I have both a Chevy Suburban and a full size Blazer from the 90’s.. I would like to put a duel battery system in the one I will use for a plow truck.. how about some advise. thanks for all your previous help.. its been outstanding..
All you have to do is mount the 2nd battery. Then run battery cables from positive to positive and negative to negitive between the 2 and your good to go.
Also be sure to use two batteries of the same size, brand, age, etc.. In parallel, a weak or dying battery will kill a good battery very quickly. Then you will be replacing them both….again.
I’ve done it, wasn’t all that great when considering it killed both brand new batteries after a year.
If I did it all over again I would get the largest combination starting/deep cycle I could find. And use that instead. Also a better alternator will make a world of difference when plowing. Even a big capacitor would help.
Good luck!
No different than a boat set up actually. Put in a deep cycle for the plow same as you would for a trolling motor. Wire in an isolator between the starting battery and the deep cycle. That way the deep cycle can’t draw down the main battery but the alternator will charge both batteries.
The isolator works by controlly the connection between the two batteries based on the voltage present in the main battery. If the voltage is below a certain threshold the deep cycle is disconnected from the main battery so the load on the deep cycle (the plow) cannot draw from the main battery.
When the voltage in the main battery is above the threshold. the two batteries are connected, thus the alternator is now charging both batteries.
I ran the same setup with my pickup camper many years ago, works great.
Wire in an isolator between the starting battery and the deep cycle. That way the deep cycle can’t draw down the main battery but the alternator will charge both batteries.
The isolator works by controlly the connection between the two batteries based on the voltage present in the main battery. If the voltage is below a certain threshold the deep cycle is disconnected from the main battery so the load on the deep cycle (the plow) cannot draw from the main battery.
When the voltage in the main battery is above the threshold. the two batteries are connected, thus the alternator is now charging both batteries.
This. I use a True Am isolator in my SXS since I have dual batteries to supply juice to a plethora of lights and speakers. They are the best of the best for battery isolators.
I’m curious as to why you’d want to do this?
Everything I know of with a dual battery setup needs it to provide the amps to cold start a massive engine. Obviously, almost always a diesel.
Can’t see any reason to do this on a little gas engine in an on-road vehicle.
Grouse
Grouse – here is a reason for doing it(at least for me it is justifiable).
I spend a fair amount of time at our winter camp in ontario chasing ice lakers. We park down an old logging road and snowmobile in, oftentimes for 3-4 days at a time, with the trucks routinely exposed to multiple days of below zero highs. Under these conditions, having the extra battery hooked in parallel makes a world of difference in getting the trucks started upon our return. The extra cost in setting it up is well worth the peace of mind in knowing I can get it started to come home.
I’m curious as to why you’d want to do this?
Everything I know of with a dual battery setup needs it to provide the amps to cold start a massive engine. Obviously, almost always a diesel.
Can’t see any reason to do this on a little gas engine in an on-road vehicle.
Grouse
Grouse,snowplows take a huge amount of amps to run when you are making a lot of movements with the blade, they drain a battery pretty quick even with a big alternator.
two batteries double the amps and gives you some reserve,and it makes it easier on the alternator to recharge the batteries as the engine is not spinning the alternator as fast as it would running down the road for a long period.
yes,you have to run longer to replenish the amperage taken when using two batteries,but the batteries dont get as hot as when using one with the high current loads and recharging,hope that makes sense.
as also stated,in prolonged cold weather,it makes it much easier to start.
a major item that is overlooked when doing this is the cable used for the connection. you will want a very large oversized cable so it can move the amps effectively. I use 00 welding cable. standard size battery cable will not keep up and will also not be able to charge the second battery enough.
Okay you get to yell at me… it took a while but I finally bought my own plow truck and since its my busiest time of the year.. I havent dealt with the truck at all. .I did see something on line that said instead of duel batteries to get a 160 amp alternator instead. they are priced under $200 which to me is cheaper the an extra battery and the iso .. thoughts ..opinions.. Ideas.. and yes.. instead of plowing right now I am CHARGING THE PLOW right now.. because as soon as I went to move the plow up or down.. the truck almost turned off.. so yes I deserved to be yelled at for not planning ahead and for just being stupid.. I plowed last week and had no problems.. but I must have used up the battery.. in just 15 minutes of plowing..
go ahead.. I am waiting. but opinions first.
No need to yell at you. You just proved to yourself why a dual battery set up is the preferred route to go.
you wont get yelled at by me,experience is the teacher in a deal like this.
put in two high amp batteries as suggested,and make sure the cables are heavy duty to be able to take the load as well as the recharge.
another thing I will mention is that you must run it long enough to charge the batteries back up and that may mean a ten or twenty mile drive to do so but I doubt that is even enough depending on how much plowing you are doing in a given amount of time and the output of the alternator.
putting it on a charger overnight is a good idea when using it a lot and only with short trips between before shutting down for the day.
I should also mention this,on light duty trucks that I have helped convert to handle a plow,the wiring from the alternator is not large enough either as it was designed to charge only one battery at a time with a given amount of amperage.
so what I have done is run an eight gauge wire from the alternator stud to each battery with a fifty amp fuse in the line.
if you were to trace the factory wire back to the battery from the alternator on most vehicles,it is only ten gauge in size and runs a considerable distance before it even gets to the battery.
I will also mention that if the plow was used when you bought it and even with two batteries drains much to soon,the pump motor could be drawing excessive amperage to operate,this will run any battery set up down in short order.
if this proves to be the case,have a shop check out the pump motor,it may be in need of a rebuild.
Okay you get to yell at me… it took a while but I finally bought my own plow truck and since its my busiest time of the year.. I havent dealt with the truck at all. .I did see something on line that said instead of duel batteries to get a 160 amp alternator instead. they are priced under $200 which to me is cheaper the an extra battery and the iso .. thoughts ..opinions.. Ideas.. and yes.. instead of plowing right now I am CHARGING THE PLOW right now.. because as soon as I went to move the plow up or down.. the truck almost turned off.. so yes I deserved to be yelled at for not planning ahead and for just being stupid.. I plowed last week and had no problems.. but I must have used up the battery.. in just 15 minutes of plowing..
go ahead.. I am waiting. but opinions first.
You have a bad battery or a weak alternator. 15 minutes of plowing should not kill your battery. Been plowing snow for over 40 years and I can plow 6 hours with no issues. If plowing after dark and in a parking lot I try to run with just parking lights on to help save your battery power.
First I would get a new AGM battery. I agree you may not be charging or have a bad battery. And you don’t need a fancy battery isolator. A simple solenoid will work. When truck is running the solenoid connects the positive lead from the main battery to the second battery. I have this setup from the factory on my 99 chevy one ton dually. Can’t tell how many times I have jumped myself. It can come in very handy. I have an AGM starting battery and a deep cycle AGM in the second spot. The power to my stereo and camper connect to the second battery.
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
