Using a relay to isolate batteries?

nd4spd18 · Post by **nd4spd18** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 2:08 pm

Well I talked to a guy at Motor City Reman today.
He called the company that makes the isolators that they sell, and they said that the regular isolators can be used with a Deco CS alternator, but I would have to run a wire from the car's ignition wire to the alternator + terminal, with a 10 amp diode in-line.
I'm guessing that the isolators designed for the CS alts do that internally, and that's why they have a terminal for the ignition wire.
Ever heard of that being done?

Post by **GlassWolf** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 5:58 am

yeah GM uses a setup that monitors alternator function.. that's all. the ECM has to be able to see the voltage output so it knows the alternator is working properly.
Don't ya just love OBD-II garbage?

nd4spd18 · Post by **nd4spd18** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 11:22 am

Actually it has OBD-I... its a 94. The guy said that the diode should be installed so that current can flow from the ignition wire to the alternator, because the voltage regulator has to see voltage to activate it.

Does that sound right?

solacedagony · Post by **solacedagony** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 11:25 am

nd4spd18 wrote:Actually it has OBD-I... its a 94. The guy said that the diode should be installed so that current can flow from the ignition wire to the alternator, because the voltage regulator has to see voltage to activate it.
Does that sound right?

Diodes are used to make sure electricity only goes one way.

Bwcad1 · Post by **Bwcad1** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 11:34 am

diodes limit current to one direction just like he said.

Beachcrawler · Post by **Beachcrawler** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 5:35 pm

This is my setup. I hope this helps.
http://www.dodgetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=128210

qlc1964 · Post by **qlc1964** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 9:17 pm

hey!!!! i just installed that stinger 200 few days ago my set up is dual alts i`m adding a 2nd batt on the stereo charging system for longer playing when watching movies. i use the autozone yellow top batt if i had the money i would buy two at the same time. the stereo batt i had for 3 months and i haven`t bought this other batt yet. i use a rocker switch to turn on the system and i wired a relay to the remote wire to trigger the stinger 200. so when the systems off the two batts want drain each other from days of sitting. this batt will be mounted underneath in rear next to the leaf spring passenger side.

Post by **GlassWolf** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 6:19 am

I'd recommend you go with a deep cycle gel cell battery for the audio system, and put it on an isolator.
that way fully discharging the battery won't damage it the way you would with a normal lead acid starter battery

Beachcrawler · Post by **Beachcrawler** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 12:01 pm

My Stinger 200 is triggered by my cigarette lighter (switched) circuit. Plus I have the Relay-delay that only combines the batteries when my alternator is charging at > 13.3 volts. My second battery is a deep cycle as suggested by GlassWolf. I also added a momentary switch so the deep cycle battery could jump the starter battery in an emergency without using jumper cables. If you connect the Stinger as shown in my link above you won't need extra switches and your system will operate automatically.

qlc1964 · Post by **qlc1964** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 8:26 pm

but . don`t it take longer to fully charge a deep cycle batt in the car if you was to drain it pretty low? when your system starts cutting off &on you know it`s time to start the car

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Using a relay to isolate batteries?

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