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Adding a second battery

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Old Aug 20, 2010 | 03:57 PM
  #1  
ryls's Avatar
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Adding a second battery

Ive searched the forums and after reading a few threads am wondering about a few things. But first off i will point out that i have 2 Kinetic 1400's and a 180a alt.

1. Is it fine to just ground my second battery to the frame or should i run 0 ga all the way to the main battery under the hood?

2. If system drain isnt an issue or concern do i need an isolator? gettin one under my hood would be a PITA but i suppose i could find somewhere for it.

3.Obvioulsy not a point IF i use an isolator but if i dont do i run the power to the second battery off the main battery terminal or just off the alternator?

Thanks for the input in advance
Old Aug 23, 2010 | 01:10 PM
  #2  
kevmurray's Avatar
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Originally Posted by ryls
1. Is it fine to just ground my second battery to the frame or should i run 0 ga all the way to the main battery under the hood?
A good frame ground is fine IF your ground connection from alternator to frame is solid and the under-hood battery to frame connection is solid. Of course you already took care of that

Originally Posted by ryls
2. If system drain isnt an issue or concern do i need an isolator? gettin one under my hood would be a PITA but i suppose i could find somewhere for it.
No.

Originally Posted by ryls
3.Obvioulsy not a point IF i use an isolator but if i dont do i run the power to the second battery off the main battery terminal or just off the alternator?
Doesn't matter if all the connections are heavy gauge. I'd run it to the battery so that changing the alternator in future is simple (only one wire needs to be protected from shorting to ground).
Old Aug 23, 2010 | 02:59 PM
  #3  
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I guess i should of mentioned that i did the big 3 and also redid the factory ground from battery to block as the sheathing on it was all cracked and exposed copper. Im assuming i should put another hole in my floor and ground the battery out to the frame by itself and not threw the disto block ground i use for my amps?

Thanks for the reply
Old Aug 23, 2010 | 05:05 PM
  #4  
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Originally Posted by ryls
<snip> Im assuming i should put another hole in my floor and ground the battery out to the frame by itself and not through(sic) the distro block ground i use for my amps?
Try it to the distribution block first (it's easy and free). If you have any problems with noise then drill a hole and chassis ground it. I'm assuming of course that after all the work you've put into upgrading wire gauge so far that you have a good size wire from dist block to ground.
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