should i buy a yellow top battery and stick it in the back to power amps/stereo...so i don't have to run that much wire to the front of the car...just the rca cables to deck?

 

If you plan to power a moderate system stick with one yellow top under the hood.

 

but wouldn't wiring the system be a lot easier?...besides now i have an extra back up battery...just in case...and then the power source wouldn't be going through the alternator so it won't have a chance of getting fried or overworked

 

Describe your system to me. If it's not outrageous, stick with 1 yellow top under the hood. I'm running close to 1200 watts with one yellow top under the hood. It is much easier this way than relocating your battery.

 

Llfe, I think that adding an extra battery is a little more complex than you really think.....

First off you do need to run power wires to the battery in the back or else the sucker won't charge. If you just have the battery in the back and no other wire hooked up to charge it, it will eventually die. A battery isolator is also needed, more hardware and more money! There is more that is needed I think, but I'm not the expert here. I'm just warning you that adding a second battery is more complex than it appears you think it is.

 

Very good point. Not only that, but you also have to realize that an extra battery is an extra drain on the alternator. The extra battery concept is very misunderstood. Only reason to use one is for key off listening time, no more, no less. It gives you no extra power to your amps, doesn't make them run better, doesn't make your system sound better. Installation is going to be your main culprit of problems. As stated above, installing a second battery is more $ and more complex than people expect. I ran a pair of Orion 250 HCCA's with a single battery, but had to add high output alternator and caps to keep the car and system happy. Good luck.

 

He is exactly right....the main reason for adding a second battery is for "key off listening time". So when the car is shut off the system draws power form the 2nd battery and doesn't drain the main battery, that is the funciton of the isolator. So that if you sit there with the just the radio on and the car off you can start your car again. Trust me, it sucks when you are at a show and you have your system bumping for an hour or 2 and then you go to kick over the started to charge up the battery and the sucker won't kick over!! (Personal experience) Have fun and be sure to do more research or ask more questions before you attempt something like this.

 

aight...hold on...why would i need the extra battery hooked up to the alternator as well?...wouldn't it just suck up the juice from the second battery...and a battery isolator does exactly what?...keeps it aside from everything else?

 

Lets make a simple point. I can't fathom why you would need an extra battery. Replace the front with a yellow top and it will be great.

Now as for why the extra has to be hooked up to the alt. Why woun't it? How do you think it will get charged? Adding a battery is a pain in the a$$$$$$$$$$$$$. Swapping the front battery is easy and will be enough. Take it one step at a time.

 

dammit... i guess i wil just replace the battery under the hood then

 

Why do you want one in the trunk so bad anyway?

 

Do you understand why?

 

yea...i sorta understand...just not clear about the alternator and why it has to be hooked up?...to keep it charged?

 

Yes to keep it charged. It must keep getting power. Other wise in one hour it would be out of energy.

 

Sure. How else will it get recharged? Either way, like i said earlier, there's only one real gain from it- playing time in a parking lot or show with the key off. Trust me it's more trouble than it's worth, unless you plan on doing either of those two. Just my 2 cents.