dual batteries solenoid

[Arnie897]

Ok.....I have searched and searched but all I can find about the solenois/isolator for dual batteries is that I can get them at Autozone for $30 or I can drive to Australia and get a whole kit made for my X. So my question is what exactly do I have to go to Autozone and buy for 30 dollars? Is it just a generic 200amp relay/solenoid thingy? What is this mystery part that I am looking for?

 

[Crankcase]

Just ask for a simple high amp solenoid.....Cole hersee makes them....

 

[JoshC]

Why do you have to have this solenoid with dual batteries?

 

[Arnie897]

I thought the solenoid was there to isolate the aux battery from the system when the car was off.

I also heard it was also used to jump start your own car when needed. Hope I don't have anything mixed up here...

 

[expo5.0]

i used a 200 amp relay/isolator between my red top and my two svrs. Mine cost me about 60 bucks at wholesale does autozone really have something similar for that cheap? doh

 

[aldive]

Do a Google search for marine battery isolaters; you will fins lots of info.

 

[Arnie897]

So I went out to the parts stores today and the guys at Advanced Autoparts didn't know what I was talking about. I asked for a simple high amp relay....no luck there. Then I went down the street to Pepboys and all that I could find there was the marine isolaters....but they only went up to 120 amps for somewhere around 60 dollars. Should I just find one online and buy it that way?

 

[Arnie897]

Also.....on my way home I saw this 95-97 teal sport. It looked like he had some TT and shackles going on at least. Anyone know who this might be?

 

[exinprogress]

JC Whitney sells kits of all the electrical parts you need to do a dual battery setups and I'm pretty sure they have a 200 amper. Check there, I may buy one from them soon.

 

[Crankcase]

First of all what do you plan on using the second battery for?

A solenoid and an isolater are seperate things sort of...a atrue isolater seperates the current coming out of the alternator to each battery, where as a solenoid hooked up to a second battery will alow a charge when the vehicle is running, but no backflow when turned off.....

 

[JoshC]

I don't mean to high jack you're thread, but maybe this will help some others.

I've got 6 aux. lights on my truck. I've also go a winch. I want to run a dual battery setup. Which is the best route to go. Do I use a soleniod or an isolater? I don't know what i want the outcome to be, but i just need some extra power cause a winch will drain the juice fast.

 

[Arnie897]

I just happen to have an extra yellow top optima laying around and I would like to hook up all of my goodies to this battery while leaving the stock stuff on the main starting battery.

From what I have read...Robb posted that "With ignition off, the primary battery is the sole battery in the circuit. If it is drained down, a toggle switch on the dash puts the secondary battery in the circuit to allow the vehicle to start. It also puts the secondary battery in the system with the ignition on to allow both batteries to charge."

I want to get this setup so that I have twice the storage capacity. When my alarm chirps it flashes all of my extra lights and I have found out the hard way that this drains the battery enough so that I can't start....that's why I have the second optima yellow top already. Had to buy it to replace the first one that was down to 350 cca

 

[rydinhigh]

I have a battery isolater I wouldn't mind parting with that is good for alternators up to 120amps. What it does is regulate the power between the main battery and the aux battery. It charges the battery up front then charges the battery in back after the front one is 100%. I used 4 ga wire from the main battery to the isolater, the alternator to the isolator and the aux battery to the isolator. If I wanted to jump my self its just a matter of undoing two nuts on the isolator and moving them around.

 

[Crankcase]

Well...Arnie and Josh...unless you want to get deep into electrical... a solenoid will do the trick....ill try to get up some crude drawings....

 

[Crankcase]

Here is all you really need....Mine is just hoooked up with 10 guage wire, as I was just using it to charge a battery while pulling a travel tralier. If you need, large guage can be used....

 

[Crankcase]

The second battery....

 

[NaplesBill]

I have a 200 amp solenoid made by Stinger. I bought it at a local car audio shop for $50. All it does is prevent the secondary(larger capacity) battery from draining the main(smaller) battery when the charging system is off. It's basically just a relay! You connect it between your first and second battery then you provide it with a "turn on" power source that is only on with the ignition. Whenever the ignition is off, it isolates the second battery from the first by basically cutting off the power source.

Hope this isn't too much info!

 

[Crankcase]

Ok.....here is my visual attempt at explaining it.....Sorry for the drawing...best I could do


The cable from the round thing is the POS cable from the alt/starter etc....., to the stock battery.

The neg lead that goes out from that battery is the stock neg cable.....

The lead that goes into the solenoid carries the charging power to the second battery...when the middle (small) terminal on the solenoid recieves +12V...the solenoid turns on.....so the second battery is connected to the first.....

The Pentagon thing is the switched power source....all you have to do is find a hot source that is live when the truck is started...like the wiper circuit....

 

[Crankcase]

Pic would be nice .....LOL!

 

[Arnie897]

Thanks for all the info guys.....Today after work I"ll try asking for a 200 amp solenoid and see if they know what I'm talking about then.