Extra Batts.

[BIGHOG]

Need some input. Just installed the new 200A alt. on the s-10 (Motor City). It's running a SWP SR GL and a DM 2x4. The current bat. under the hood is a red top Altima. It has about 3 hard years on it already (many discharges). I have three other older bats. in the garage. Two starting and one deep cycle. My question is..... can I take the better of those three bats. and use it in my setup? I know you should buy all bats. at the same time, and match cca's. But, on a bugdet with these extra bats. just sitting around does anybody see a reason not to use them ? I know they will charge/discharge at different rates, but couldn't this be a temp. fix for my voltage drop until I have the beans to buy 2 more brand new bats?

[linearone]

use 'em and get down

[jessejamesdallas]

Yep...what he said! Before I knew better...My battery bank looked like a bag of M&M's.

6 battery's....6 different brands....6 different CCA...But it worked!

[Texas Mobil 219]

I dont think the four bats that i got are the same.

Just do it!!!!!!!!! lol

I think you will like it.

[BIGHOG]

That's what I was thinking. Thank's for the input guys. :D

[North Texas Mudduck]

well im doing something wrong
just my battery bank for the main amp has 5 red and white batteries and the other 5 are all black

[f-250ford]

If they are old batteries just do it.If they are new whats going to happen is that the weak battery will bring the better batteries to the lower level so they will have a shorter life span.

[Grump]

I dont think I would use the deep cycle they don't take kindly to a drain and quick recharge would probably make the other two go bad even faster. Just run the two regular batteries.

[falkor923]

Hmmm....in my ford windstar on a stock 130A alternator, I ran my 3300HP and a MagnaForce (XForce) 2x4. Saw a lil drop at idle, but never had issues. I bet you would be fine without it. When not at idle with 200A it shouldn't matter at all. Maybe an extra battery would be needed on a 90A-110A alternator. But I have never felt with a large alt like you have it was needed. For the work involved, you might see 50-75 watt pep increase?? I wouldn't. 8 pills........yeah...i would.

[Alien Abductor]

you can do it but the deep cycle dont fancy fast charge/discharge

[BIGHOG]

I'm still seeing a pretty large volt. drop even with the large alt. Granted, this is at night with the headlights on. But even that is not acceptable.

[BIGHOG]

This is starting to get a little weird. Just for grins I jumpered my multi-meter to my under hood battery this morning. (stand alone battery) Pulled the coil wire and ran the starter over for about 15 seconds. The battery never dropped below 11 volts. Great. With the meter hooked in the same position I started the truck turned everything on and threw a DK. Battery dropped to 13v. As soon as I modulated the meter dropped right to 0! Brought the R's up the 3000 to get the alt. spinning and tried it again, straight to 0v. I cut off all CB related equiptment and fired up the stereo (it's a big one). Got her jammin' and saw no less than 13.5v at the battery. I double checked all grounds and conncetions. Is is possible that the amp is instantly sucking the battery dry and the truck is running off of the alt.? I have heard of people running 2x4's with 140A alts. with one battery without issues. (See earlier in the tread) If my battery was giving me problems than I could understand the voltage drop.

[North Texas Mudduck]

with the voltage meter dropping to zero that would be rf affecting that

[Thunder1337]

3/4 of my house runs on solar wind power the rest is on the grid the best batteries I have found are at walmart they are the ever start deep cycle yellow case black topped. I know deep cycle is not what you need but the batteries are hybrids cheap one's to they have the capicity of a deep cycle with a high discharge rate to keep up with mine and your kinds of demaned and needs been running these for 5 years 18 of them not one dead yet.

[jessejamesdallas]

This is starting to get a little weird. Just for grins I jumpered my multi-meter to my under hood battery this morning. (stand alone battery) Pulled the coil wire and ran the starter over for about 15 seconds. The battery never dropped below 11 volts. Great. With the meter hooked in the same position I started the truck turned everything on and threw a DK. Battery dropped to 13v. As soon as I modulated the meter dropped right to 0! Brought the R's up the 3000 to get the alt. spinning and tried it again, straight to 0v. I cut off all CB related equiptment and fired up the stereo (it's a big one). Got her jammin' and saw no less than 13.5v at the battery. I double checked all grounds and conncetions. Is is possible that the amp is instantly sucking the battery dry and the truck is running off of the alt.? I have heard of people running 2x4's with 140A alts. with one battery without issues. (See earlier in the tread) If my battery was giving me problems than I could understand the voltage drop.

I agree with NTMD...Probably stray RF messing with your meter...I can't see anyway a 2x4 could kill all your volts...As for pulling everything down, try this...

Just get a extra battery, and temporally hook it up with a set of jumper cables, and then do your test with the volt meter, and see what happens.... If the meter drops to zero, then you know it's just RF freaking the meter out. If the volt meter stays at 12v's or better, then you know you just need to add another battery in-line!

[Texas Mobil 219]

I check mine on my 2x4 today. When I keyed up with everything on it drop of to 12.9. I figure my altenator is getting alittle worn out. with nothing up and running it runs at 14.3. So may what NTMD said. Stray RF.

Another thing i notice today. I did a tune up and instead of just putting wire on. I up wire loom on them. I notice alot of the white noise on the ol rig was gone. Just something i noticed.

[BIGHOG]

Thank's for the input everybody. Did the test with the battery and the jumper cables. Pulled another duralast out my dually and hooked it up, 12.3v on the meter. Turns out it wasn't RF getting to the meter. Just need another battery in there. The Optima running now is pretty old. Thank's again guys. This stuff is soooo addicting. Does anybody else run to the computer after work to see if there is a respnse to a queston? Or is it just me? BIGHOG CLICK CLICK