How To Install A Second Battery For Your Car Audio

According to famous artists, music is the only thing that hits, and no pain is felt. Health experts on the other end insist that music helps calm one down after a tiring day in the office. It’s for these reasons that many people invest in music systems both at home and in their cars.

Investing in a good sound system for your vehicle can be a bit challenging because the one starter battery is never enough to handle the audio load. If you love your music in the car, there is a way you can bypass the challenge. Installing a secondary battery to handle the power load should be the only solution.

How can I hook up an additional battery to my car for the audio system? There is a step-by-step procedure on how to install a second battery for your car audio, which is:

1. Chose a favorable point within the hood or the trunk to place the second battery
2. Screw the battery holder in the area you have chosen
3. Kill the power
4. Add a split charge relay
5. Connect the split charge relay/isolator to the car’s alternator
6. Connect the wires to the secondary battery
7. Secure the cables
8. Reconnect the starter battery

You will need the following items to perform the upgrade thoroughly:

● Gauge wires
● Screws
● Drill
● Battery isolator
● Battery tray (the size of your secondary battery)
● Wire crimper
● Deep cycle battery

Once you’re sure that all the pieces of equipment are available, you can proceed to step one.

More Details on the Ways to Add an Additional Battery

Step 1: Chose a Location Inside the Vehicle

Your first step should be to pick an ideal place to fix your secondary battery. It should be around the engine area for small cars. However, choosing the location will call for some modifications to create some room for the battery and its tray.

Some mechanics always advise drivers to install the secondary battery in the trunk. Well, the trunk area can also work because there is plenty of space. Also, if you’re looking for some extra power to power up a subwoofer, the trunk is a suitable area.

Step 2: Mount the Battery Tray in the Area You Pick

Once you’re sure about the location, the next step should be to install the battery’s dish in the position. As stated in the requirements, the tray should match the size of your secondary battery. Screw the plate into a surface, the floor of the trunk, for example. Cut a hole around, which is to be used to pass the cables through. When drilling the holes, be careful not to hit other parts of the vehicle.

Step 3: Cut Off the Car’s Power

Now that the tray is in place, you should proceed and kill the car’s power, and this means removing both cables from the starter battery. Removing the wires shouldn’t be done anyhow. It’s advisable to start with the negative cable then followed by the positive terminal. Unhook the positive cable joining the battery to the alternator.

Step 4: Install a Battery Isolator

You will need a battery isolator/split charge relay to enable your secondary battery to be charged by the car’s system and not used to start the engine. This electronic device also helps prevent your starter battery from being drained by your audio system while the vehicle is off.

Using the crimping tool, strip away some part of the disconnected alternator wire. Then, proceed to connect the bare end to the isolator’s side terminals.

Step 5: Connect the Alternator to the Isolator’s Central Terminal

Using an extra gauge wire, connect your car’s alternator to the split charge relays central terminal. The terminal is usually labeled A, and thus easy to locate. Once you’re done, go ahead and connect the isolator’s third terminal to a long wire that will route to the chassis of your auxiliary battery.

Step 6: Connect the Longer Wire to the Secondary Battery

Your next step should be to connect the longer cable to the auxiliary battery. The wire should be connected to the battery’s positive terminal. Once the wire is in place, connect the terminal to the electrical connector of the device, it will power such as the radio or subwoofer.

If you intend to power up a device with an AC plug, you will need to connect a power inverter to the secondary battery.

Step 7: Secure the Wires

Proceed to secure the cables to the chassis. You can do so by bolting or screwing the wires to the chassis. Depending on the vehicle model, you will have a clear path to route and fix your wires.

Step 8: Reconnect the Battery Cables

The last step should be to reconnect the wires of your primary battery. You must know that there is a procedure involved when reconnecting the cables as well. It’s advisable to start by connecting the positive terminal then followed by the negative terminal.

How Do I Benefit from Adding a Secondary Battery for My Car Audio System?

1. Boosts the life of the primary battery. Using the starter battery to power up a massive sound system frequently drains the battery. Adding an auxiliary helps reduce the cases of waking up to a flat battery because there is a secondary battery to deal with the audio load.

The fact that your primary battery won’t have to go empty frequently means that it will last long. Therefore, if you mind your battery, the best solution should be to mount an auxiliary battery for your audio system.

2. Allows you to listen to music for more extended periods. Often, listening to music while in the car is limited by the battery running out. Most primary cells can’t provide big audio systems with power for an extended period. As a result, it’s usually hard to listen to music while out there hanging out with your friends.

Having a secondary battery lets you enjoy the music without worrying that the battery won’t have the charge needed to start the ride.

3. Saves money and time. As stated earlier, having a secondary reduces the chances of your primary battery wearing out. The hack can, therefore, save you plenty of cash because you won’t have to visit your auto dealer now and then to look for a new battery.

Besides, the secondary battery acts as a backup for the primary cell, and this means that you won’t have to waste time whenever the primary battery runs out.

Sources:
1. Adding s Second Car Battery for High Performance Audio – Lifewire
2. How to Hook Up a Battery For Your Car Audio – Speaker Champion

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