Dual battery setup question

[slantyshanty]

Due to having a rather large/high current stereo, I want to run dual batteries. Question is, can I run my main power to the battery that the stereo/amps will be attached to FIRST, and then to an isolator, and then to the vehicle battery?

Any issues forseen with this setup?

 

[ellisfamilyokc]

I guess it would work. My question would by why? The factory charging system is already set up. In a system where the aux battery is in the rear of the vehicle it seems you would be buying double the wiring and taking the losses of long DC runs twice.

 

[slantyshanty]

The amps I have are high current (3kwatts total) so I would want them to have direct access to the alternator/battery asap. The vehicle battery is only used for starting anyway so as long as it stays charged I'm good. I don't care about extra wire. I use high strand count 1/0G wire for everything.

 

[metzican]

I don't see an issue with it. My question is why?

If you have enough charge to keep both batteries charged why would you want to charge your secondary battery first. The main purpose of every duel battery system is to make sure that the starting battery can start the vehicle. In this case you would make sure that your stereo can play. If your alt wears down or your stereo sucks to much power your starting battery would suffer. But besides that I don't see an issue.

What isolator are you planning on running.

 

[slantyshanty]

My thought process was that, while running, the alternator would be fueling the amps/aux battery first and also charging both batteries. Isolator I would be using is:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0031...ywords=NOCO+IGD200HP+200+Amp+Battery+Isolator

That would keep my amps from pulling from the vehicle battery at all but still enable charging of both batteries.

I have a mean green 180 amp alternator. I have replaced all of my power and ground wires going from the alternator to the vehicle battery I currently have, as well as added grounds/upgraded the factory grounds and power wires with 0G wire, and 0G wire all the way to the amps, and I can still easily make my lights dim when the bass hits. I tried capacitors, even though I know those are only a bandaid to a problem. I know Nissan doesn't use the highest quality wires/connections. In fact, it's damn shoddy IMO.

Oh, I also currently have an optima D31M shoehorned into the X... I have a total of 23 speakers, amps running at 2ohms. Yeah, it's a bit much and I should probably cut back some of it but it is what it is.

 

[caseycamby]

I've always wanted to run a dual battery setup and it's somewhere in the future so I'm just here to get information haha

But 23 speakers?! Holy moly! Where did you fit them all?! haha

 

[slantyshanty]

DIY fiberglass A pillar pods, rear doors, stock locations, sub box.

Bit the bullet and bought the isolator and some extra wire (jic). Once everything gets here I'll wire it all up and see how it works. Gotta decide where I want the 2nd battery though. I don't have rear seats; DIY rear seat storage is there now. Maybe add on to that and put it on the floorboard in front of that? Amps are under seats so I want to keep them as close to the battery as possible.

Guess we'll see.

 

[metzican]

I have my secondary battery behind the shotgun seat. I think the idea will work. Just keep in mind if you are just adding one more thing between your alt and starter battery to fail. If this does not bother you go for it. The concept is sound.

 

[Jbat]

I say do it, with a 180 amp alternator you'll be fine