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Third battery

Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 4:18 pm
by bundyrulz
G'day All,
Have got a GU ute with a dual battery system. What is the best way to wire in a thrid battery? I would mount it under the tray. Used to run lights and an inverter.
Run it from the third from the second and have the isolator charge both at the same time.
or
Instal a second isolator, so that when the second battery charged it swithes over to the third.(hope that did not confuse anyone, I had to read it twice)
or
Any other ideas.
Diagrams would be handy too.

Thanks

Bundyrulz

Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 5:02 pm
by drivesafe
Hi bundyrulz, it depends on what type of isolator you have.

Do you know what it is?

Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 5:57 pm
by money_killer
wats wrong with running them all in parallel at once

Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 6:04 pm
by want33s
money_killer wrote:wats wrong with running them all in parallel at once
Ahhh Grasshopper :roll: Try reading a thread or two in this section about dual batteries and you'll soon see the light.

Jas.

Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 6:05 pm
by drivesafe
money_killer wrote:wats wrong with running them all in parallel at once
Nothing as long as the isolator is up the current demands of charging two batteries at once.

Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 6:11 pm
by bundyrulz
It is a solenoid type. Name and manufacturer I am not sure.

Bundyrulz

Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 7:02 pm
by money_killer
want33s wrote:
money_killer wrote:wats wrong with running them all in parallel at once
Ahhh Grasshopper :roll: Try reading a thread or two in this section about dual batteries and you'll soon see the light.

Jas.
im an electrician so i have some idea. i understand how it all works.

if it was me i would have an isolator for it self.

Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 7:29 pm
by bundyrulz
"if it was me i would have an isolator for it self."

Would that be off the first battery, ie two seperate isolators to two seperate batteries, off the starter battery?

Bundyrulz
[/quote]

Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 7:38 pm
by money_killer
bundyrulz wrote:"if it was me i would have an isolator for it self."

Would that be off the first battery, ie two seperate isolators to two seperate batteries, off the starter battery?

Bundyrulz
[/quote]

if it was me yes. wouldnt mind wat other ppls think. i dont know the pros and cons but i like to have control of my batteries.

Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 8:30 pm
by want33s
I bet you aren't an AUTO electrician though....
Having 2 or 3 batteries hooked in parallel is a bad idea cause your regulator will only let the alt charge to the lowest voltage of the 2 (or 3) batts. If one batt will only hold 11 volts then that is all the others will get.

Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 8:37 pm
by drivesafe
If it’s a solenoid type then it’s probably easily going to handle the currents required to charge to batteries, so just parallel them.