dual batteries = 24 volts?

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dual batteries = 24 volts?

December 23, 2005, 12:02:42 AM

Just blant curiousity, I am assuing with a duel battery conversion, they keep the stock 12 volt charging system and use 24 volt accesories , right?

Basically, what I want to know if you can charge two batteries with a stockish charging system(newer beefier alt of course) and wire the two batteries together , using them as a 24 volt source, such as a 24 volt inverter?

Can anyone draw me up a quick sketch, if it is possible?(using mad ms paint skills of course)

thanks for your time.

dual batteries = 24 volts?

Reply #1 – December 23, 2005, 12:54:25 AM

Two batteries can provied either 12 or 24 volts, depending on how they're wired. In parallel you get 12 volts but with twice as much reserve capacity and cranking power as a single battery. In series you get 24 volts, but you would need to extensively modify the electrical system of your car to handle it.

Here is an overly simplified diagram - to do it correctly you should have a battery isolator. This would go in the red wire between the two positive terminals on the batteries in the 12 system and the alt output would connect to the isolator as well. The isolator then doles out the alternators charge to the battery as they need it. The isolator also prevents one battery from draining the other. This is good for motorhomes, boats, RV's, etc, that have "house" batteries and starting batteries on board.

dual batteries = 24 volts?

Reply #2 – December 23, 2005, 01:35:03 AM

So which one would is parallel. I would do this but i just want more power but stay 12 volt. More power, cranking amps. Would I have to get a huge ass alternator. i dont even know what size my alt is now.

dual batteries = 24 volts?

Reply #3 – December 23, 2005, 08:52:41 AM

The one on the left (12V system) is parallel. You should get the largest alternator you can get (130A 3G, for example). Having two batteries alone is not going to increase the load on the alternator much, but whatever you've got in mind that makes you want to run two batteries in the first place likely will...

dual batteries = 24 volts?

Reply #4 – December 27, 2005, 05:55:34 AM

Sorry to let this sit for so long, basically, I found a dc-dc 320 watt power supply mainly ment for cop/military vehicles, which lets me get around the low power/low performance set up for a carputer, put it also uses a 24 volt charging system. I know this would be overkill, speically for a carputer, but a good dc-dc power supply is typically around $200 and only 150 watts, and I dont like those kinds of barriers. who wants a low power laptop with an inverter in a car anyways. I could get one for cheaper, if I soldered my own, but I suck at it really bad, and dont want to practice on something this extreme.

Also, when I get enough time/money, I want a pretty killer sound system in my car. However, being newer to most audio/carputer setup's, it takes alot of research in baby steps. so basically, I had this all figured out, just wanted to make sure I had it right.

So wiring it up with a battery isolator will give me 12V charge(well more like 14 but still) to the batteries independantly, as well as let me use both batteries as a power sorce to get the required 24 volts, correct?