TheCollector

so i finally have a week off and time to paint my new bumper along with add 2 more sets of 55 watt halogen off road lights a friend said i might have draw issues with the battery? i plan on having 3 sets total up front on the bumper to light up the way i do notice when i switch my single set on my volt meter drops down a few volts but the volt meter on the dash is just a yes no gauge. its a diehard gold with 675 cold cranking amps i beleve ill double check to be sure now would a deep cycle battery be better for the set up or will i be fine with the stock charging system?

7700SCREW

Are you running a harness with relay for each set? Maybe a higher output alternator or dual battery setup would be a good idea.

AuroraZero

All depends on the setup you have man. Like 7700 said if they have relays for each set or if you have a high output alt. Personally I would go with a high output alt at least if not the second battery also. (waves)

wde3477

Have to be careful with deep-cycle batteries, IMO. These are intended for a relatively slow discharge rate over a long period to a significant state of discharge, unlike typical vehicle batteries which are intended for high discharge rates (starting) for short periods never reaching any significant state of discharge.

By the time you add three pairs of 55W lights, along with the headlights, HVAC blower, A/C compressor, stereo, and other accessories - might be looking at 70-80 amps of continuous load.

IMO, the alternator should be capable of powering everything all by itself, and not relying on the battery to ride-through or to supplement.

Not sure what the stock alternator was rated for - a quick look at RockAuto suggests somewhere in the 60-75 amp range.

One suggestion would be to look at a 100 or 130 amp unit to ensure plenty of capacity, followed by the next opportunity to excel - will it fit?

A bigger battery wouldn't hurt anything other than your wallet - I was thinking my Duralast Gold was rated in the 800 CCA range, not sure what the reserve time is.

Dual batteries would be an extreme measure, as well as an additional degree of difficulty and another opportunity for an electrical gremlin - but, hey, to each their own.

TheCollector

i am running a relay for each set but not off of the battery the one set i have now runs thru the fues box off of an un used fues slot that is what the directions sugessted there is also an inline fuse as well.
my set up i guess is is i run the wire from the fuse box to the military switch then to the lights like it says to. the other way is to draw from the battery directly which i might do with the 6 of them. as far as the secondary battery goes I would like to have that just not sure how to wire that up the alternator is the 130 amp one? that's what the part number came up with so i think that is the high out put for that year?

TheCollector

hey where have you been? lol

AuroraZero

Died but got better lol. Well for about two weeks or so they thought I might actually die. I couldn't get out of bed, had no energy, didn't talk, watch t.v., nothing.

Lesson to be learned never let the doc change the meds that are working fine for new ones. Just felt good a few days ago so came back to find out yemski is a mod and world here has gone mad. Thought maybe you had gotten lost also lol.

So how you been man? You going to sell me those fender flares yet?

TheCollector

damn i figured it was something major. glad to see you back in action get well soon. and yemski is a mod now i thought that was crazy too lol

and funny you should say that they might be up for grabs soon

transmaster

What you want is an Ford Ambulance/Police heavy duty alternator they are 240 amp units, they bolt right in. the battery size in this situation is not that important, and as has been pointed do not use a deep cycle battery, they are not a starting battery. It is the alternator that is doing the work.

TheCollector

oh ok thats good to know there's an e250 ambulance at the junkyard! ill see if it will work

now if i get that would i need to worry about overcharging the battery?