Vehicle Power management

[CaptainMikey]

I am about $900 away from my savings goal to get a truck.

I will be putting in aux fuel and electricl systems.

For the electrical, I will be upgrading my alternator to a very heavy duty alt, and using a isolator to charge both batteries at once off the same alt.

The alt will be able to handle the load.

The only question is, is there any way to wire it so that if the main battery drains accidently, to connect the aux battery to the main system to start, and then disconect it from the main system?

Also, is it possible to run twin alts? This would take the isolator out of the question.

[nmfire]

Yep. You want a continuous duty heavy duty selonoid. It will look like a starter relay (big) but it is made to remain on for as long as needed. Flip a switch in the cab to engage it and it will connect the aux battery to the main starting circuit.

[mcaldwell]

And yes you can run twin alts on most domestic full size p/u's, but you wouldn't normally run one to each battery. The advantage to the twin setup is that you get greater, and more reliable output during high drain ops.

[CaptainMikey]

I should of thought of that earlier. I was also dreaming of what I could do if got my new crown victoria, making it a full EMV. 3 strobe power supplies and alot of halogens. But never will happen.

[nmfire]

Lights! You're a scab!