[rb3500]

i use a relay for mine ...I have all the stock ranger equipment on the factory battery an all accessories on the optima ...the relay is triggered by the ignition also have a in line toggle switch to keep the relay off in case i remove the accessory battery or dont want it in the charging system...this has worked well for me

RB

 

[guy48065]

Cheaper isolators have 3 terminals: 1 for the alternator to hook to and 1 for each battery. But how does the alternator "know" when each battery is charged? There are isolators that cost much more--maybe they can balance the charging somehow?

I'm no electrical expert by any means, but this is how it was explained to me...

The Alt has a voltage regulator that can sense when a battery needs to be charged.

The isolator will send the charge to whichever battery is lower.

thats not how it works when using the isolator, the factory cables still connect to the primary battery, the main battery is charged as would normally happen, but the secondary battery is only charged when the isolator senses that the first battery is fully charged and will allow the charge of the secondary battery

That's exactly how a relay-type "isolator" is wired. Is that what you have?
The diode type is normally wired with the alternator going to a center terminal, then through a high-current diode to each of the 2 batteries. BOTH batteries get charged through the isolator and the loads connected to each battery can only be powered by THAT battery. It's all in that excellent car stereo link you posted.

 

[commanderjjones]

This has been educational. Thanks guys! :wink:

 

[elkbow]

guy, mine is the solenoid type isolator, you can see it on the left side of the pic

 

[elkbow]

Funny, your own link doesn't mention anything about "stressing the charging system" without an isolator...yet that was 1 of your 2 major reasons for needing one. :lol:

Exactly right, and my degrees are in electrical engineering, and now i'm an engineering manager, and you?

 

[guy48065]

When most people hear "isolator" they think of the diode type isolator. It would have been way less confusing if you'd stated you have a solenoid.

As for what I can see in your pic--I think only you know what's what in that snarl of wires.

 

[AZRgrFreak]

Cheaper isolators have 3 terminals: 1 for the alternator to hook to and 1 for each battery. But how does the alternator "know" when each battery is charged? There are isolators that cost much more--maybe they can balance the charging somehow?

I'm no electrical expert by any means, but this is how it was explained to me...

The Alt has a voltage regulator that can sense when a battery needs to be charged.

The isolator will send the charge to whichever battery is lower.

thats not how it works when using the isolator, the factory cables still connect to the primary battery, the main battery is charged as would normally happen, but the secondary battery is only charged when the isolator senses that the first battery is fully charged and will allow the charge of the secondary battery

Hey elkbow it looks like you have the 09 polaris secondary battery kit. Mine didn't come with a manual but it wasnt too hard to figure out. I do have a question about the "Switch" option. I am guessing I can just wire it up to any 12 volt switch to manually overide the isolator but figured I would ask for your thoughts.

 

[SamHatco]

Cheaper isolators have 3 terminals: 1 for the alternator to hook to and 1 for each battery. But how does the alternator "know" when each battery is charged? There are isolators that cost much more--maybe they can balance the charging somehow?

I'm no electrical expert by any means, but this is how it was explained to me...

The Alt has a voltage regulator that can sense when a battery needs to be charged.

The isolator will send the charge to whichever battery is lower.

thats not how it works when using the isolator, the factory cables still connect to the primary battery, the main battery is charged as would normally happen, but the secondary battery is only charged when the isolator senses that the first battery is fully charged and will allow the charge of the secondary battery

Hey elkbow it looks like you have the 09 polaris secondary battery kit. Mine didn't come with a manual but it wasnt too hard to figure out. I do have a question about the "Switch" option. I am guessing I can just wire it up to any 12 volt switch to manually overide the isolator but figured I would ask for your thoughts.

This looks like the the set up I have except I have an Optimal yellow top battery as my secondary battery located at the rear of the ranger. It is the polaris kit. My complaint is that when I'm driving at night the solenoid separator keeps cycleing back and forth between batteries. My lights brighten and dim constantly. I'm trying to decided if I should go to the diode type isolator instead of the solenoid type separator

This thread is very informative, thanks for the continued imput.

Sam

 

[dogdoc]

I am still confused

Will someone tell me what to buy and the part number? I see a lot of good information, but I am still confused.

Thanks,
Thomas

 

[SamHatco]

I think I'm going to go with this. This is the diode type isolator with the alternator charging both batteries as they need it.

http://www.ase-supply.com/product_p/sp-1202.htm


Sam

 

[elkbow]

Re: I am still confused

Will someone tell me what to buy and the part number? I see a lot of good information, but I am still confused.

Thanks,
Thomas

Thomas, the one in my machines is the polaris setup, the part numbers are as such:

2009 - 2877344

2005-08 - 2876535

 

[elkbow]

I think I'm going to go with this. This is the diode type isolator with the alternator charging both batteries as they need it.

http://www.ase-supply.com/product_p/sp-1202.htm


Sam

Sam, here is another one i found, which seems pretty cool, i like the features:

http://www.powerstream.com/battery-isolator.htm

i like the polaris one i got, because there are holes in the frame under the hood on the 09 that it is made to bolt to, so it was a easy install

 

[SamHatco]

I think I'm going to go with this. This is the diode type isolator with the alternator charging both batteries as they need it.

http://www.ase-supply.com/product_p/sp-1202.htm


Sam

Sam, here is another one i found, which seems pretty cool, i like the features:

http://www.powerstream.com/battery-isolator.htm

i like the polaris one i got, because there are holes in the frame under the hood on the 09 that it is made to bolt to, so it was a easy install

Elkbow, that is the same separator that I have. Do you notice the constant cycling back and forth between batteries? That is my complaint. It is my understanding that the alternator runs the electrical components when the engine is running not the battery. My lights are hooked to the optima battery and when the separator begins charging that battery although its only for a short time the lights become brighter.

Sam

 

[elkbow]

Sam, are you talking about the alternator running the lights in a stock machine, without dual batteries? Thats possible, but not directly, as everything goes through a regulator....but there is still a measurement in the stock system to charge the battery properly, just like in any vehicle

i do hear my solenoid click, but not very often, when i start it and shut it off i hear clicking, but rarely anytime else

 

[JustinR]

I think I'm going to go with this. This is the diode type isolator with the alternator charging both batteries as they need it.

http://www.ase-supply.com/product_p/sp-1202.htm


Sam

Sam, here is another one i found, which seems pretty cool, i like the features:

http://www.powerstream.com/battery-isolator.htm

i like the polaris one i got, because there are holes in the frame under the hood on the 09 that it is made to bolt to, so it was a easy install

Elkbow, that is the same separator that I have. Do you notice the constant cycling back and forth between batteries? That is my complaint. It is my understanding that the alternator runs the electrical components when the engine is running not the battery. My lights are hooked to the optima battery and when the separator begins charging that battery although its only for a short time the lights become brighter.

Sam

I think the electrical components (ie. lights, ECU, etc) are run from the battery, which gets it's charge from the alt. If those components were run directly from the alt then they wouldn't work with the engine turned off or during starting/cranking.

Don't forget that your isolator draws about 1 amp on it's own. The dim you see could be caused by the isolator using some of the charge.

 

[SamHatco]

Sam, are you talking about the alternator running the lights in a stock machine, without dual batteries? Thats possible, but not directly, as everything goes through a regulator....but there is still a measurement in the stock system to charge the battery properly, just like in any vehicle

i do hear my solenoid click, but not very often, when i start it and shut it off i hear clicking, but rarely anytime else

Elbow, could get some close up pictures on how you wired your separator? This instructions in my kit were sketchy at best. Maybe I have something wired improperly or I may have a bad separator.

Sam

 

[elkbow]

Sam, i was out playing on mine tonight, it does click quite a bit, i'll get it out sunday to truly run it some with all the junk running on it and report back

 

[AZRgrFreak]

I notice a "Click" roughly about a few seconds after I start my ranger up but I have never noticed it happening more the once or twice including when I run at night. I have the stock battery as the primary and have pretty much moved everything "Non-Stock" over to my Odyssey secondary. Which reminds me I still need to move my winch.

 

[SamHatco]

I notice a "Click" roughly about a few seconds after I start my ranger up but I have never noticed it happening more the once or twice including when I run at night. I have the stock battery as the primary and have pretty much moved everything "Non-Stock" over to my Odyssey secondary. Which reminds me I still need to move my winch.

That's exactly how I have mine wired, all the addtional accessories, i.e. lights, winch, feeder, soon to be radio.

Sam

 

[storming505]

Wiring

Elkbow , i have the polaris isolator, i have not yet installed it because the wiring of it is unclear. for example the start lamp, indicator lamp and ground terminals, can you explain how you have wired yours? A closeup photo would help. 8)