Dual Battery Cable Connections. Help.

[latinoguy]

I am finally working on getting this project completed.

Following Boston Mangler's Manual Dual Battery Set Up.

I have the aux battery mounted, have the 9001e switch and pretty much every thing else but the cables and connectors and need your help.

I have measured the lengths according to the marine switch locations going to the battery, and everything else, but I have to confirm the following:

As far as the battery grounds go, I would like to mimic the stock locations as much as possible.

Option 1.
I can take the aux battery cable negative and run it down to the motor mount and do the same with starting battery (anything to keep an eye out as far as the mounts go?). What connector sizes would be good here?

Option 2
Take the starting battery ground cable and run it over to the passenger side battery and use that ground circuit.What connector sizes would be good here?

Alternator connection
Anything to be concerned about here as far as the connection to the alternator goes? connector size etc.

Battery Cable size
Instead of 2 AWG, Can I run a size 1/0 instead? I ask because there is a gentleman here on the forum who is quoting me a cable kit, but says if I want 2 AWG he needs to order it, while 1/0 he has in stock.


Distribution Buss to the Fusible Link (as mentioned on BM's schematic.)
What distribution buss to the fusible link connection(s) do I need to keep in mind here? This one I am in the dark and need some good advice.

Thanks in advance.

James

 

[latinoguy]

no feedback?

 

[Pin_Head]

I am guessing here, but the stock cable looks like 1/0. 2 Ga is definitely smaller.

Any ground to the frame or engine block that is good will work equivalently. The ground straps should be as big as the + cable.

The alternator wire needs to be stock size or larger. I would presume it should go to the switch + common post so you can switch which batteries are engaged and charging.

 

[Rwhat]

I went with 2/0 tinned cable. I got it cheap.

I swapped out the dinky factory ground to the engine block and swapped it with 2/0. I have the main and aux battery linked together for grounding. I would not go with 1/0 if you are planning to make any tight radius bends. I also used marine battery terminals instead of the military style. Works better with a stud for my application.

I used genuinedealz on eBay. They have the best prices on everything. I got my heat shrink with glue inside CHEAP.

 

[Rwhat]

I am guessing here, but the stock cable looks like 1/0. 2 Ga is definitely smaller.

Any ground to the frame or engine block that is good will work equivalently. The ground straps should be as big as the + cable.

The alternator wire needs to be stock size or larger. I would presume it should go to the switch + common post so you can switch which batteries are engaged and charging.

I don't think the factory ground is anywhere near 1/0. I tip to removing it is from the block is from the fenderwell liner with extensions.

I mounted my solenoid on a bracket to the firewall on the DS side this way I can my + above the heater valve and around the windshield washer. I also used blue seas maxi fuse blocks. Check amazon for the best prices on those and the fuse blocks.

 

[Bjohnston115]

the factory wires are nowhere near 1/0. On my rig the wire to the starter is a 2 gauge and the wire form the alternator is 8 gauge. Grounds also look to be 8 gauge but i have replaced them all already.

 

[latinoguy]

Thanks gentlemen. This is helping me with some of the questions. How about a pic of what connector I need to connect the cable to the alternator? (and starter?) I ask because it looks like the OEM appears to be a wiring harness style? I could be wrong?