Two batteries?

[frankenfester]

Not really a repair help, but more of a question leading to beneficial answers for this project.
Anyways, is it possible to run two batteries in a festiva? Off the same alternator?
I currently have a redtop, and during these cold Canadian months, it seems to be lacking in the crank amps department. Could be that its 4 years old, but its still starting the same as it always has.
My question is more for accessories to lessen the cranking amps on the main battery.
Suppose I put a battery in the rear and run a cable from the alternator, through the fire wall to behind my seat. I'd ultimately put a cut off so that I know not to blow it up. But my plan, if possible, is to runs battery behind the seat, grounded to the seat bolt, that I could run my amp, and subwoofer and other accessories off of.
Has anyone done this? Is it eve possible? Can our alternators handle it?
I'm currently 1st gen 323 swapped. Thanks for the help dudes!

-James

[Micro Mudder]

Yea its done all the time for cars with big soundsystems a buddy had 2 battories in his cilica gt with stalk alternator so it will work just fine and the alternator will handle it

[Aaronbrook37]

That sounds expensive. I'd try something more economical first. Go through your engine bay and sand/polish/clean all of the ground wires and points of contact with the chassis. You can use sandpaper or a drill/dremel with a small wire wheel. On my latest Festiva, I was amazed because it made a huge difference in the ability of the car to crank and also increased my idle voltage across the battery as well.

[frankenfester]

That sounds expensive. I'd try something more economical first. Go through your engine bay and sand/polish/clean all of the ground wires and points of contact with the chassis. You can use sandpaper or a drill/dremel with a small wire wheel. On my latest Festiva, I was amazed because it made a huge difference in the ability of the car to crank and also increased my idle voltage across the battery as well.

I'd do that, if I had contacts that would corrode or gunk up. I went through about a year ago and changed all the contacts that aren't factory plugs to gold connectors and better wiring. My battery terminals are also gold, and they never get junk on them.
But I didn't mean going and buying another red top. I've got the wiring and all from my last excursion into the electrics of the festiva. This would just be buying a small battery, the cheapest battery I mean, and using that. Or finding one that is on sale. I was thinking something bugger than lawnmower size, but nothing like the red top.

-James

[Aaronbrook37]

I'd do that, if I had contacts that would corrode or gunk up. I went through about a year ago and changed all the contacts that aren't factory plugs to gold connectors and better wiring. My battery terminals are also gold, and they never get junk on them.
But I didn't mean going and buying another red top. I've got the wiring and all from my last excursion into the electrics of the festiva. This would just be buying a small battery, the cheapest battery I mean, and using that. Or finding one that is on sale. I was thinking something bugger than lawnmower size, but nothing like the red top.

-James

Ah okay good call then!

[frankenfester]

Ah okay good call then!

No dissing intended. Lol. I made sure all the grounds were sanded before I reconnected them. And then I coated them with paint so as not to rust, and maintain bare metal contact under the bolts.

-James

[kingstonpygmies]

Run a battery isolater. Some people run them with big sound systems. That way the alternator charges both

Sent from Kingston Ga from my hillbilly handheld

[zoom zoom]

^ yea what he said, you can run them in parallel or use an isolator. The proper choice is quite obvious, the budget isn't!

http://www.zbattery.com/Connecting-Batteries-in-Series-or-Parallel

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battery_isolator

[frankenfester]

^ yea what he said, you can run them in parallel or use an isolator. The proper choice is quite obvious, the budget isn't!

http://www.zbattery.com/Connecting-Batteries-in-Series-or-Parallel

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battery_isolator

Wicked. Thanks for the info dude. I believe if I did this I'd run them off an isolator, so that as wiki said, both batteries would charge simultaneously without sacrificing one battery's charge for the other if older.

-James

[WmWatt]

You can also look for a used battery. I got one from a battery specialist in the industrial park and it lasted 13 years. I only drove the car a couple times a week. The drain on your auxilliar battery may also be light.

[frankenfester]

You can also look for a used battery. I got one from a battery specialist in the industrial park and it lasted 13 years. I only drove the car a couple times a week. The drain on your auxilliar battery may also be light.

I was thinking of doing that. Making a solid connection from the alternator to the aux battery so that I could install a switch to charge it as need be, and put a voltmeter on it so I could see what power she's getting.

-James