Answer: In most cases you do not want to connect the batteries using a battery isolator. The only time you use a battery isolator is in motor homes or boats. When you sit for long times with you motor off and you want to be sure your vehicle starts in the morning, this is when you would use a battery isolator.

In the simplest terms a galvanic isolator interrupts the flow of stray electricity in the water around your boat. The isolator protects your boat from electrolysis and what it misses your anodes, or zincs, will capture.

Check the voltage at your batteries. If you are not seeing close to the same voltage at the battery as at the isolator (minus some small voltage drop over the wire), you have another problem. If you have a problem with the engine battery not charging, check the battery connections and the ground connection.

A battery isolator helps to ensure that the starting battery has sufficient power to start the engine and recharge the batteries if, for example, loads on the auxiliary battery (e.g., refrigerator or navigation lights) cause it to be drained, or if an auxiliary battery fails.

By using diodes to allow current to flow only in one direction, a battery isolator prevents a fully charges main battery from passing current to a partially charged auxiliary battery. Current can flow from the alternator to both batteries but cannot flow from the vehicle battery to loads in the vehicle.

Look for a small plate with printing on your alternator indicating the maximum amperage (measured in Amperes) for your car system. The battery isolator that you select should have an amperage rating “equal to or greater than the peak current output” of your alternator.

A battery isolator is usually a diode device that acts like a check-valve for the charge only letting it flow one way. The solenoid is just a switch that closes when the vehicle is running. Usually the goal of these devices is to make sure that you don’t drain your starter battery.

True. But, solenoids used as battery isolators – unlike solenoids used for say, winching or golf carts – aren’t generally switching very much current, so the contacts do last a very long time in normal use. A couple of decades of daily use without a problem is not uncommon.

A continuous duty solenoid works much like a regular starter solenoid, opening and closing a circuit in order to turn the power flow off and on. As you might have guessed, however, in the case of a continuous duty solenoid the power flow is more of a constant, whereas a starter solenoid operates intermittently.

Best Battery Isolators Reviewed

• KeyLine Chargers Dual Battery Isolator.
• True UTV-SBI-CK UTV Dual Battery Kit.
• JOYHO 140Amp Smart Isolator.
• AOPEC Dual Battery Isolator Kit.
• True UTV-SBI-CM UTV Dual Battery Kit.

The 140 Amp Dual Battery Isolator is intended to provide everything necessary for charging a two battery system. That includes the ability to separate power sources for your batteries, even though you’re only using a single alternator.

Wondering, “Where can I find battery isolators near me?” Head down to AutoZone to find a high-quality isolator today. AutoZone has the lowest prices on battery isolators so you can find the best part for your vehicle without having to worry about an unreasonable price tag.