. I had a set of optima batteries in my trucks two back batteries hooked to my winch 2 months latter i took them out and put some tractor trailor batteries with 1200 CCA each in instead made a big differance for winching applications. And if i had to run only one battery it might be an optima but they will not solve all problems.

All the kit is is a ford style solinoid and cable buy the solinoid from napa get a good solinoid the cheap ones burn up to quick. and sone 2 guage wire. I run double Ot cable for my back winch but that would be over kill 4 u. I have a tourch for doing soder and shrink rap.

 

well you can get better rated batteries, but quality does not compare. I'm looking at my set of red tops right now that are rated at 1000 CA, but they are severly underrated. 1200 CCA is a heck of alot. how much bigger are those batteries? I dont think a winch is enough of a draw that you would require two batteries, now if you are conserned about reliability I guess you could go with two batts but I still think thats overtkill. Also where would you mount the second battery, the bed? gotta be careful when you are running the wiring to bed for that and then Offroading.

Actually just get a buddy and a ****** rope and save the money for Beer lol

 

I would be up for a twin battery set up MOD day.....
CrazyEarl - are both of your batteries always set to charge?

 

earl do you happen to have any pics of the batteries installed? if not, where did you put the 2nd battery?

 

Get a hydro winch!

 

and pack a spare PS pump to change on the trail!

 

Show me one person who has blown out a pump while winching, then we can talk. I keep hearing the "brother's cousin's uncle" who burnt out a pump. Odds of killing the battery are WAY better than a pump.

 

calm urself trigger, was meant as a joke.

 

Sorry, there have been some heated debates on hydros on some Jeep forums I frequent, and it always ends up with the same BS.

 

thats one big sig ^^ ( optikal)

 

and ur point?

 

Ben,

Check out http://www.tombarcia.net/Truck/DualBatt/index.html for pics, a schematic, and an explaination of my dual battery setup that uses a solenoid that allows you to run from both batteries or isolate the second battery completely. You won't need a bigger alternator to run a second battery but you will have much greater reserve power for winching.

I mounted my second battery where the airbox normally resides on a homemade battery tray, but other than that, it should be no problem to do the same in your truck.

 

Earl how would my alt handle 2 batterys ? What the the solnoid setup really do for me ? Is that so it run on one or both kind of thing ?

 

Sarah is a member here (KissOfDeath) and I think represents herself pretty well.... no need for all her truck details in your signature
cut the apron strings.....

 

Ben,

If you follow the link I posted, I explain what the solenoid is for. As stated, your alternator is fine for 2 batteries. But I'm not Earl... I've only been running this setup for almost 2 years.

 

my dream is for a cab mounted Optima.....
I don't think I have as much room under the OEM air box location as you do Tom
also mid mounting the second battery means I can just cut into the existing loop for the rear mounted power take off

 

I can't believe you guys are arguing about signature length, lol. Leave it. I shortened mine because to me it's now a waste of time -- but if someone wants a long one, so what, really?

 

John, I believe you are inciting a riot....
that sig makes for a l o n g thread entry and lists another members details
his three word response takes up 1/3 of the screen
these are facts

 

Yes, but for all you just said, what difference does it make? We already have large avatars, etc.

What I'm saying is this: you guys are starting an argument over something senseless. If there's a riot, you're the mob leader, lol!

Long thead entries? Geez, I mean, how hard is scrolling?...

 

you want to join my mob, homie...

 

who the **** cares what i have in my sig? u guys need a ****in hobby, what are u the sig police now?

until someone in an authority position tells me to shorten it, its staying. like it or not because quite frankly, i dont give a **** what ya'll say. ill put what i want in my sig, so long as its within site rules.