Outer Limits 4x4 Board

ok, gotta put a dual battery system in the vitara now that i've got my new fridge , but i'm wondering what sorta battery i should use?

last time i went on a night run, the alternator couldn't keep charge up to the battery (which is a small one, not a regular car battery) enough to start it again after i'd been cruising round in low range with hardly any revs with the stereo going, the uhf and my spotties+high beam.

so what i was thinking was when i installed the dual batteries, i'd hook up the uhf and the spotties, plus the fridge to the second battery? sound like a good idea? the fridge draws 2.5 amps/hr at maximum (according to the book) setting, but i'm not sure what the spotties and uhf would draw. so what do people recommend??

id out my spotties on the main batt and have the radio and the fridge and maybee the stereo on the 2nd battery

I'd recommend a bigger alternator!

Remember you'll have two batteries to charge now- so unless you want them both flat a higher capacity alternator is the go first.

Bigger alternator - if you're consuming more current than the alternator can generate, you're draining your batteries.

Or:
Drive faster.
Re-gear your alternator to spin faster at lower revs.
Choose between cold drinks and the spot lights.

Cheers,

Scott

it would be VERY rare that i'd have both the fridge and the spotlights going off the second battery at the same time, cause i'll only have the fridge in on long trips, whereas the spotties are mainly for night runs. so do you's think it'd handle it if only one or the other is running off the 2nd battery at one time?

I'd go the alternator as well, all the battery/s need to be able to do is start the car and run things like fridges when the engine is off, when the motor is running the alt should supply enough to run all accessories and charge batteries, if they don't the batteries will slowly go flat.