relay/isolator connections

[norteno]

yea I know. I originally thought it might help with dimming lights and backup voltage when subs are hitting hard. I'm gonna concentrate on alternator now. Although I'm still not 100% convinced that a secondary battery only benefits when listening to stereo with car turned off. I see a lot on this and other sites from members who have them and discuss installation and positive results but there is also a lot of info on how it doesn't help at all. I just wanna drive my car with alternator, and everything else working right for a while and see what happens. Any suggestions or advice about proper alternator set-up or installation or expectations??. Thanks for any feedback.

[MrSkippyJ]

A secondary battery helps, you don't need (or want) an isolator to have a secondary battery.

[norteno]

I read somewhere that if the batteries are of dis-similar make, age, style and type, that an isolator is needed to prevent them from draining each other. I have a brand new DIEHARD up front and a three year old KINETIK 1400 that is still good in the trunk. I installed it according to manufacturer's recommendations and from real life experience from good websites like this one and others. It seems like I've had the "BATTERY NOT CHARGING" issues even before I installed second battery and it keeps coming back every so often since I had the original one rebuilt in 2011. I also heard bad things about "rebuilt" alternators but I'm gonna give it one more shot with the smaller pulley before I trash it and cough up the $300 or more for a new HO one. The isolator/relay I have is the PAC 200.

[norteno]

MrSkippyJ, I started a new thread on the pros and cons of a smaller alternator pulley. What is your opinion on the subject?

[MrSkippyJ]

i don't know much about them to be honest and what I do know is just what I have heard on here. Basically smaller pulley helps with low RPM output but shortens the life of the alternator.