Originally Posted by djgizmo
Hmm, interesting... my research sux then... lol, as for extra wiring, I was thinking of the wiring needed to hook up an isolator or relay under the hood.
I was considering doing incoporating a solor trickle charger / relay so when I'm not using my car, my battery is always topped off
Good info.
The isolator can be installed where you already have the fuse for your existing amp kit. The alternator wire simply needs to be cut from the battery post and ran to the isolator - usually you can use wire you already have. definitely upgrade the alt to isolator wire to 4ga as mentioned above... and of course your other ground wires too. And I recently discovered that the alternator usually does not have a clean gound to the chasis either! so when adding another battery you might want to run a supply wire directly from a bolt holding the alternator to the chasis as well. I noticed an improvement in charging when I did this on my car.
*edit* the reason there is no stock alt to ground wire is because it introduces some level of noise into the electrical system which as the alternator ages will become more noticable. all cars have a starter to ground wire but it is usually isolated from the primary ground. My wifes honda accord has a alt to chasis ground wire but its really tiny =/
any connection with a direct +12v hookup will do for the trickle charger. I know some dealerships use the cigarette lighter with a solar panel to maintain the charge on new vehicles before they are sold. (imagine how embarrasing it is for a saleman to try to crank a new car only to have the battery be dead hahahaha)
I actually got to keep mine when I bought my grand prix and I still have it somewhere. just remember not to supply more than 13.6v if its going to be a constant charge(as in always on). anything over that will damage the battery once it reaches 100% capacity!