I currently only have 1 Optium Yellow top battery in my truck. Now being winter and plowing, I think that my guage is rather low. It is usually about the 1st mark above the 8 mark (at night). This is due to extra lights, stereo cranked up listening to tunes, stuff like that. When I plow though, it gets down to the 8 or below. Of course it is because of the plow and turning to the right/left/up/down when it hits the stops. So, I was thinking about installing another optium Yellow top mounted sideways with my first one in the stock location. I have measured and it looks like they should be fit, just modify something to make for a hold down piece.

My question is. I know I can just go from Pos to Pos and Neg to Neg. But what should I purchase to allow them to be isolated from each other and yet keep a good charge? I figure I should be able to connect all of my accessories to one and the starter to the other? Any type of special cables I need since one cable will be going between the batteries and how to run a cable to started?

I haven't had any problems starting, just trying to boost my volts out for those cold snowy nights with all accessories turned on.

Thanks.

 

Scott, there is an isolator available for this, lets them charge independently. I purchased one several years ago for a Cj with a winch set up, but I had it installed by the shop , and dont realy know the specifics. I purchased it through Warn, tho I am sure there are others out there.

 

i would get a better alt first. i have a mean green 190amp i think alt in my landcruiser and one yellow top.
i have a pretty nice stereo and all kinds of lights under the rig and a winch.
i have ran everything at ngiht all lights on and stereo blasting and winching someone up a hill and my gauge went from 14v to 13 12 lowest under heavy winching.

jiMMy

 

Would any one know the Amps of the current 92 stock Cummins alternator? I think it is listed on my windows sticker but need to track that down to verify. I do know it is the heavy duty alt. I think maybe 120? or 140?

Then I can figure out what size isolator I would need.

 

Stock alt. is 120 amp. There's a real good thread from Jim Lane about swapping in a Leece-Neville alternator to really fix the problem. https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...threadid=55799

 

remember, auto applications--120 is peak, truck alternators rated at 140 mean thay can run for long periods at 140. different ratings.

 

WOW, what a difference 2 batteries make. I connected my other Yellow Top battery this weekend. Lights are much brighter now. Before I was only getting about 10.3 volts to the rear tail lights and extra lights. I haven't checked yet but they are the brightest I have even seen them . I can be running all lights on the truck now and even having the plow at full lift holding the switch and meter stays above 9 - 10 volts. Before, it would pegged BELOW the 8 mark on the meter. I did need to make a quick bracket to hold them safely in the original battery box.