Dual Optimas
#16
Registered User
Thread Starter
Watch that the nut on top.
Jim: That is some impressive knowledge. Is it bad that I am just running the two batteries direct like shown in my picture?
Unfortunately, as of yet, I haven't driven the truck more than a mile since the install, but later this week I will tell you guys what I think. I gotta get my 4X4 fixed between now and then. lol
#17
Administrator
Yeah, that is why I will probably buy 2 new ends, shorten the wires, and turn the front battery around.
Jim: That is some impressive knowledge. Is it bad that I am just running the two batteries direct like shown in my picture?
Thank you,
No there is no problem at all connecting 2 or more batteries in parallel as long as they are the same age, same CCA, RA and of the same type meaning do not parallel a Starting battery with a Deep Cycle battery.
GM diesels have a battery on each fender connected in parallel as well as the newer dodges.
Also class-8 trucks and heavy equipment routinely will use 4 or 8 6-volt batteries connected in a series/ parallel arrangement to gain more amperage.
The down side to this is if one battery goes bad it can affect the entire system unless you have a way to disconnect them, a simple 100-amp solenoid could be added to your setup to give you the safety and also an onboard jumper battery.
I have had one battery in a parallel arrangement have a shorted cell and become a 10 volt battery while it was connected to the other 12-volt battery, the results were a hot smoking battery that was going to explode at any moment.
When I worked on Transit Coaches we were always having melted or exploded batteries because they would only replace 1 of the 2 or 4 batteries in the tray, shorted 8-D batteries are not what you want to have to be next to while you are trying to disconnect them.
Unfortunately, as of yet, I haven't driven the truck more than a mile since the install, but later this week I will tell you guys what I think. I gotta get my 4X4 fixed between now and then. lol
Jim: That is some impressive knowledge. Is it bad that I am just running the two batteries direct like shown in my picture?
Thank you,
No there is no problem at all connecting 2 or more batteries in parallel as long as they are the same age, same CCA, RA and of the same type meaning do not parallel a Starting battery with a Deep Cycle battery.
GM diesels have a battery on each fender connected in parallel as well as the newer dodges.
Also class-8 trucks and heavy equipment routinely will use 4 or 8 6-volt batteries connected in a series/ parallel arrangement to gain more amperage.
The down side to this is if one battery goes bad it can affect the entire system unless you have a way to disconnect them, a simple 100-amp solenoid could be added to your setup to give you the safety and also an onboard jumper battery.
I have had one battery in a parallel arrangement have a shorted cell and become a 10 volt battery while it was connected to the other 12-volt battery, the results were a hot smoking battery that was going to explode at any moment.
When I worked on Transit Coaches we were always having melted or exploded batteries because they would only replace 1 of the 2 or 4 batteries in the tray, shorted 8-D batteries are not what you want to have to be next to while you are trying to disconnect them.
Unfortunately, as of yet, I haven't driven the truck more than a mile since the install, but later this week I will tell you guys what I think. I gotta get my 4X4 fixed between now and then. lol
You could turn the front battery around and then reconnect the interconnecting cables by bending them into a semicircle (C) shape and have them each loop around your mounting bolt from opposite directions, I would also use some RED shrink tubing on the POS end of the cables.
Do you know that you have a Positive lug on the Negative terminal?
Other that that, your setup looks geat.
Jim
#18
I just did that mod about 2 weeks ago but used dual Yellow top Optimas and a premade battery mount from Ballistic Fabrication. I haven't noticed a difference in how fast it first cranks, it always fired up quickly. I was also looking to add to the reserve rather than CCA.
http://www.ballisticfabrication.com/...x-_p_1705.html
#19
Administrator
Jim, if I understand you correctly, then if 1 battery goes bad, you will then have to buy 2. It seems to me that an isolator is much cheaper that an Optima, just my opinion. As I said earlier, I have had 2 Optimas fail on me, 1 of them 20 miles deep in the desert in Mexico. I own 9 Optimas in various vehicles and still love them. in both cases they were replaced without cost, which would still cause one to have to buy 1 to keep them the same..Mark
Last edited by maybe368; 12-28-2009 at 07:11 PM. Reason: Add ionfo
#20
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: East of Denver
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Wow, I only have 3 Yellow Tops, 2 in a custom box under my flat bed as accessory and 1 for starting, seperated by a 200 amp relay. There is enough weight on the front of this truck, that's why I put the extras under the bed.
What does a 20K inverter cost?
What does a 20K inverter cost?
#21
Registered User
Thread Starter
Do you know that you have a Positive lug on the Negative terminal?
#22
Administrator
Jim, if I understand you correctly, then if 1 battery goes bad, you will then have to buy 2. It seems to me that an isolator is much cheaper that an Optima, just my opinion. As I said earlier, I have had 2 Optimas fail on me, 1 of them 20 miles deep in the desert in Mexico. I own 9 Optimas in various vehicles and still love them. in both cases they were replaced without cost, which would still cause one to have to buy 1 to keep them the same..Mark
Well they should be to do it right, you want them to be matched close in age but depending on how good the remaining batteries is, I would at the least have it load tested but to do it right you should replace both of them at the same time because they are part of a set, being connected in parallel they will take on characteristics of each other as far as state of charge but if one should fail it will affect it as a unit.
The quality of the batteries are not as they should be, I have heard that the Optima batteries that you buy from outlets like Cosco or Wal-Mart are rejects and not as good as one that you would get from a distributor.
If my truck starts fine with 1 battery I would rather set up my batteries for redundancy and know that I always had a fully charged battery to start my truck with in the event my main battery did fail. This has started my truck many times at 4:00 A.M. when I would leave my lights on or emergency flashers on for 8-10 hours at a time, if the truck would not start all I would do is press a switch and it would start like I had just turned it off.
You could use a separator like I have or you could simply use a couple of solenoids and get the same results.
Even with a separator the 2 batteries are still connected in parallel when they are charging, Oh and I have a voltmeter for each battery.
Jim
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