I really need this answered as soon as possible thanks!

Ok so i have 5 batteries running in my truck, 4 are redtop 1100 crank amps, and the one up front is usually a interstate 600ca or of the like.

My question is, since i have them all hooked together (positive - positive, negative - negative) so its like one big battery, what kind of charger should i be using?

My father has a old, but nicely built, deep cycle charger but he said that i would need something with a lot higher amps to charger 5 batteries at once.

Im not positive how charging works (which is sad with the amount of electronic/caraudio knowledge if acquired over the years) so help would be EXCELLENT.

Btw, i need this answered within a week so i have a way to purchase this, or use my current one and get ready for SBN.

A regular charger wont cut it for agm bats because agms have a different float charge and discharge rate then generic bats. I have this http://www.autozone.com/autozone/accessories/Schumacher-10-6-2-Amp-speed-charge-automatic-battery-charger/_/N-2604?itemIdentifier=837570_0_0_ Decently cheap and works great. I keep it on an the agm setting 2amp trickle charge every couple days it charges my whole battery bank 8+ bats. You will also want to change out that interstate into an agm bat asap because mixing different types of powercells is bad.

i see, so i should replace the interstate with a redtop, and can i do so with a lower crank amp one? like a cheaper redtop since im not looking to get anymore bat power than i already have.

Also, if i get you the model and info/specs on the chargers i currently have, can you let me know if they are A-ok to use ?


My main question is, is it possible to burn a charger out if your trying to charge the 5 batteries i have listed

This post was edited by ]GS[ Controller on Mar 1 2012 11:07pm

and to subwoofers comment



Lets not even go into my alternator, just know its going to be changed soon.

The reasoning for 5 bats is im running a 18" fi btl on 4k rms so it sucks a lot of power and fast.

I just really need to further understand how to charge these things over night when the truck is not in use.

If i dont need to buy a new charger, great. If i do, i need to know what to buy.

Red tops are notoriously bad at charging they really arent deep cycle
Yellow tops ftw
but just put it on a 12 hour trickle charge its best for them low voltage.
you should look into an iragi alernator tho for sure or even two.
i know that with my 2 yellow tops and my 250 amp alternator i can run my 2000 rms sub amp, and my 500/4 jl mids, and punch 45 tweets with lights on and they dont even flicker.
constant 14.1-14.4
once those red tops die, they are dead for good.

Its most important to have all of the same type of battery in your case all agm. You want a charger with an AGM charge setting, my charger i can choose standard, gel or agm charge. Matching brands is pretty important but not necessary im mixing xs, kinetik and deka and have had no problems but its not recomended.

I didn't get deep cycle for a reason, because they are ALL in parallel and being constantly charged by the alt, which you would not want with a deep cycle at all.

So since i never have any power problems, couldn't i just drop the interstate up front, and swap it with one of the redtops in the back?

that would solve the problems


Then the last thing i would need is a AGM Charger correct?

This post was edited by ]GS[ Controller on Mar 1 2012 11:38pm

didn't even realize the red top situation. red tops are only for cranking not prolonged charge and discharge situations. you will need to switch them out for power cells or yellow tops.

you also need to isolate your cranking battery from the others.

I have run 5 bats all in parallel for years now and its fine, so im going to have to keep it that way and stick with what i got.

The redtops are always being charged when in use, and i never run the system w/o the truck running and alt on.
So deep cycle, again, is not needed in this scenario.