| Author |
Message |
Don/TX
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 3:49 pm: | |
If one were to use a single bank of batteries for BOTH diesel starting AS WELL AS house power, would it be better to use deep cycle batteries or standard automotive batteries? I realize either way it will bring some abuse to the bank. Comments please? Include reasoning please. |
Gary Stadler (Boogiethecat)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 4:18 pm: | |
I'd look into "dual use" batteries... there is a version of the group 31 battery made for Freightliner,
P/N EPM-AED P31 PCS that's specifically made for being used as both a starter and a deep cycle. I'm using a pair of them with good result so far... I'm sure there are others, this is just the one I'm aware of at the moment... |
Kyle Brandt (Kyle4501)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 4:50 pm: | |
IF you used enough deep cycle batteries, could you reduce the amp draw on each such that they aren't abused?
kyle4501 |
Marc Bourget
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 7:29 pm: | |
If you've got a large budget and lots of $$ to waste on batts, try dual use.
Otherwise, Starts for starting and Deep Cycle for house use. Appropriately sized for your load and usage.
This is the best use of your $$ and will give you the most trouble free performance. We want usefullness from our conversions, not extra expense and labor.
Kyle, How would you propose hooking them up? Hooked in series to get 24V, wouldn't the cabling run too much current through that large battery bank?
Yes, it can be done, but why do the equivalent of paying $5/gal for fuel when you can pick it up for $2.89/gal?
You make your choice and pays your price. |
Jim Ashworth (Jimnh)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 7:46 pm: | |
The biggest problem is having dead start batteries 'cause the house useage brought them down too far to start the diesel. Major problem!
You will get longer life out of separate banks, each type of battery dedicated to its own best use.
If you MUST use only one, the dual purpose marine start/deep draw are probably the best bet. A compromise still....
Jim |
Gary Stadler (Boogiethecat)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 8:23 pm: | |
Forgot to mention that even though I use the two "dual use" batteries, they are mainly my starting batteries. The "dual use" comes from the fact that I left some of the original bus lighting on it's original circuit... but for everything else I have a bank of four T-105's and the two systems are totally separate other than a solenoid to join them together when shore power is present (or the genset is running) and my 3-stage converter can keep 'em both charged.
Personally I would NEVER even consider having a single battery system... it's a great way to get stuck unable to start your engine... |
Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 8:59 pm: | |
A single battery system is acceptable as long as you have a genset with its own starting battery and a heavy duty battery charger. Even if the genset battery is dead, it is easy to jump start a genset while it is almost impossible to jump start a DD with only a toad available.
I have had all batteries depleted occassionally and even if I could not start the main engine there was enough power available in the batteries to start the genset. A matter of an hour or so and I was on the road again.
I would choose marine deep cycle if I had to choose for one battery installation.
Richard |
Sojourner (Jjimage)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 9:18 pm: | |
The difference of automotive & deep-cycle battery.
Both battery using same lead-acid principle but design for special purpose.
Automotive are design to give quicker higher cranking power “CCA” but limited discharge amount to more than 20% or less.
Deep-cycle are thicker & slow adsorbing (about half cranking amp “CCA”) denser paste of active material to with stand deep drainage & heavy recharge.
So for cold starting use automotive.
Deep-cycle is mainly use for steady power supply.
Another word you don’t have choice but use right design battery for it purpose.
There is so-call dual-use battery but only double the life of standard but must lower life of deep-cycle battery.
Link: http://www.ibsa.com/www_2001/content/about_us/current/june_2001/battery_commercial.asp
FWIW
Sojourn for Christ, Jerry
|
FAST FRED
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, October 25, 2005 - 5:25 am: | |
If you dont travel to really cold places where the CCA and huge plate area of real starts is needed , there is no hassle with ONLY deep cycles .
Of course the cost more than starts , but the ability to run them down and sucessfully recharge is needed for house service.
If you have a block heater for the freezing weather , you will never know you don't have starts.
FAST FRED |
Sojourner (Jjimage)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, October 25, 2005 - 11:57 am: | |
Amen FAST FRED!
There you have a resonable choice.
Thanks FAST FRED to complete filling in the "if"
FWIW
Sojourn for Christ |
Kyle Brandt (Kyle4501)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, October 25, 2005 - 5:02 pm: | |
Marc, As to running too much current thru the batteries; Depends on the battery, the number of them, & the starting current required, good idea to check that, (but I havent seen a current pass thru rating). As to running just one bank, some may not have the space readily available for separate banks. You mention the cost of fuel....It could be that while the deep cycle batts are more $$$, savings may be realized in having fewer cables & etc associated with the second bank.
Personally, I'll try to have the dual banks.
kyle4501 |