What are the capabilities of the stock electrical system on a 2012 Jk, as in how many additional components (i.e. lights, winch etc) can you add to the stock electrical system before it is advised to add an extra battery and/or larger alternator?

 

The charging system does a decent job, but the battery is the weak link. I would recommend picking up a deep cycle battery. I went with an optima yellow top, which does a good job with my winch and 2 sets of auxiliary lights

 

Ok, thanks for the advice. Just to be sure your saying you just replaced the stock battery with the optima right?

 

Yes. You might also look at the Sears die hard platinum and Odyssey batteries

 

I've got a 2009 with an Optima Blue (13 months on this battery, 36K miles of abuse). After a night of usng my 4 PIAAS and winching, I'd get the charging system alarm. However, the battery is not really drained to the point of not starting the vehicle.

 

The alternator is the "Key" device for power management. The battery is only a resivor for the power it supplies. The Jeep requires aproximately 60 Amps to opperate depending on what electrical systems are opperating at the point of measurement ( AC blower, wipers, defoggers, ect ). So subtract 60A from the full load capacity of the alternator. And you will have a good estimate of what you have left. But that doesn't really mean that you should use the full load capabilities of the system. The closer you come to full load, the more stress you apply to the system.