Batteries

[bcrosson92]

ok need a new battery. jeep goes as follows. winch two lights on the bumper currently will be a led bar. headlights will be leds as well as a ed bar on the roof rack. i do have subs in the back too. im stuck between optima yellow top and odessy extreme. i will be upgradeing the wireing as well as a high output altenator in the spring. should i be running a dual battry set up? Can i run an optima and an oddessy? i need help fast cause ive been jumping the battery every time i try to start it for two days.

[bcrosson92]

oh yeah i also wanna run an inverter down the road to run a welder and other stuff.

[Mudderoy]

Have you upgraded the wiring from the battery to the alternator and the starter?

How about an alternator upgrade. Grand Cherokee or Durango? I think the Durango is 160 amps I think.

Now lets talk batteries. I'd do two.

Actually you could probably just do a yellow top and upgrade the wiring.

Thanks for posting your question here. :patriot:

[bcrosson92]

Haven't done the upgrades yet but I will in the spring.

[4.3LXJ]

If you run two batteries, you have to match them. Either gel or lead acid. They have different resistance to charging current and will not charge equally if they are different types. Personally, I run two Optimas, red and yellow, and have no trouble. I am not sure what would happen if you mix brands. You would have to get some stats from the manufacturers on charging resistance to answer that question. I also have an inverter, and they do suck the juice. Now one question, you aren't trying to run a 110 wire feed with one are you?

[bcrosson92]

I was looking at the Hobart 140 I think its the one or the harbor freight cheepy but only while on the trail.

[4.3LXJ]

I think you could get away with it if the sign wave on the inverter is compatible with what the welder needs. I think you should check with Hobart on that. House current has a round top sine wave. Inverters have a square top. They will run stuff, but have trouble starting some electric motors for instance. Also, you will need a fairly large inverter for that. If my math is correct 1250 watt wold probably do it.

[WhileInTheWild]

I have a yellow top without upgrading the wiring and at least in this milder weather it is keeping my Whynter 45qt fridge running with just a minimal commute to/from work each day (about 30 min total). My 2001 Sport came with the 124 amp alternator as stock though so YMMV as I've heard the 90 amp was common.

[bcrosson92]

ok i have kind of decided on running dual odessy extremes the pc 34/78 1500 model. i need a tray that will fit them. they are about an inch longer and wider the the optima yellow tops. so will a tray for dual yellow tops fit the odessys?

[WhileInTheWild]

Don't you need to relocate the air box and mount the second one where it was or am I remmbering that wrong?

[bcrosson92]

you are correct. i already have my intake in the cowl vent

[bcrosson92]

im just going to run one yellow top for now and then possible add a second or a red top in the spring

[denverd1]

get your house and aux wiring systems figured out before you start buying stuff.

def upgrade your alt. and wiring

are you using an isolator? do you run your system/lights with engine off?
if no, then you don't really NEED a second battery but with that sort of power draw it would make sense to separate them and have a backup. As steve said, use same battery types and try to buy them together.

Odysseys are awesome batts. design you system right and they should last quite a while

[bcrosson92]

ok. i wanna make sure that if i have to i can winch out without the engine on. i dont use the system or lights with the engine off. should i use a red top and a yellow or two yellows?

[denverd1]

^ thats the quickest way to smoke a battery. Not sure why you would need to winch out THEN restart, or why you would want to. That brings into question your winch power draw under various loads as they're all different.

[bcrosson92]

like if the engine dies and wont start. i know it will kill the battery. i mean in an emergency.

[denverd1]

like if the engine dies and wont start. i know it will kill the battery. i mean in an emergency.

a wheeling buddy would be my first choice. The scenario you describe is quite grimm. It could take many batteries to get yourself out. food, blankets, TP and fire starter would be more valuable than batteries.

[bcrosson92]

true. just something i was thinking about. i talked to quadratec and it sounds like northstar might be a better choice then both optima and odessy.

[WhileInTheWild]

a wheeling buddy would be my first choice. The scenario you describe is quite grimm. It could take many batteries to get yourself out. food, blankets, TP and fire starter would be more valuable than batteries.

Am I the only one that carries all of that and a whole lot more survival gear at all times?

In a dire recovery situation like that you would be better off using a hi-lift as a come a long anyway.

[bcrosson92]

i carry stuff too every day. i also have a high lift. i carry my CERT bag from when i was CERT certified after katrina. plus im an army brat and a former boyscout.

[denverd1]

Am I the only one that carries all of that and a whole lot more survival gear at all times?

In a dire recovery situation like that you would be better off using a hi-lift as a come a long anyway.

Nope! Was trying to help OP realize that "winching yourself out" isn't as probable as it seems. And there are MANY other things i'd rather have on board than a backup battery.

[bcrosson92]

the last time i went wheeling my buddys tj wouldnt start and wouldnt jump and i couldnt toe it out and get my rig out. so we went to wallmart and bought another battery at midnight. the park closed at sundown.

[denverd1]

sounds sketchy. did you get it started with the new batt?

[bcrosson92]

got back and it started right up with the old battery. darn gremlins.

[denverd1]

got back and it started right up with the old battery. darn gremlins.

That'll piss ya off!!

[bcrosson92]

yep. im going to spend the 300$ and get a northstar battery. 880 cca at 0 degrees f and like 135 reserve and just run one battery

[WhileInTheWild]

You realize those stats are irrelevant to your needs right?

[bcrosson92]

yes. i know its way overkill but its a key part of my rig. so i dont mind haveing a huge overkill so i dont have to worry. thats y i bought the 11000lbs winch. because i always end up saying f***k it when im wheeling.

[WhileInTheWild]

I meant that those aren't the stats you should be looking at for your stated wants, however I looked that one up and it is a hybrid starting/deep cycle and is rated at 55ah at 20 hr so it has slightly more ah than the yellow top does.

[bcrosson92]

oh gotcha im sorry didnt mean to sound mean in my reply

[WhileInTheWild]

No worries, I should have been clearer in my response and did the research in the first place.

FYI when camping (and eventually overlanding) I take a secondary accessory battery that is a marine deep cycle battery (120ah I think) in a MinnKota Power Center to provide accessory plugs along with a 100W solar panel to keep it charged.

[bcrosson92]

i have been hearing that optima's quality has gone down recently. and this is the one quadratec recomended. and thats kinda the way i was thinking today was what you just said. i guess i get caught up in haveing the best that i dont evaluate my needs accuretly

[WhileInTheWild]

I got the YellowTop just because it had come up in previous research I had done for deep cycle batteries a year or so ago and it was readily available locally, I wanted a hybrid in order to run my fridge day to day with usual commuting to keep it charged. I will likely upgrade my accessory battery so I stop borrowing the boat's and upgrade the box to something like an ArkPak that has a built in mains charger and inverter along with the accessory ports soon.

[bcrosson92]

any good writeups on the big 3 upgrde like wire lengths and all? or is there a kit i can buy? links are good

[denverd1]

i have been hearing that optima's quality has gone down recently. and this is the one quadratec recomended. and thats kinda the way i was thinking today was what you just said. i guess i get caught up in haveing the best that i dont evaluate my needs accuretly

I've heard they're now made in mexico with thinner plates than originally. Still cost way too much.

Odyssey has been killing it in the marine world for years. I'll have to check out the other one

[bcrosson92]

yea ive heard that too.

[bcrosson92]

ok so the battery is on back order. as ive been jumping it to start i noticed that my jump pack reads 12V before turning on the pack. so is it just that the cca has dropped to far to start the jeep. once jumped it does run and stay running. but i cant run the lights or anything or it will die. it has a new starter and a new alternator. so whats going on?

[Mudderoy]

ok so the battery is on back order. as ive been jumping it to start i noticed that my jump pack reads 12V before turning on the pack. so is it just that the cca has dropped to far to start the jeep. once jumped it does run and stay running. but i cant run the lights or anything or it will die. it has a new starter and a new alternator. so whats going on?

I guess a bad battery could cause that but it doesn't sound right. The alternator should be able to provide all the electricity you need to run everything, maybe not everything plus add ons, but the basics.

I wonder if you have a wiring problem.

[bcrosson92]

the battery cables i put new terminal ends on but its stripped pretty ruff. i never had any issues till randomly last sunday. i went to start it and turning the key did nothing no clicking or anything.

[4.3LXJ]

Did you put some of those cheap terminals on old cables?

[bcrosson92]

they are old cables. originals and i guess they were like 5 bucks. i knew later i was gonna upgrade the wiring for the mains

[4.3LXJ]

I think you will need to upgrade your cables, or just replace them. They can get corrosion at the connections and look OK, but not transfer enough current to make it happen. Also with enough resistance, they won't allow enough current to charge the battery. Personally with all the battery you are planning on adding, I would get some good 0 or 00 cables to complete your planned upgrade

[bcrosson92]

is there a kit or a write up with lengths and stuff? its pretty cold here now and i dont have a garage to work in so if i dont have to run string and cut it then measure it to get the lengths and figure out what ends and all that would be great.

[4.3LXJ]

Not sure on a kit. Usually if you go to a decent parts store you get two kinds of heavy duty cables. One is the precut and assembled type that is to the nearest 6". The other is custom made, and not all stores will do that. Ones in the farm belt probably do, mine does. I would lift the hood and get a rough measurement with a tape measure. You could do that in 30 sec.

[bcrosson92]

the farm supply store might do that. i know they do custom hydro lines.

[4.3LXJ]

That is the one you want

[bcrosson92]

since the battery is back ordered do you think its worth getting a cheepo battery to use till it comes in? im jumping it twice a day.

[4.3LXJ]

That would be up to you. Personally I would address those cables first and check the voltage on that alternator and see what is up there

[bcrosson92]

what seems odd though is that for two years the cables have been fine and ive wheeled through puddles up to the windshield and its been fine. not discrediting you just odd

[4.3LXJ]

They can be marginal and all of the sudden not work right. I have seen that probably a hundred times back in the day when I was pumping gas

[bcrosson92]

ok. ill look into te cables this weekend. what type of terminal ends should i look for? like a type of metal?

[4.3LXJ]

I think brass or lead work about the same. If you get gel batteries you won't have to worry about anti corrosion protection

[bcrosson92]

ok check out these links http://www.kelleyswip.com/electric.html

http://www.angelfire.com/my/fan/Power_Cables.html

found a guy that makes a kit

[4.3LXJ]

Either of those would work. I would opt for the 1 gauge

[bcrosson92]

ok thanks alot.

[denverd1]

since the battery is back ordered do you think its worth getting a cheepo battery to use till it comes in? im jumping it twice a day.

Hit up wally world. Excellent return policy ;)

[bcrosson92]

so pick one up and return it?

[denverd1]

so pick one up and return it?

actually its they're exchange policy thats awesome. no matter what town you're in, you can swap for another. return may be different

I've got a local shop that reconditions batts. $40 out the door for a load-tested batt. anything local like that?

[bcrosson92]

not that i know of. just regular parts stores

[bcrosson92]

just a dead battery. got a used one from autozone for 50$ till my new one comes in