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What are the advantages of having two batteries?

20K views 16 replies 10 participants last post by  asdrew  
#1 ·
I was asking my mechanic if he could relocate the vehicle battery so it's not under the driver seat, as I find that an inconvenient spot, and he said he could and also offered to put in two batteries into the van. He said this would be more powerful. Can anyone tell me what would be the advantages of having two batteries?
 
#2 ·
It depends how he would hook them up. If they are in the same bank it provides more capacity for cranking and other uses within the vehicle electrical system. If he isolates them, then you have a seperate battery for use when the vehicle is turned off from the one you will need lator to crank up the van.
 
#4 ·
This is the first vehicle I've had without the battery in the engine compartment, and found that there is no recurring need to access them. You can jump start from the engine compartment, and there are CCP battery connections for accessorizing on the side of the driver's seat.

Our first van had a single battery which ran down and had to be jumped and since it was aging, it was replaced it a few days later with two AGMs and I never looked back. Our current two vans came with dual batteries and it is comforting to know that we have gobs of reserve power.

Just for fun, I recently added jumper cable ports to the front bumper on both.
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#5 ·
This is the first vehicle I've had without the battery in the engine compartment, and found that there is no recurring need to access them. You can jump start from the engine compartment, and there are CCP battery connections for accessorizing on the side of the driver's seat.

Our first van had a single battery which ran down and had to be jumped and since it was aging, it was replaced it a few days later with two AGMs and I never looked back. Our current two vans came with dual batteries and it is comforting to know that we have gobs of reserve power.
thanks! I think my perspective got tweaked because just a few days after buying the van, due to a weird event where my cargo lights started flashing and I could not turn them off, my battery got drained and right away I needed to access it to check the voltage. It was then that I discovered the odd place the battery was located. When I had the roadside assistance guy come and jump start my vehicle, he didn't even know where the battery was. So, if I hadn't had this experience so soon after buying the van, I might not have begun to think the battery was in a difficult place. But you and @surly Bill are doubtless right, there's no ongoing need to access them.

I may have the mechanic add a 2nd battery in a different spot....

That's a nice feature you added, the jumper cable ports. Cool!
 
#7 ·
#9 ·
Our van came with the dual battery setup. Not sure I would have selected it as a single, healthy battery has more than enough capacity to start the engine. If you have parasitic drain, both batteries will go flat (though it would take longer).

If we had lots of power demands like auxiliary lights, winch, or if we lived in an extremely cold climate, I would think the dual batteries were worth it.
 
#10 ·
Nobody answered the question did they ?
What are the advantages of having two batteries?


Asdrew said gobs of more reserve power but why add more capacity to your starter battery.? , wouldn't it be better to add a actual Deep cycle battery that is isolated from the starter battery???
 
#11 ·
Agree Mobileempire....as a curiosity searched booster power packs incase your initial battery dies...Several reviews show Andew 2000 ( $140 CDN )and the onco GB 70 $249 )..another versatile option to consider perhaps??
 
#13 ·
but I still don't get why anybody would add another starter battery vs a isolated deep cycle .
Have you not read any of the electrical threads in the 3 years you have been on the forum? This has been discussed many times. Adding an extra starter battery increases the output of the CCP from the 30 amps you can draw from a single starter battery, This is also explained in the Bemm.
 
#14 ·
Also if you're drawing from the starter system at all for charge - which by all accounts you should unless you really value the isolated house system - you definitely want that extra wiggle room in case something doesn't go perfectly.
 
#15 ·
Yes, one good battery can suffice in normal situations, and a dedicated deep cycle battery is a better solution when you have need for house power.
I like the option that Chevy introduced last year to have dual batteries that are isolated, it would be helpful to have those.

For me, the gobs of power with dual batteries means that I haven't worried for years about leaving anything on too long and so far have not had a need for separate power which is more involved and costly than having 2 starter batteries under the seat that power everything.

And @thecho if your single battery is good you don't have to replace it with two identical ones, though I prefer to have matching batteries so there is no doubt about one being older/weaker than the other. Some of our electrical wizards could provide better technical information on that.
 
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#16 ·
I already ordered the CCP kit because you sounded so enthusiastic about it :). Given that I am on some sort of spending spree here, I might as well order two AGMs...

Anyone have any suggestions on specific batteries, and your favorite (newbie friendly) install instructions?

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#17 ·
Post # 10 from @justcallben was my inspiration in this old thread.

3 years ago I got two Bosch AGMs on sale with a 5 year warranty and moved them over to my current 2015, still going strong. I'll have them checked just before the 5 years is up to make sure they are in good shape. On my last Super Duty Pep Boys replaced my Bosch just before the warranty ended no questions asked.