How to install dual batteries in your Jeep Wrangler TJ

Has anyone done this dual battery conversion on a 2001 sport 6 cyl with AC. Also does anyone have the wiring diagram for the painless setup?
 
Miked0l said:
Has anyone done this dual battery conversion on a 2001 sport 6 cyl with AC. Also does anyone have the wiring diagram for the painless setup?
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Mine is 98 with ac, I am not positive about a 2001 with ac, but if you look up the bracket it should tell you what years it is good for. My suspician is it will work with a 01, but again double check with the dual battery tray to make sure. I will see If I still have the wiring diagram and will post ot if I do. It was pretty straight forward, because I am not that bright and even I figured it out. If you do have any specific questions let me know. BTW, I am still using the same teo Optima batteries I started this thread with and one of them is even older than this thread and I live in the desert. So I still dovlike the yellow tops.
 
What a nightmare installing the dual battery system. I bought a rugged ridge tray system and IT DOES NOT WORK their engineers are still working on the issues. I had to jerry rig it with some wood to make it work.
 
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I have Motobilt hi-line fenders and was wondering if anyone has figured out how to do a dual battery with hi-lines. Room under the hood is alot less

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Was wondering if it's necessary two run two batteries with now available li-on car jumper boxes out there.
Use the main battery for accessories and if low you can switch over to the jump box.

Any thoughts?
 
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Akitadog said:
Was wondering if it's necessary two run two batteries with now available li-on car jumper boxes out there.
Use the main battery for accessories and if low you can switch over to the jump box.

Any thoughts?
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I do agree that it isn't as important as once was. Just a good option. I did put a monster of a battery in my LJ just because I didn't know if I could do 2
 
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Great write up. Did you have to install a second battery temperature sensor? I added a second battery and later it started losing power and running erratically. I was getting cam sensor codes and a couple others. Did you ever have issues like that?

Thanks
 
Isn't there a space for a second battery on the other side of the engine bay? I believe there is in my 97 Wrangler. The tray is already there too.
 
dachevla said:
Great write up. Did you have to install a second battery temperature sensor? I added a second battery and later it started losing power and running erratically. I was getting cam sensor codes and a couple others. Did you ever have issues like that?

Thanks
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I had the same issue. It would lose power and lurch pretty badly. I contacted Rugged Ridge to ask where the sensor goes since neither tray has a hole for it. Apparently the engineers didn't think of this although I need to contact them again since they forgot to get back to me. I just sort of tucked it behind the batteries and it runs fine now.
 
Just a 2.5 year update on my setup- still going strong!
I did have the opportunity to share my second battery with a buggy that his died, but since I had recently moved to Rim Country the Jeep wasn't being driven much and I forgot to put it on a trickle charger so my second was only putting out 7 amps. DOH! It charged back up again though. I have to remember to switch the isolator so it will charge when I'm driving it.

Someone asked why not put a battery in the ABS tray on the Driver's side, (assuming you don't have ABS), but that tray is quite a bit smaller and access is a problem, so not worth the expense IMO. I put my Viair compressor there and it's very happy.
 
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