ive been thinking about running dual battery's for awhile so i have some extra juice for lights and which how do i go about doing that and where would be the best spot to put it. also can the be different types of battery's

 

First and foremost - what, specifically, are you trying to accomplish? Your question is rather open-ended...

How much lighting do you want to add? How many watts in total?
Do you think you might want to add other electrical accessories?
Do you think you'll have all of your lights on at the same time? (I have a number of high-powered lamps, but I never have them all on at the same time. For instance, I either have the 130W full beams on with the 100W pencil beams, or I have the headlamps off entirely with the 35W amber fog lamps turned on. I have work lights, but I only use those when I'm stationary - and they're 35W PAR34 floods, so they don't really draw that much.)
Are you more likely to have your lamps on with the engine RUNNING, or with the engine OFF?
Will you want access to the extra power with the engine OFF for other reasons? What do you want to have running, and how long will you want it to run?

Why do I ask this? Because we need to make sure you get a battery that will work for what you want to do - or your solution may not be a secondary battery at all (if you're going to run accessories with the engine running, you'll be much better served with a higher-output alternator than with a secondary battery.)

You'll also need an isolator to separate your secondary battery(ies) from your starting battery - if you do that, they can be different types and ages. If you run them en banc and directly connected, they must be identical units of the same age (or they'll "fight" each other and you won't have any charge left in either in fairly short order.)

But, answer the "planning" questions first - I, for one, want to make sure you have an effective solution for what you're trying to do - and what you're thinking may not be the most effective solution for your problem.

 

Many people put them in the back for audio system components, yes it can be two different batteries.

Answer all questions from 5-90

 

well ya that defientilly helped out alot i already have a capacitor for my audio system and i i plan to add at least 4 lights . right now i have 2 kc's 130 watts and two 55 watt on the back of my roof rack i plan to take those and switch them for a 35 watt euro beam hid 7 inch light. and i have plans on putting on a winch later. and if so if i got a bigger alternator how big could i go . and to also add that i kinda would like were i could use the lights while the jeep was running and off

 

You are going to need more than dual batteries to power all that. You will need to upgrade your alternator too.

 

Optima up front, old battery in the back. Contact dominick at Iraggi Alternators, tell him Egg sent you.

 

You aren't suggesting putting a lead/acid battery inside the passenger compartment are you?

 

Personally Id make room for another bracket under the hood. Many people make sealed compartments for them so the noxious fumes arent emitted into the vehicle. Im still partial to that, Id go with a K Cell battery.

 

The optima should go in the back, and the lead acid under the hood.

 

Your vehicle will put more stress on the battery than any extras. Why compromise power to the vehicle like that. Hence why all SPL competitors who run dual batteries keep the good one under the hood, crap in the back. Not to mention the impedance from power cables to the battery in the rear will starve the battery minimally, but do damage over time.

Go to caraudioforum and post that. I think a mod might actually ban you for saying something ridiculous like that.


Edit-Upgrade the big 3, get a new alt, throw a deep cycle up front and forget about the second battery. My advice.

 

Lead/acid batteries do not belong in a sealed passenger area, period. They give off acidic fumes that no one needs to breathe. Yes you can seal them up, but those fumes can still enter the passenger area. You only have one set of lungs. Just better to get two optimas and call it good, I did.

 

They make SLA batteries.

Why strain the stock alternator with two batteries? It barely take care of one.

Big 3. Alt. Optima.

 

If you remember I suggested an alternator upgrade

 

ya its goign to take awhile but i already got one red top optima battery and a bigger alternator too

 

Every automotive battery uses lead/acid chemistry, the only variation is the state of the acid: loose liquid, absorbed into a glass mat (AGM, like Optima) or gel cell (like Odyssey.)

Therefore, anytime a battery is to be mounted in the pax cabin, it must be in a box vented to the outside, as all lead-acid batteries (regardless of state) will outgas when they're charged. Ever notice those little vents atop the Optima?