I have a few question and looking for some input, I just moved and bought a new coolent and winshield washer tank to make room for a second battery in my 83 pickup. Was wondering if I should go with the painless kit, or just get a battery isolator, I got a yellow optima and I figured I needed to go with another battery, with the winch ,lights,cb ,and stereo. figured on getting a red optima and going with it for just starting. Does the isolater combine to the 2 or is it going to help run the winch if needed?

 

Here is how I did mine without replacing anything I just spun the over flow bottle 180 degree's.The rubber on the isolator is just extra insurance for possible grounding out on the hood while getting bumped around off road should the hold down come loose somehow.



Since it is a OPTIMA that made it easy to lay it on it's side without any issue's and made it fit like a glove in the same place on the driver's side and there was one hole from the factory on the top of the fender well making only one more hole to drill for a generic battery hold down a easy option.

As for the isolator it will only charge both battery's not combine the two for more power if it did it would kill a lot of thing's think about it 24 volts running thru a 12 volt system would melt wires and kill everything but at the same time it keeps feeding power to the battery drawing the power to keep it at peak power.

I run the stock battery to the stock set up did not add anything to it and the second battery is for all my accessories including the winch and it works great never have a problem with the stereo or extra lights draining the necessary power to keep the truck running like it should.

 

so would you say that I would be fine with just picking up a isolater? instead of the painless kit? K if you can run yours fine. It might be that I need to do a tune up on my winch..