Dual Battery switch write up

[mikeykey]

I have this same switch set-up on my boat and have been wanting to do it on my hoe for quite some time now. I finally got off my arse and did a little write-up.

The switch itself is a marine grade switch, found at many marine shops (I got mine at west marine, $30.00)

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g59/nbpdmjk/tahoe021.jpg

I then made a bracket to screw the base of the switch housing to

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g59/nbpdmjk/tahoe022.jpg

I then un-screw the OEM fuse holder and secured my bracket using those screws.

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g59/nbpdmjk/tahoe024.jpg

I then hooked up both batteries to their respective posts and attached all the commons to that post.

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g59/nbpdmjk/tahoe026.jpg


The entire job took about an hour front start to finish. Most of that time was running the 2 gauge wire over the fan shroud and crimping the connectors on.

This particular set up works great for me because with a dual battery set-up, if the truck sits for an extended period of time, the batteries will actually start to effect negatively towards each other and lose their charge. I don't drive my hoe but once every week or so, so when Im not using it, i flipped the switch to "off". Acts as some what of a security system too.

[Sepiroth]

So every week or so, once you turn the radio on or anything else with presets, you'd have to reset them or just deal with it?

[mikeykey]

yeah, that's the price to pay. Like I said, my hoe isn't my primary mode of transportation (usually the po po car is) so it sits a lot. It's been known to sit as long as a month.

I listen to mostly cd's anyways so it doesn't really bother me much. The other reason for installing the switch was the same reason I put one in my boat. I can switch to one battery and play the radio for as long as I want. When its time to leave, I can just flip it to the other and I'm good to go!

[TahoeGoBoom]

cool idea. i like the whole idea of being able to run on one batt. not good enough of a security system imo. i like my alarm to have power. lol

[tast101]

The more expensive route, is how JK did it. And then you can wire your radio, amps etc off the aux battery and the isolator will jump back and forth to keep both batteries charge by the alt. This is what I want to do and upgrade the alt as well.

http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=562

[TahoeGoBoom]

JK did it the audio installer route. lol. hence the pac isolator as opposed to a boat one. lol

[mikeykey]

I guess I did it more the "redneck" way, but it works really good for my needs. Different strokes for different folks.

---------- Post added at 09:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:49 PM ----------

Anyone see my spring compressor tool that manages to sneak in the second pic. Thats another job im not looking forward to doing. I can already see my door falling over and hitting the concrete.

[WrenchGuy]

Hmmm...

I have 2 Deka Intimidators simply paralleled. I've had it this way close to 2 yrs and they're sittin steady.

Granted they are both the same battery which has been said to be beneficial.

[mikeykey]

I did it mostly due to having the ability to turn off the entire system and choice one battery at a time not because of the detrimental effects on each battery. I was simply stating that was one of the benefits. I personally don't have any data to prove or disprove that theory though.

[DJTricky]

i did mine the same way bassicaly as JK, i have 4 of the 5 on one side of the isolator(all parallel) and the other in the engine bay