Duallylife
Newbie
I have a 93 k3500 that I'm putting dual alternators in. Now for the guys who are going to ask "why? Just get a big single" I have tried, I tried OEM, juiced up aftermarket, and had some built over the years. I just find when they get hot they have a hard time keeping up, then eventually burn out. And at 400$+ for aftermarket or built here by a guy a piece every year or two it gets expensive. I want low RPM output, big singles are good at higher RPM's.
I want this because I use it for plowing and sanding, so there is heavy draws. Typically while I'm plowing the plow it self is a 200amp motor, plus alot of time while I'm plowing I also have my sander on, so another 100 amp? I'm not sure what that motor is. All of my strobe lights, at night all my marker lights, headlights, and light bars. Sometimes I'm using 4wd which draws alot. Heater on, which also draws alot. Sometimes whipers or other misc stuff, of course the usual stuff you know, radio (with a sub), phone charger etc. Alot of times I have to turn stuff off with OEM alternators or it falls too low. Even juiced up ones sometimes, or they get very hot. It's not wiring, as I have re wired most of the lights 2 years ago. And I clean all my connections, grounds positives etc once a year. On the batteries, alternator frame body etc. Also has dual 1,200 cranking amp batteries, less then 2 years old and I test them once a year. I have always had this issue with my GMT400's, even my square bodies. I have had this truck about 12 years, always had this issue just dealt with it. It did help after I rewired the truck though haha. I also plan to do the "big 3 upgrade" on the wires.
My question is, how do I wire it up? Right now my stock alt reads and charges the passenger side battery first, the second battery just adds reserve, (it isn't directly hooked to the alternator) So I would like to hook the second alt to that battery, one alt on each battery. Can I do this? I should just be able to run a wire from the back of the charging stud on the alt to the second battery? What do I do for the exciter wire? Where do I run that to? If I can separate it from the passenger side battery so it reads the drivers side that would be great. Or do I need to splice them together?
I want this because I use it for plowing and sanding, so there is heavy draws. Typically while I'm plowing the plow it self is a 200amp motor, plus alot of time while I'm plowing I also have my sander on, so another 100 amp? I'm not sure what that motor is. All of my strobe lights, at night all my marker lights, headlights, and light bars. Sometimes I'm using 4wd which draws alot. Heater on, which also draws alot. Sometimes whipers or other misc stuff, of course the usual stuff you know, radio (with a sub), phone charger etc. Alot of times I have to turn stuff off with OEM alternators or it falls too low. Even juiced up ones sometimes, or they get very hot. It's not wiring, as I have re wired most of the lights 2 years ago. And I clean all my connections, grounds positives etc once a year. On the batteries, alternator frame body etc. Also has dual 1,200 cranking amp batteries, less then 2 years old and I test them once a year. I have always had this issue with my GMT400's, even my square bodies. I have had this truck about 12 years, always had this issue just dealt with it. It did help after I rewired the truck though haha. I also plan to do the "big 3 upgrade" on the wires.
My question is, how do I wire it up? Right now my stock alt reads and charges the passenger side battery first, the second battery just adds reserve, (it isn't directly hooked to the alternator) So I would like to hook the second alt to that battery, one alt on each battery. Can I do this? I should just be able to run a wire from the back of the charging stud on the alt to the second battery? What do I do for the exciter wire? Where do I run that to? If I can separate it from the passenger side battery so it reads the drivers side that would be great. Or do I need to splice them together?
