Second Battery
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Second Battery
I have a 2014 Suburban LTZ and noticed the second battery spot. Has anyone run a second battery for "just in case" moments? Not really sure how to do it or if there is a benefit but thought I would ask. My buddy has a F250 with a bunch of accessory gadgets that he ran a second battery for power. Just curious.
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Supplemental/Auxiliary Battery
Greetings brunoboxer welcome to the Forum.
There are two ways to use a second Battery...
As a Supplemental.
That's where you have your Start and second Battery directly hooked up to each other all the time. This permits additional cranking time for a hard start engine, and extended operation of accessories. A normal "Start" Battery would be used here. Though the extension of service is respectable, there remains a point in usage, where a re-start can not be accomplished. When a compartment already exists for the extra Battery, connections are very simple and in-expensive.
As an Auxiliary.
This is where you would have an automatic separation between the Batteries when the ignition is shut off. This leaves the Auxiliary Battery to operate accessories (when wired properly), while the Start Battery is preserved for starting the engine, regardless of the power left in the Auxiliary. A Deep Cycle Battery would probably be used here. Though this application is a bit more expensive to install, it's the preferred method to achieve the extended service of accessories and re-start.
Facilities for the automatic separation of Batteries for Auxiliary application, sometime is furnished by the Manufacturer of the Vehicle (as an option), or a separate Relay can be purchased as an aftermarket application. Either allow the Auxiliary Battery to be automatically re-charged by the Alternator, when the engine is started.
There are two ways to use a second Battery...
As a Supplemental.
That's where you have your Start and second Battery directly hooked up to each other all the time. This permits additional cranking time for a hard start engine, and extended operation of accessories. A normal "Start" Battery would be used here. Though the extension of service is respectable, there remains a point in usage, where a re-start can not be accomplished. When a compartment already exists for the extra Battery, connections are very simple and in-expensive.
As an Auxiliary.
This is where you would have an automatic separation between the Batteries when the ignition is shut off. This leaves the Auxiliary Battery to operate accessories (when wired properly), while the Start Battery is preserved for starting the engine, regardless of the power left in the Auxiliary. A Deep Cycle Battery would probably be used here. Though this application is a bit more expensive to install, it's the preferred method to achieve the extended service of accessories and re-start.
Facilities for the automatic separation of Batteries for Auxiliary application, sometime is furnished by the Manufacturer of the Vehicle (as an option), or a separate Relay can be purchased as an aftermarket application. Either allow the Auxiliary Battery to be automatically re-charged by the Alternator, when the engine is started.
Last edited by SWHouston; Feb 21, 2014 at 1:12 PM.
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Joined: Apr 2008
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From: Austin, Texas
If you do a forum search Aux battery you will find lots of info on various setups... here are a couple
https://chevroletforum.com/forum/tah...project-22289/
https://chevroletforum.com/forum/tah...ay-3963/page4/
https://chevroletforum.com/forum/tah...project-22289/
https://chevroletforum.com/forum/tah...ay-3963/page4/
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