Deep Cycle Battery in Pickup

[Mudfarmer]

I have two batteries in my 2011 Chev Silverado PU attached in parallel to the alternator. One is for the pickup the other for winch, inverter, etc. The latter is near the end of it's life. My question is can I replace it with a deep cycle battery; will the alternator charge a deep cycle battery without difficulty; if my main battery goes dead can I jump-start the truck from a deep cycle battery?

MF

 

[MossRoad]

I have two batteries in my 2011 Chev Silverado PU attached in parallel to the alternator. One is for the pickup the other for winch, inverter, etc. The latter is near the end of it's life. My question is can I replace it with a deep cycle battery; will the alternator charge a deep cycle battery without difficulty; if my main battery goes dead can I jump-start the truck from a deep cycle battery?

MF

If they're hooked up in parallel, how do you separate their work load? Is there a battery isolater in there somewhere?

 

[Deere Dude]

Is it a diesel truck, dmax

 

[Mudfarmer]

In answer to last two posts: Professionally wired regulator - I don't know anything more about that. Gas engine.

 

[CausticUrbanCoast]

I have two batteries in my 2011 Chev Silverado PU attached in parallel to the alternator. One is for the pickup the other for winch, inverter, etc. The latter is near the end of it's life. My question is can I replace it with a deep cycle battery; will the alternator charge a deep cycle battery without difficulty; if my main battery goes dead can I jump-start the truck from a deep cycle battery?

MF

You may need to look up and understand what happens to batteries if they are truly in parallel.

If they are protected between eachother, the second one might not be damaged. If they are not, the other battery is likely already damaged from over charging.

 

[K5lwq]

You should have two like batteries i.e. Same capacity and health. If one is down it will always drain the other one. Also there is a risk of overcharging a lower capacity battery to bring the bigger one up to full charge.

 

[Mudfarmer]

The two batteries are protected from each other.

 

[MossRoad]

The two batteries are protected from each other.

Then you probably have a battery isolator in there somewhere. In that case, there would be no problems installing a deep cycle for the winch. The other battery will handle the starting. But they aren't exactly in parallel, if that is the case as well.

 

[Jstpssng]

I’ve seen what he’s talking about. Offroaders install a kit so that running the winch, lights, and/or other utilities use a different battery than the starter and other necessities. Generally they also upgrade the alternator.
Most likely what the rest of you are calling a battery isolator?

 

[jaydee325]

What does the owners manual say about battery replacement/separation?

Here are a couple basic battery rules. Batteries that are in parallel with no separation; if you replace one, the weaker older one will become a parasitic load on the new battery. In this case, you replace in pairs. A deep cycle battery is not designed for repeated intermittent starting loads. If properly separated and controlled, then you can replace either battery without regard for the other.

My experience is in RVs. These will have an electronic separator (diodes) that will allow charging current from the alternator to recharge the winch battery, but not allow current to flow from the starting battery to the winch. In RVs, there is usually a manual bypass switch on the dash that allows using the deep cycle (winch) battery to start the engine in an emergency.

You really need to dig into this and understand your circuit before proceeding.