I'm inclined to say don't bother. I've ran two batteries in my Explorer for 9 years with no apparent ill effect. The one thing that I would suggest is to buy two of the same model and date of manufacture. Don't add a new battery to an old one that's already been in service for a while.
-----Original Message----- From: Hardware [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Winterlight Sent: Thursday, July 2, 2015 1:41 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [H] dual batteries I am going to install two batteries in my Silverado. This is not for a big audio system or anything like that. I want it because I power my laptop and run an inventor for small draw devices from time to time, and / or I use small devices when camping. I also want the batteries to be able to work together to start the truck if I am in cold weather. I want the axillary battery to be able to feed the primary battery as necessary. My truck has a heavy duty 145amp alternator. I got the correct mount kit from GM to be able to mount the second battery under the hood.. there is a special mounting place for it... so I don't need to worry about ventilation and a very short distance between the batteries and the alternator. I have heavy #2 wire. Then I bought this isolator http://www.winterlight.org/PAC200_manual.pdf however looking at this wiring diagram it appears to be for audio amps that are separately wired to the second battery and can not be used for axillary power to the vehicle. Looks like this isolator is designed to charge both batteries but keep both batteries completely isolated from each other which is the opposite of what I am trying to achieve. If I don't use a solenoid one battery could just drain out to another...right? I am confused as to what solenoid I need to set it up the way I described. So what kind of switching isolator am I looking for? Thanks
