Anyone running a dual battery setup? I have my 03 Jeep WJ and I bought a optima red top. Thought it was a 6 cell but its only a 3 cell (6v) was thinking of keeping it and putting a dual setup in my WJ.
Dual battery
- Thread starter sapietrzak
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Off-Road Ranger I
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If you keep that battery, your need for a dual-battery setup would be much different than most on here.
You need to put them together all the time to make 12V, most of us need to separate them to have 12V, and run things like fridges and winches and lights while not worrying about having the starting battery drained.
A dual 6v system has some advantages but it's a little strange to have that set up in a jeep like yours.
You need to put them together all the time to make 12V, most of us need to separate them to have 12V, and run things like fridges and winches and lights while not worrying about having the starting battery drained.
A dual 6v system has some advantages but it's a little strange to have that set up in a jeep like yours.
I have a regular 12v for my normal battery. I was going to replace it with a optima red top. I thought I ordered a 12v but ended up with a 6v. I am just curious if it would be worth to run as a dual setup of just return it.
Traveler III
To run any optional equipment from your second battery, you need 12 Volts. So you'll either need to return your 6 Volt battery and get a 12 Volt, or get a second 6V to run in series with your other 6Volt battery. But then you have three batteries!
My MG has two 6 Volt batteries in series, because at the time, two 6 Volt batteries had more cranking power than one 12 Volt battery. Today, there's no advantage to running a pair of 6 Volt batteries. I replaced them both with one 12 Volt garden tractor battery.
My MG has two 6 Volt batteries in series, because at the time, two 6 Volt batteries had more cranking power than one 12 Volt battery. Today, there's no advantage to running a pair of 6 Volt batteries. I replaced them both with one 12 Volt garden tractor battery.
found this on the inter webs. looks to be dual 34/78 series optimas. and with this mounting bracket it may just be possible.
Traveler II
Yeah better off returning it and getting a second 12V if possible use a try like the one above to keep them together. If not you will need battery isolator, long lengths of 00 or 000 wire depending on load 6/0 . Then you would likely want to divide your power drawl. If you do run two batteries its also best if you have 2 of the same battery, type, capacity, age.
Influencer I
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Just keep in mind the red top Optima is a starting battery not a "dual purpose" or deep cycle battery, yellow top Optima would be better and functions both as a starting or deep cycle battery. Either way, I would swap it out for 12v.
