added a 3rd optima battery on crossmember

[emarsh]

tight fit, I have always wanted to do this. Made a strong frame out of 1" angle iron and mounted it on the drivers side of the 6 speed transmission, on top of the transmission rear crossmember. Made 1/0 cables from welding cable because that was what I had. Ran the positive to starter and negative to lug on bellhousing. using Costco optimas, plenty of juice now!

 

[Jeff H]

Shouldn't have problem with one optima starting in 0 degrees. I have two optimas. Spins that engine over fast. Today it got up to 5 degrees and no problem. If I were to do a 3rd battery. I would install a optima marine battery for batter reserve capacity.

I kept my excides that were in the truck. I built a dolly to roll them around. Both batteries are wired together. Works great for jump starting cars ,atv's and tractors on really cold days.

 

[KYLE4]

Did you add it just to do it or are doing something hardcore I have three located in my bed but I have front and rear winches + Light Dimming stereo and many off road lights

 

[emarsh]

I already had the third battery in another car, had a spare die hard for that car so this is something I always wanted to do. My original thought was to get rid of the passenger battery to make more room for possibly a second BHAF, or tools or just to have some room in the engine compartment. We live in the Mohave desert and blowing sand is a reality, so you really cant have too much air filtration. Plus, it is a straight shot to the starter motor, those darn grid heaters really suck up the juice!

 

[JLEONARD]

Shouldn't have problem with one optima starting in 0 degrees.

True. . I have only one optima and have not had a problem in two Ct winters...

Are all three hooked in parrallel or do you have the ability to switch them?

 

[emarsh]

all three in parallel- i have the costco optimas, they have less CCA's than the one my nephew bought, but he paid $35 more.

 

[ATClark]

Another '3rd' battery use

I put a '3rd' battery in the bed of my truck to provide more electical capacity when boondocking with my RV (my breathing machine needs plenty of juice). I also use it to power a 110 volt outlet (installed under the 'middle' seat) to allow me to use my lap top computer extensively when the engine is not running (I added a relay to to isolate it from the 'normal' batteries while doing this). The 110 volt outlet means I do not have to buy special 12 volt adapters for my laptop, cell phone, etc.

 

[kscheffler]

what optima batteries does costco sell?

 

[kschitoskey]

I bought my Optima red tops from Costco for $99. 00 each. Spins my ISB in cold weather with no problem. Awesome battery.

 

[kscheffler]

what is the CCA for the red tops? Are the blues more CCA than the reds?

 

[I-6DZL]

Nice thought here maybe ??

I put a '3rd' battery in the bed of my truck to provide more electical capacity when boondocking with my RV (my breathing machine needs plenty of juice). I also use it to power a 110 volt outlet (installed under the 'middle' seat) to allow me to use my lap top computer extensively when the engine is not running (I added a relay to to isolate it from the 'normal' batteries while doing this). The 110 volt outlet means I do not have to buy special 12 volt adapters for my laptop, cell phone, etc.

I have been thinking of building a weather proof 'box' inside of my toolbox to install a power inverter. I also camp (rustic) and would love the power inverter to be a full time option on my truck.

Now is where the problem comes in, I want to be able to plug my truck into the power inverter (for the engine warmer when it's cold out) Does anyone see a problem with doing this ??? Other than the added stress put on the alternator. I would like to do this without adding a 3rd batter. I feel 2 interstate batteries should be plenty.



Opinions please

Curtis

 

[InThinAir]

Are you saying you want to plug your block heater into the inverter? You definatly need to calculate what draw the 750 watt heater element would have on your batteries. I would guess, even with 3 batteries you might get an hour before you would not have enough juice to turn over your engine. In addition to it being already cold out. An Espar heater is gonna work for you better, but it is much more expensive, but I would say that it is the only thing to get a 2nd gen to start when it is really cold.



---Doug

 

[I-6DZL]

InThinAir Thank you for your reply, i didn't realize the block heaters took sooo much wattage to power up. Would only took about 2 hours before the truck wouldn't start.



Thanks

Curtis

 

[nickleinonen]

i plan on mounting an extra battery [optima probably] somewhere under the truck when i eventually get an espar/webasto, and have it isolated from the factory 2 batteries. on these cold mornings we've had, i don't think 1 battery would crank the engine over. leave the 2 batteries for the normal electrical system, and add one more to run the engine preheater and maybe some other accessories i don't want draining down the mains...