Powering headlights without the alternator?
I did a search on "headlights" and "light" in this thread - found nothing.
I'm now using a regular 'starting' type battery. Even a half minute or so of EOC runs down the battery to 11.5V or less if headlights are on, with headlight dimming as a visible result. And they really only have full brightness between about 13-14V, when the alternator is running. So any upgrade to the alternator/battery system will have to take into account the need for headlights to be on. My commute is 55 miles each way so the solution has to be good for that distance.
Has anyone here had luck running headlight off a deep cycle 12V battery that also powers the rest of the car, with alternator in use when needed? If that works well it would be a relatively low cost and easy solution.
My headlights are already running via relays so I could easily power them from a separate battery - but again, if voltage drop over 2-3 hours use will give me dim headlights, I'll need another solution.
"Another solution" is a 14V deep cycle AGM battery + charger by XS Power.
14V AGM deep cycle, $260
14V AGM_capable charger, $200
Definitely not a low-cost solution but the 14V battery - charged between driving episodes - should run the headlights very nicely, I would think.