| Author |
Message |
Bob Symonds (Bsymonds)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, April 03, 2005 - 10:41 am: | |
the time has come to replace the batteries in my 78 5C. I have removed the OTR air. What do I need to purchase. I would like to get away from the monsters that are in there now. Can a smaller battery be used and what should I look for ratings? |
FAST FRED
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, April 03, 2005 - 11:50 am: | |
The batterys you have installed (8-D's?) are to get the coach started ,cold soaked, at low temps with out a block heater for help.
Not for the Air Cond.
So if you live in a frozen place and use the coach in WINTER! those 2 8D need to be there.
If you live where 40 and above are the coldest , a couple of Series 31 seem to work well, if kept perfect.
The 31's will have NO ability to run house systems (start batts) so you will need a seperate house batt setup.
The 8-d's ARE large enough for most O'nite camping and an AM start .
Do it your way,
FAST FRED |
TWODOGS (Twodogs)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, April 03, 2005 - 11:51 am: | |
I just bought (2) 8D's ...but....if I had it to do over again I'd buy 4 car batteries |
James Maxwell (Jmaxwell)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, April 03, 2005 - 5:35 pm: | |
For abt. the same money, you can get 2 Grp 31 Trojan 1100 CCA starters that will put you into the realm of 2 standard 8d's and in less space than 1 8d. Interstate also makes an 1100 CCA Grp 31, but I got significantly better service from the Trojans, which worked great on a 6v92 for nearly 6 yrs before giving up the ghost, in all weather conditions, including a few times in the temperature teens. |
Stephen Fessenden (Sffess)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, April 03, 2005 - 7:19 pm: | |
It is common to compare batteries by CCA and assume that the higher CCA means better battery life. In Mercedes diesels at times someone will be sold a smaller battery "because it is actually a better battery than the original larger one, because the CCA is higher". It does not work out well for these smaller car engines and it may not for our large engines. More lead apparently means more starting power and lasting power. The smaller battery in the car lasts about one year, the larger original size, 3 years plus. Apparently actually putting out the high cranking amps shortens the life of a battery that just managed to pass a rating test. Still, take care of your back. If you only need Grp 31s, they are a lot easier to handle. I use two group 31s for starting and preheat with electric or diesel heater at low temps. The diesel heater runs on the house batteries. Actually our big engines may take less starting energy than the smaller diesel car engines because they do not have to use power for glow plugs before they start. But I do not believe you could camp for the same amount of time on 2 Grp 31s as 2 8Ds. |
Don/TX
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, April 03, 2005 - 10:25 pm: | |
This has been beat around a lot. The two group 31's will provide considerably more power than your bus manual calls for, and what the bus originally came with in all probability. The best move I ever made was to pitch the 8d's and go for a pair of Gp 31, 1100 CCA.
Not only MUCH better starting power, but rather than almost non existant warranty available on any 8d I could find, I could get 72 months from NAPA on Gp 31. Most all the heavy Class 8 trucks use a pair of Gp 31's, that is all my 425hp 3406 Kenworth came with, started just fine at -20 temps. Try it you will love it. |
R. Steve Nichol (N4rsn)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, April 03, 2005 - 11:20 pm: | |
I have used a pair of 4-d batteries for the past 5 years. Never failed to start. Had all the crank power I need, and at $59.00 each, that is what I will use.
I use them in the Ford tractors, and John Deere pump motors. Only I get Seconds for them at $35.00 to $40.00 each, when I can find them
Just a thought
Steve |