Third battery

Joined: 11 May 2007 Location: Sydney

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

Joined: 11 Dec 2004 Location: Gold Coast

Hi bundyrulz, it depends on what type of isolator you have.

Do you know what it is?

Joined: 25 Nov 2008 Location: Caboolture

wats wrong with running them all in parallel at once

Joined: 27 Dec 2006 Location: Sunshine Coast Qld

money_killer wrote:

wats wrong with running them all in parallel at once

Ahhh Grasshopper Rolling Eyes

Try reading a thread or two in this section about dual batteries and you'll soon see the light.

Jas.

Joined: 11 Dec 2004 Location: Gold Coast

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.

Joined: 11 May 2007 Location: Sydney

It is a solenoid type. Name and manufacturer I am not sure.

Bundyrulz

Joined: 25 Nov 2008 Location: Caboolture

want33s wrote:

money_killer wrote:

wats wrong with running them all in parallel at once

Ahhh Grasshopper Rolling Eyes

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.

Joined: 11 May 2007 Location: Sydney

"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]

Joined: 25 Nov 2008 Location: Caboolture

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.

Joined: 27 Dec 2006 Location: Sunshine Coast Qld

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.

Joined: 11 Dec 2004 Location: Gold Coast

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.