newbie needs help...dual batteries or not? and how to do it?

Sito el Diablito · **Posted:** Fri Jul 13, 2007 7:46 pm

Well i'm fairly new to the forum and i got a problem....i'm running Sylvania Silverstar bulbs and everytime I use my turn signals my lights dim.....Iplan on adding more stuff like offroad lights, CB, backup lights, etc...... an ideas on why the drain??? should I get a yellowtop battery??? Do a dual battery setup?? Ifit's a dual does anyone know how to do it? (detailed instructions) Where I can get the parts and materials needed???

BeepBeepJeepJeep · **Posted:** Sat Jul 14, 2007 5:14 pm

Sito el Diablito wrote:

Well i'm fairly new to the forum and i got a problem....i'm running Sylvania Silverstar bulbs and everytime I use my turn signals my lights dim.....Iplan on adding more stuff like offroad lights, CB, backup lights, etc...... an ideas on why the drain??? should I get a yellowtop battery??? Do a dual battery setup?? Ifit's a dual does anyone know how to do it? (detailed instructions) Where I can get the parts and materials needed???

You don't need more batteries you need a bigger alternator

Maximum Carnage · **Posted:** Sat Jul 14, 2007 5:30 pm

BeepBeepJeepJeep wrote:

You don't need more batteries you need a bigger alternator

Someone on this site bought one of these. 160Amp

[url]http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=8074231206&rd=1,1[url][/url]

unixxx · **Posted:** Sun Jul 15, 2007 8:55 pm

Mean Green manufactures a heavy duty 200A alternator for the Jeep Liberty gas and CRD respectively:

http://c-comp.com/product_info.php?products_id=171

http://c-comp.com/product_info.php?products_id=243

The Jeep Liberty Wikibook contains some more info:

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Jeep_Liber ... /Batteries

VTNomad · **Posted:** Tue Jul 17, 2007 10:58 am

I bought a 160 amp alternator. I found it on eBay for $0.01 and paid $30 to have it shipped from Canada to East Tennessee. The dealership wanted around $400 for a new one. It wasn't listed as a 160 amp alternator, but I could see the part number in the picture, so I knew what it was. The guy had it listed as an 'Altinator', his spelling mistake cost him big.

Remember, when searching eBay, don't search for what you want, search for what people are selling. If you're looking for disc brakes, search for disk and breaks too. Also search across multiple platform, the same alternators comes on Liberty's, Durango's and Dakota's, maybe a few other models running the 3.7L V6.

unixxx · **Posted:** Tue Jul 17, 2007 2:01 pm

Sweet find VTNomad!

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Tue Jul 17, 2007 3:43 pm

FYI - if anyone physically finds room for 2 batteries under a Liberty hood - this seemed like a good idea electrically
http://www.hellroaring.com/4wheel.htm

unixxx · **Posted:** Tue Jul 17, 2007 4:38 pm

I'm probably going to use one of these automatic charging relays when I put a battery in the trunk:

http://bluesea.com/category/2/productline/236

At the flip of a switch, it can act as an isolator, jump the batteries together, and completely disconnect the batteries from each other.

aslostasyou · **Posted:** Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:06 pm

Just found this thread... I can vouch for the Hellroaring kit. I use it in my Rovers. On one rig we have three batteries and we can dissconect them and flip the "frankenstein switch" to connect them and run the ready welder.

Just not much room in the KJ.... :cry:

Jeepman56 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:15 pm

Theoretically you could run all accessory lights, roof rack, backup, etc, directly to the 2nd battery with a relay switch in cabin and BOOM, you are done?

aslostasyou · **Posted:** Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:34 pm

It's best to run everything off your primary and have the second as an auxiliary. With the hellroaring kit you can combine them both for burst moments eg: winching or starting with a flat primary battery. It's a very good piece of mind.

I don't think I'll be welding on the KJ on the trail as it's going to be used more just camping and towing so a third battery isn't needed.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:35 pm

Extra batteries means extra load. Extra batteries make sense if you plan to operate electrical devices for periods of time with the engine off. Otherwise, you want the electrical devices to operate off the output of the alternator.

aslostasyou · **Posted:** Mon Mar 31, 2008 1:43 pm

Hmm... It's been SOP in every rig I've every built to have additional batteries. The extra weight of a battery doesn't outweigh being stranded. You always need a failsafe of juice especially if you wheel out into the unknown on your own.

Perfect example - while competing in the Australian Outback Challenge we were literally 100's of miles away from anything and alone. I left the darn power inverter on all night. When we woke we had no juice in the primary battery. Flipped the switch and started off the two spares and went on our way. The primary battery is charged and your back in biz.

WoodysKJ · **Posted:** Mon Mar 31, 2008 3:21 pm

According to troy, in earlier posts, you do not need another battery or a bigger alternator. The way the computerruns things with the charging system it allows the alternator/generator to charge the battery as it needs to be charged. Thus the tempreture sensor under the battery. So to combat your dimming lights issue Troy allows how it is best to get a Deep Cycling Battery and dump the stock one. Says that the Optimas are the cure for the dimming lights, not necessarily the alt or a second battery.

Frostednutz · **Posted:** Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:00 pm

problem with dimming lights is the excessive draw of current to accessories. having a high quality battery and high output alternator would solve the dimming lights but the alternator has to react to the large draw of power and then distribute it to where it needs to go so you might never get rid of the dimming light problem... unless... i read this article in car audio mag that you could possible put a small capacitor to the lights so when the lights need that little extra power they have it... the only problem is that the capacitor acts as a short circuit and will blow your lights every time you turn them on so you would need some kind of resistor to keep the flow at a constant. but more trouble than it's worth i guess.

WoodysKJ · **Posted:** Wed Apr 02, 2008 8:12 am

Frostednutz wrote:

problem with dimming lights is the excessive draw of current to accessories. having a high quality battery and high output alternator would solve the dimming lights but the alternator has to react to the large draw of power and then distribute it to where it needs to go .....

It seams that in the KJ that the accessories draw power from the battery and the Alternator (or as chrysler prefers to call it the Generator) is instructed by the PCM to charge the battery as needed. That is what causes the lights to dim. The theory and practical application of a Higher CCA battery with more reserve power and a deep cycle allow the accessories to function better with less/no dimming.

The alt/gen in todays vehicles in conjunction with the PCM function differently that in previous years. A deep cycle battery will virtually eliminate this issue. A high amp alt is only good WHEN the PCM tells it it needs to charge the battery as it is used.

newbie needs help...dual batteries or not? and how to do it?

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