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2nd Gen Ram Tech1994-2001 Rams: This section is for TECHNICAL discussions only, that involve the 1994 through 2001 Rams. For any non-tech discussions, please direct your attention to the "General discussion/NON-tech" sub sections.
What is the use for the extra parts? I hooked up an extra battery in one of my other vehicles, by just grounding the 2nd battery to a close ground and running the positive straight to the primary battery with a fuse. Worked fine for the few years that I owned it.
the problem with what you did, is that they act like one battery. so if one battery drains down, they both do.
the isolator seperates the 2nd battery from the truck when the ignition is off, so the second battery cannot drain dead if the main one does. the relay delay (which i have not seen before, great idea adding it here) will make sure that his alternator can keep up with the load of charging 2 batteries, by not allowing the 2nd battery to charge unless a certain amount of voltage is produced by the alternator.
why not just get a high output alternator? those are what 250, what did it cost to install the dual batteries?
a HO alternator would not solve the problem of potentially having a dead battery. as he plans on doing, you can set it up with a switch, so if your main battery is dead you can flip a switch and have starting power from the 2nd battery with no issues.
that isolater should also help in telling what battery the alt should be maintaining,,,so it doesnt have to put up with a 1400-1800 amp charging load..
unless its a differenent isolater,,, i didnt read it