| Author |
Message |
MARK MURRAY (144.92.164.196)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 12, 2001 - 3:19 pm: | |
WE ARE NOW USING 3 GROUP31 BATTERIES IN PARALLEL FOR COACH BATTERIES. (EACH BATTERY IS RATED AT 975 COLD CRANKING AMPS) WHAT IS BETTER, REPLACE THESE WITH TWO 8D BATTERIES CONNECTED IN PARALLEL (RATED AT 1135 COLD CRANKING AMPS) , OR STICK WITH THE THREE GROUP 31 BATTERIES? |
Len Silva (Lsilva) (209.208.28.65)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 12, 2001 - 5:26 pm: | |
Mark,
My preferance is for the 3 group 31's. If one battery fails (as has happened to me) you can disconnect it and go on with two. If an 8D goes bad you must replace the whole thing.
While we are on the subject, I would recommend using three disconnect switches for your batteries. Each switch will carry less current and therefore last longer and it is easier to isolate a battery problem.
Len |
Mark Radius (24.247.10.59)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 13, 2001 - 7:50 pm: | |
Mark, fire apparatus are notorious for eating batteries. Big loads with often substandard alternators and lots of idling at full load are a deadly combination for batteries. Each truck was equipped with two 8D's and even with an aggressive maintenance program (water level checked DAILY, hydrometer weekly) we were replacing them as often as two or three times a year! A few years ago, we began installing two sets of three group 31 batteries (six total) in all of our fire apparatus. Since then, our failure rate has dropped tremendously. In fact, there are some of those GP-31 batteries that are approaching 5 years old! Three GP-31's fit in the same space as an 8D. As for brand, we tried several before we found Delco GP-31/625cca (I think the model number is 1150), which we now use exclusively in our entire fleet. We have found them to be very durable and tolerant of the severe "deep cycle" service we put them through. BTW, we tried using two GP-31's for each 8D and found that they did not last like we expected, especially in the winter. |
gerald lancaster (216.236.164.41)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 14, 2001 - 9:27 pm: | |
This is a timely post. I have a pair of 8D's in my 4104. One of them has two dead cells and needs to be replaced. Can I use group 31's to replace this battery, if so, how many should I use? |
Mark Radius (24.247.10.59)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 14, 2001 - 11:27 pm: | |
Gerald, did you read my posting above? |
mark murray (128.104.17.148)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 24, 2001 - 2:28 pm: | |
Thanks to all for the advice and feedback. Mark Murray |