When you run a dual battery can you have both batteries hooked up at once without having it be 24 volts? The one pic I saw of the dual batt hooked up but only one battery was connected.

 

yes you can, you hook them up in parallel and that gives you twice the capacity but still 12 volts

 

And both will stay charged right?

 

as long as your load does not exceed your alternator output

 

You can run an isolator too.

 

Is there an advantage to running an isolator versus simply running them in parallel?

 

if the engine is not running and with your winch connected to the isolated battery, you can run the isolated battery down and still be able to start the vehicle after. the isolator basically separates the vehicle battery from the winch/accessory battery when the engine is not running.

 

If you run your two batteries pos to pos, neg to neg then you maintain 12V and increase AMP capability.

If you run the battery pos to neg, and neg to pos then your voltage will increase to 24V and AMP out will remain the same (not something you want to do! very bad, don't do this, lol)

I would get a battery isolator depending on your application, the Hellroaring is pretty flexible and a good way to go. like mentioned above, separates your starting battery from your accessory battery but charges both.

 

Won't this render your batteries unusable? Even result in an explosion?
Perhaps you meant neg to pos, peroid. That would be in series.

 

who makes a good "higher output alternator"? and who makes a good dual battery kit?