Spare Battery Charging Setup 58 Cj5

I'm thinking of installing an extra battery for emergency backup and wondering if I could just connect pos to pos and neg to neg to the primary battery to keep it charged. Would that still be 12v to all systems ? I'm thinking the drain would effect both so no real backup. Maybe just periodic charging of the second battery with an elec. charger and no connection to the primary, or switching battery locations every now and then.
I'll be using an alternator temporally while I'm rebuilding the generator.
This will be on a 1958 CJ5 with F134 engine 12v system.

Thanks for any suggestions,,
John

 

Thanks Howard, that helps ,,,
John

 

You could put a marine battery controller on it, chose one battery, or the other battery, or both batteries. Just saying, I live in a boating community, by lake Erie, and there are Marine stores all over, I use marine electrical in my Jeep, it does get wet sometimes. Good Luck

 

This is what I did. It works great and has a lock to shut off all power when not in use. Added bonus of theft deterrent.

 

Thanks jzeber, that would work great, I'll try to track one down.

John

 

I just bought one for my son's 1968 Nova from Amazon. Search Perko switch.
Also a pic of the battery tray I made and both batteries.

 

Nice neat setup! I found a similar one on Amazon, like the looks of your one better. Do you have to connect more than just the main + & - cables ?
Going to check on your Amazon lead.

Thanks
John

 

I did not hook up more than just the +/- at first but there was still power to lights, radio etc. I mainly wanted complete shut down so I wired per the instructions and now have complete shutoff.

 

Here is a wiring diagram for 2 batteries. This is how I wired mine.

http://www.easyhomeview.com/wp-cont...h-wiring-diagram-ground-indicates-connect.jpg

 

Diagram 4 from the Perko website on page 2
https://www.perko.com/images/catalog/pdf/Fig 8501-8504 Inst (8500INS1).pdf

 

For years i used dual battery in simple parallel conection (in a Jeep and some Toyotas). Some points:
1. Ask yourself if you realy need "extra battery for emergency backup". Good (single) battery will last for 3 or 4 years. You can use smart charger to keep it in periods when you dont drive the Jeep.
2. 2 Batteries in simple parallel conection, will always get you busy and you find yourself change one of them from time to time.
3. If you realy want to have one more battery for emergency and all other exterior electrical staff, use Voltage Sensitive Relay. please read this: Dual Battery Systems | Alternator charging, how it should be done .

 

Thanks guys, I really appreciate all the help. The reason for a backup battery is where we live, SW NM, when we go 4wd , safety is the main concern. You can go farther in 30 minutes than walk back in two days, at least for me at 70 yrs. I carry backup fuel pump, tools and other emergency parts, a charging problem is
not likely but could happen on an old 58 CJ5, at least I might be able to limp in on an extra battery. A desert day trip rock hounding and artifact hunting is lot's of enjoyment but being better prepared makes it better.

jezber thanks, I'm going with the Perko.


Thanks to all for your suggestions, very much appreciated !!!!

John ,,

 

If you need additional pics let me know.

 

Not to highjack the thread but in the future if someone is searching here there are other methods.

Like John, I'm concerned with reliability as I do go Jeeping in the desert alone. I had looked at some of the solid state isolators but they do fail. Having been around boats most of my life I'm very familiar the the rotary battery switches and didn't want to rely on remembering to switch them. So I simply put a continuous duty solenoid between the parallel-wired positive battery terminals. This is controlled by an oil pressure switch. Foolproof. If the motor is not running the second battery is isolated. There is a momentary pushbutton switch on the dashboard to bring in the second battery if needed for cranking.