dual battery set up in a cherokee?
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0L I6
hey did you ever do dual trays??
i just finished installing the spectre intake and i cannot think of what to do with all the space. its nuts how much there is. i'm thinking a battery and maybe a small lockbox.
Or did you fold it?
i just finished installing the spectre intake and i cannot think of what to do with all the space. its nuts how much there is. i'm thinking a battery and maybe a small lockbox.
Or did you fold it?
FOR the last 30+ years I have run dual batteries in my pickup trucks. I use heavy duty connectors between them so they can be broken in the middle when I go to use the winch. ( a lesson I learned when I hit my winch with 1600 amps and blew the motor)
I do NOT use an isolator and what I have found is that you will NEVER have to replace any parts that use electricity. Everything just runs better and longer with the extra available amps in the system.
the wiring is simple from the extra battery you go positive to positive and negative to negative.
IF
you got positive to negative you will get a 24volt system out of it and things might get REALLY interesting,
IMPORTANT.. wiring this way you have to run two identical batteries. This way you don't get uneven drainage or other problems. BUT it is worth the savings if you keep your vehicles like I do. Have never had to replace anything running off of the wiring system with the dual batteries. It has paid for itself.
I do NOT use an isolator and what I have found is that you will NEVER have to replace any parts that use electricity. Everything just runs better and longer with the extra available amps in the system.
the wiring is simple from the extra battery you go positive to positive and negative to negative.
IF
you got positive to negative you will get a 24volt system out of it and things might get REALLY interesting,
IMPORTANT.. wiring this way you have to run two identical batteries. This way you don't get uneven drainage or other problems. BUT it is worth the savings if you keep your vehicles like I do. Have never had to replace anything running off of the wiring system with the dual batteries. It has paid for itself.
Last edited by nwguy; Oct 12, 2013 at 10:52 PM.
Tell that to the Ramsey Rep 8000 that smoked like a well done turkey.
I talked to the Ramsey tech people and they said anything over 900 amps with a load could/would do it.
this was about 20 years ago. I threw in a new winch motor and I'm still using the same winch, just more cautious about hooking it up.
maybe the technology has changed so it doesn't matter how much juice you give one of the new ones, but it sure burned it out that 20 year old winch at the time.
I talked to the Ramsey tech people and they said anything over 900 amps with a load could/would do it.
this was about 20 years ago. I threw in a new winch motor and I'm still using the same winch, just more cautious about hooking it up.
maybe the technology has changed so it doesn't matter how much juice you give one of the new ones, but it sure burned it out that 20 year old winch at the time.
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,322
Likes: 1
From: Edmonton
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
this
a motor only draws what it needs to operate to put it simply. obviously the winch motor had a short to ground, or between windings. a ramsey rep will not megger a motor, they want to sell you a new one. nothing to do with dual batteries.
a motor only draws what it needs to operate to put it simply. obviously the winch motor had a short to ground, or between windings. a ramsey rep will not megger a motor, they want to sell you a new one. nothing to do with dual batteries.
Last edited by hankthetank; Oct 13, 2013 at 12:59 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 512
Likes: 1
From: Bellevue, WA
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
There are numerous build threads that contain dual battery setups well explained with pictures. Painless sells overly expensive stuff, which when purchased separately lowers the price quite a lot.
Beyond the battery and tray, you need approx. 14 ft of red 0 gauge cable and a couple feet of black cable. You need an isolator, which can be found for as little as $36 (PAC) and some small parts totaling no more than $20 overall.
I would also suggest upgrading the rest of your high amp electrical cables - battery, alternator, grounds, etc.
Beyond the battery and tray, you need approx. 14 ft of red 0 gauge cable and a couple feet of black cable. You need an isolator, which can be found for as little as $36 (PAC) and some small parts totaling no more than $20 overall.
I would also suggest upgrading the rest of your high amp electrical cables - battery, alternator, grounds, etc.
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: Fargo ND
Year: 1994
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Tell that to the Ramsey Rep 8000 that smoked like a well done turkey.
I talked to the Ramsey tech people and they said anything over 900 amps with a load could/would do it.
this was about 20 years ago. I threw in a new winch motor and I'm still using the same winch, just more cautious about hooking it up.
maybe the technology has changed so it doesn't matter how much juice you give one of the new ones, but it sure burned it out that 20 year old winch at the time.
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